2nd Annual Burning Bike and Strider Huge Rock Enduro 2014

You probably won’t encounter too many stories about events like the Burning Bike and Strider Enduro, because those events are one of a kind. Because this event has nothing to do with “real” racing, but everything to do with why we mountain bike, we include it here. Mountain biking brings us all together, provides friendships that can last a lifetime, and makes everything else in life that much sweeter. So now, we get the low-down from the people that inject the fun into riding, camping, and hanging out with your best buds. Straight from Liz, one of the Original Gangsters behind Strider Huge Rock Enduro!

I’m still in awe of the amazingness of last weekend… a total fun hangover that is lasting well over a week. Over Halloween weekend, 40+ people gathered for the 2nd Annual Burning Bike and Strider Huge Rock Enduro in Moab, UT. That’s right, I said Strider Huge Rock Enduro. An adult enduro race on Strider Bikes…the kid bikes with 16in wheels, rigid suspension, and fixed pedals mounted to the frame. Last year, an idea was born over a few bottles of wine between myself and Tricia Shadell, with the intention to bring our friends together at the end of the season to ride bikes in the desert and celebrate life on bikes.

At this year’s Burning Bike/Strider Enduro, we stepped it up quite a bit. Event Director Tony Bentley was able to secure a sponsorship with Strider Bikes who graciously sent us three bikes for the race. This week, the bikes will be donated to the Denver chapter of Trips for Kids, a non-profit organization that exposes the world of cycling to at-risk youth. Strider is giving away 7 bikes per day to special needs groups all over the country through mid-December as a part of their STRIDER Gives Back Campaign. We are proud and excited to help contribute to this campaign.

Racing Strider bikes is very serious business. In order to prepare for the race, which is held the second night of Burning Bike, it’s necessary to have a dance party. So on Halloween Night, instead of trick-or-treating, we hosted a glow stick, costume induced dance party on the rocks under the stars. Racers had a chance to get accustomed to the small Strider Bikes and practice the steep rocky descent finish of Stage Two which ended near the Burning Bike fire.

After two days of riding the best slick rock in Moab, and one evening of dancing, laughing, and merriment, we were ready to Stride. The 2nd Annual Strider Huge Rock Enduro included two timed stages and an uphill transition to Stage One. A mandatory riders meeting explained to racers the rules, and went over a course description.

Stage One was arguably the most technical with loose dirt, mandatory drops, and sharp tight turns. There was even a “Pro Line” which featured a one foot huck to flat. Caution tape warned racers of dangers while glow sticks lined the course boundary. Racers would be disqualified if they went outside the boundaries of the course!

Stage two was super fun! It weaved over the slick rock at the campground, and then after a sharp right-hand off camber corner (Lined by glow sticks of course!), racers would gain speed on the flat “stridy” section that wove its way between “tent city”. Loose dirt and tight corners through the tents ended with an uphill stride to the top of a rock and then quickly descended steeply to the finish by the fire and the cheering bystanders. Both Strider Racers and their equipment were required to cross the Strider finish line.

The commitment to the stride was unparalleled and people gave it their all through both stages. The pros even showed up to compete including men’s champion, Joey Schusler of Yeti Cycles. We also had quite a few who had never raced Enduro, including women’s champion, Taylor Dilley. Podium winners were announced and prizes given away including hand-made bicycle inspired jewelry by Leigh Bowe and t-shirts from First Chair Clothing. At the end of the evening everyone signed the wooden painted bike to symbolize our unity and then we put it in the fire to burn; putting an exclamation point on an epic weekend in the desert riding bikes with friends. We want to thank all of our sponsors and supporters, especially Yann Ropars for the awesome photos. Thanks Yann!

Words: Liz Cunningham | Yeti Cycles Ambassador | Burning Bike/Strider Huge Rock Enduro Event Co-Creator and Course Director | Connector of fun with friends

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