What do people think of the restart format that is starting to be used? 

The restart format bascially takes away time keeping and makes it a race from point A to B.  The clubs tell you where the "restarts" are (the do them as known controls) then you hammer through each section to the check out.  Normally the speed average is high, 24 or 30, so that no one can zero the section.  Then after the check out they give you a big reset and you ride to the next "restart".  All you really need is a watch to know when to be at each restart, but you can get away without even having a watch if you want to.

The reasoning behind this format is to get more people involved as many people don't like the "timekeeping" aspect of enduros but like the trail.  So without timekeeping the thought is more riders would come to enduro events.  I heard clubs say that rider count went up and that rider count went down, so I'm curious what everyone thinks.

I do not have an opinion yet.  At first I was against the start control idea.  There is some discussions that more people will attend an enduro with this format and at the National level that more big names may show up...Juha, Watts, Smith, Summers.

In Michigan we have two events that have (will be) using this format.  I want to compare the level of attendance at these two events with a D14 only event held in May.  The two start control events are multiple district races.  So I expect the attendance to be higher, but it will be interesting to see the difference.

Gentlemen,

As a Hare Scrambles riding family, I feel that the format would get more people to the races, but it has to be explained so that everyone realizes that you can do well without the timekeeping equipment.

I do not believe that the non enduro community realizes what the restart format means. I certainly did'nt until this post.

I am also looking forward to riding enduros in the future with my sons, not just Hare Scrambles.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I have some friends in the UP Sandstormers club.  I will get the attendance details from them and report back in a couple of weeks.

My entry has also been sent.  We are hoping for row 34 to ride with our buddy Leroy.

 

I can't vote on this, as my point of view is not up there.

It really doesn't matter to me what format is being used. I'll ride them either way. But for me its a little bit different...I don't ride to race anymore, I just race to get some good riding in. If it makes it easier for organizer to get more people to show up by using one format over the other, I'm for that...more riders, more money, more support. Its as simple as that.

I think the bigger issue is how to get more people involved in the sport. The family enduros are a great start, but there aren't enough of them. Compare it to HS's. They have kids classes at just about every one of them...being a father of a riding 8 year old, that influences the decision of where I spend my weekend.

Sure, you'll always have the guys that race every enduro - your core group, if you will - but don't forget about the occasional weekend warrior...thats the guy that ads to your attendance numbers. Thats the guy that gets to go racing/riding once a month, and in my case, I pick a ride where the kids can ride too, that way I might get to go more often, no matter if its a HS, or Enduro (regardless of what format is being used).

BTW, I do prefer enduros over Hare Scrambles....

LM was not a good test of the restart format.  First of all, it was not advertised as a restart until a month before the event.  Secondly, as an average B rider, the resets in the morning were not sufficient.  Ryan may have gotten back on time, but I carried early mistakes (or bottlenecks) all morning long.

We had plenty of time in the afternoon, but no break (for me) in the morning.

I can tell you that the Jack Pine will be using both systems.  We will have some sections with secret checks and we will have some with the restart format.

In Minnesota we seem to have a few gamblers that have figured out which clubs don't use emergency checks.

I did'nt like the Reset format before Marquette, but it does stop people from taking a 10 minute head start on there minute.  

I have only ever ridden three enduros in my life, but I have off road raced,
off and on for over 35 years. I have always just keyed off of a A or fast B
rider on my minute.

This time at the Byron enduro, I actually got a watch, roll chart and odo
on my bike. Even made my own roll chart showing every minute and
corresponding mileage. I was looking forward to trying to actually keep
time and add that element to racing.

This restart formula just sounds like a modified hare scramble and I
would still due it, but it kind of takes the enduro out of enduro!

O.K., this is my time to sound off. I love riding a Time Keeping Enduro. The Problem is, not that many clubs can pull it off correctley. Training checkers for in checks is a nightmare. Everyone has their own interpertation of how to burn people. And honestly, the people working most of these checks rarely if ever ride an Enduro. But their supposed to be experts on the rule book from the AMA. I bet most have never even read the rule book themselves, they just had someone tell them what the rule says. I have seen checkers leave their check to burn me, have clocks that are off 5 seconds to burn me and all the while they say I am cheating. Dude, I see the check and will go in when my computer says to, so chill out. If I burn one, and it happens, that means I actually rode into the check too early. Not because I dabbed my foot(Leagal) or you came walking out of your check to see me(Illeagal) or your clock is off 5 seconds to the start clock. This is really a problem for the sport in general. And if you don't agree fine, but when you have 30 people in the AA class you as a club better have your act together, because the AA riders know the rules.

Thats why I like the restart format better. It just ends the controversry. And I would also be just fine with the traditional time Keeper with some relaxing of the rules a little on Secret checks. Make it easier for both clubs and riders to be on the same page. Or just use some more common sense as a club on in checks. Again, think about how many races have had to lose checks because of improperly placed in checks. Then when that happens you as a club may lose the best section of your race. Is it worth it just to try and burn 5 people, when 200 people just rode that section but it won't count now. Worse yet you may have just lost one of your emergency sections. Think about it, then reply. You don't have to agree with me, but if your honest, you know most of this stuff has happened to all of us riding Enduros.  Lets make it better for all of us, Riders and Clubs.    

As a follow up to my Byron event and timekeeping. This was my first time
trying to keep time, with just a watch, rollchart and odo. I have to say, I
was quite pleased at my ability to understand my timekeeping.

I did spend some time making my own rollchart with each minute posted
and corresponding mileage. This helped tremdously. At the top of every
minute, I knew exactly if I was hot or slow. By the middle of the race I
was figuring "possibles" and timekeeping to the tenth of every mile.

A basic understanding of where checks can be placed, free zones and
how each different time averages, relates to speed is also necessary. A
couple of hours of homework and your ready to go.

Best thing about this is, if you are even remotely close to being on time,
when you hit the open sections, you can just cruise slowly and think
about your time and upcoming possible checks. The thing I have always
hated about H.S. racing is having to go WFO across the big fields. Not
much fun going over the bars at 60mph.

Back to the question, I would hate to see the timekeeping go away. It
adds a mental element to the game, which is fun. And I'm no genius, if I
can figure it out, so can you. Math was my worst subject in school, that is
when I bothered to go.

Edited by 2whlrcr