Weapons of Choice: 20 Bikes from Scottish Enduro Series Round 1

Do you want to know what bike the enthusiastic UK enduro racer rides these days? We stopped the first 20 riders on their way up to the top of Stage One of the opening round of the Scottish Enduro Series to see what they were riding, and ask them what’s their favourite thing about their bike. Looking at the amazing machines on show it looks like Enduro is alive and well in the UK.

James Burns: "It would be the 170mm travel forks for when things get rough." — James Burns: “It would be the 170mm travel forks for when things get rough.”

Kyle Beattie: "I get more stoked than an artichoke on the 29er wheel steeeeeeze as it shreddddz with easeeeeee if you pleasee." — Kyle Beattie: “I get more stoked than an artichoke on the 29er wheel steeeeeeze as it shreddddz with easeeeeee if you pleasee.”

Donald Rogers: "My favourite thing about my bike is it feels like a monster truck through the rough stuff and flattens out the steeps which is rad." — Donald Rogers: “My favourite thing about my bike is it feels like a monster truck through the rough stuff and flattens out the steeps which is rad.”

Julia Ferguson: "The best thing about my Pivot Mach 6 is it's amazing balance and ability to handle all types of terrain, especially steep and technical, being an XS frame it's perfect for the smaller rider, it's a real confidence inspiring multi tool of a bike." — Julia Ferguson: “The best thing about my Pivot Mach 6 is it’s amazing balance and ability to handle all types of terrain, especially steep and technical, being an XS frame it’s perfect for the smaller rider, it’s a real confidence inspiring multi-tool of a bike.”

Andrew Macpherson: "Had this bike from release day and it rides amazing, for price and performance YT can't be matched." — Andrew Macpherson: “Had this bike from release day and it rides amazing, for price and performance YT can’t be matched.”

John Charlton: "I like how it descends, I'd say it's almost as capable as my downhill bike and it climbs pretty well to!" — John Charlton: “I like how it descends, I’d say it’s almost as capable as my downhill bike and it climbs pretty well to!”

Johnpaul Cunningham: "For me, whether I'm sessioning local turns with the dog, having all day epics with mates, or pinning a race run, all the stresses of life disappear and I'm completely involved in that moment right there usually grinning from ear to ear. It's what keeps me sane man (well just about!)" — Johnpaul Cunningham: “For me, whether I’m sessioning local turns with the dog, having all day epics with mates, or pinning a race run, all the stresses of life disappear and I’m completely involved in that moment right there usually grinning from ear to ear. It’s what keeps me sane man (well just about!)”

We did not manage to catch up with Sean Johnson for comment, but his Canyon looks great fun! — We did not manage to catch this guys name for comment, but his Canyon looks great fun!

Nicola Fell: "The best thing about my bike is that it puts a smile on my face every time I ride it! I crashed and broke my finger at the SES (my bike was ok though) and cant ride, I didn't know what to do at the weekend without my bike." — Nicola Fell: “The best thing about my bike is that it puts a smile on my face every time I ride it! I crashed and broke my finger at the SES (my bike was ok though) and cant ride, I didn’t know what to do at the weekend without my bike.”

Mikey Muldoon doesn't do Facebook so we could not track him down, but he looks stoked as on his Santa Cruz. — Mikey Muldoon doesn’t do Facebook so we could not track him down, but he looks stoked as on his Santa Cruz.

Gregor Nixon: "It descends like a mountain goat on steroids! A great technical descender that loves back wheel!" — Gregor Nixon: “It descends like a mountain goat on steroids! A great technical descender that loves back wheel!”

Jamie Todd is probably out saving lives on an oil rig somewhere, but took a podium spot on his Merida. — We could not get a comment from Jamie Todd as he is probably out saving lives on an oil rig somewhere, but he took a podium spot on his Merida.

Hope Jensen: "The best thing about this bike it how plush it feels, it just soaks up the trails! And if course the colour!" — Hope Jensen: “The best thing about this bike it how plush it feels, it just soaks up the trails! And if course the colour!”

Another name that slipped by, but this Lapierre looks all business!

Michael Strangeways: "The best thing about my bike is the plush maestro suspension that keeps things stable and helps compensate for the riders limited skillset."(eds note, Michael is being humble here, he cracks on...) — Michael Strangeways: “The best thing about my bike is the plush maestro suspension that keeps things stable and helps compensate for the riders limited skillset.”(eds note, Michael is being humble here, he cracks on…)

Alan Robertson: "Only one week old, came through the weekend never missed a beat, a quality all round bike much more capable than the rider" — Alan Robertson: “Only one week old, came through the weekend never missed a beat, a quality all round bike much more capable than the rider”

Graham Herron: "The process loves pointing downhill with the slack geometry, it's a handful but so much fun!!" — Graham Herron: “The process loves pointing downhill with the slack geometry, it’s a handful but so much fun!!”

Alan Turnbull: "The main reasons I get on with my Process is the uber long top tube, short chain stays and shed loads of stand over clearance, coupled with the slack geometry. all adds up to make a bike that handles well with tons of room to move around." — Alan Turnbull: “The main reasons I get on with my Process is the uber long top tube, short chain stays and shed loads of stand over clearance, coupled with the slack geometry. all adds up to make a bike that handles well with tons of room to move around.”

David Gregory: "The wicked is exactly what it says on the box, slack enough for the steepest downs smooth and plush for the rough, and climbs with the best of the rest." — David Gregory: “The wicked is exactly what it says on the box, slack enough for the steepest downs smooth and plush for the rough, and climbs with the best of the rest.”

Steven Turnbull: "The best thing about my bike is it's ability to take a severe hammering.. It's bomb proof!" — Steven Turnbull: “The best thing about my bike is it’s ability to take a severe hammering.. It’s bomb proof!”

Words and photos: Trev Worsey

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Weapons of Choice: 20 Bikes from Scottish Enduro Series Round 1

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