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18-591: Megavalanche (nicknamed "Mega") is a enduro mountain bike race held annually at the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in the French Alps since 1995, and annually on the island of Réunion . The Alps event, being the more widely publicized and famous among downhill cycling enthusiasts, starts on the glaciated summit of Pic Blanc in Huez and descends to the valley bottom at Allemond , for a total of over 2,600 vertical meters (8530 feet) and

36-422: A 20 km (12 miles) distance. The mass-start race is known for its fast speeds and winding turns over varying terrain, with hundreds of riders descending the mountain at once. Famously, racers are allowed to progress down the mountain by any reasonable means, and riders often cut corners and walk their bikes for extended periods of time. Many other enduro races have similarly lenient course guidelines. Despite

54-401: A breadth of skill, on multi-discipline cycles. Lightweight XC bikes may lack sufficient suspension for fast downhill control, while full downhill bikes may not allow a rider to climb the uphill sections efficiently. In some countries, the term enduro is considered a contraction of "endurance". The origins of enduro mountain bike racing come from some inspiration from both car rally such as

72-594: A few small sprockets instead of the 12 sprockets found on other types of mountain bikes. Downhill bikes need very strong tires and wheels. The standard wheel size for downhill bikes is 27.5, but with recent changes to UCI World Cup Downhill rules, some brands are experimenting with 29″ and "mullet" 29″ cross 27.5″ downhill bikes. Tires are usually 2.5-2.6″ wide, plus tires are 2.8-3.0″. Plus tires are only used in recreational riding, not competition. Downhill bikes are typically made of steel, aluminum or carbon fiber . Some manufacturers have started using 3d printed "lugs" for

90-416: A more supple ride at higher speeds. Other innovations include the use of OnePointFive head tube standard, which uses a 1.5 in (38 mm) wide steerer tube , instead of the more conventional 1.125 in (29 mm) diameter, for added stiffness and strength. Most downhill bikes use dual crown forks which allow longer travel at the front(usually 203 mm or 8 in and increased stiffness that

108-806: A rider's performance on the physically demanding transfer stages does not affect his or her result, they often have a time-limit, or a latest allowed arrival-time for the start of the next stage. According to the Enduro World Series 2015 Rule Book, a minimum of four special stages is required per event, a minimum of three different courses must be used, and the results will be calculated by adding all stage times together for each rider. Enduro differs from cross-country (XC) racing which usually has more emphasis on cardiovascular fitness and less emphasis on technical ability, and pure downhill racing , which may contain little to no cross-country or climbing. Enduro's 'All Mountain' discipline therefore favours riders with

126-418: A significant increase in participants from outside France, likely driven by an increase in press coverage of the event. The 2013 race saw 2000 riders in attendance from over 30 countries. On November 11, 2018, Edwards issued a statement notifying participants that the 2018 Réunion Mega race was cancelled. He stated UCC race organizers had "taken note of the prefectural orders not to authorize the organization of

144-502: A single crown fork cannot offer. Drawbacks though, are increased weight and reduced turning radius. Downhill bikes usually have hydraulic, quad piston disc brakes , and the discs may be 200 mm or larger. Brake discs and calipers may come with finned heatsinks for better heat dissipation. Downhill bikes usually have a chain guide to prevent accidental chain derailment. Some manufacturers are experimenting with internal gearboxes for improved reliability. Cassettes will usually only contain

162-683: A time-limit, but are not part of the accumulated time. Enduros typically take place over one or two days, however, week-long competitions also exist such as the Trans-Savoie (France), the Andes Pacifico (Chile), and the Pisgah Stage Race (United States). A typical one-day enduro consists of 3 to 5 timed stages which take place on technically demanding, generally descending terrain, and often with sections of singletrack . These stages are linked by predominantly ascending "transfer" stages. Although

180-588: A typical mountain bike, durability and stability are the most important design features, compared to lighter, more versatile cross-country bikes. Downhill bikes are primarily intended for high-speed descent, and downhill riders will usually shove, or shuttle via chairlifts or motorized vehicles, to the trailhead. Downhill bikes share similarities with freeride bikes due to their large strong frames and increased travel. These bikes will also have very slack head tube angles (63 degrees or less), long wheelbases (over 45 inches or 1,143 mm), and will accommodate

198-704: The World Rally Championship and motorbike enduro racing. Mountain bike enduro is essentially the competitive side of the mountain biking format often referred to today as "All-Mountain". It arose from everyday mountain bike riding, which originally entailed riding to the top of the mountain and then racing to the bottom. The first reported enduro race, using the modern format, was held in August 2003 in Val d' Allos . Earlier enduro-style local races were run in Italy, New Zealand, and

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216-493: The Reunion Island Megavalanche race. Since 2014, the format of the event follows three main days: Enduro (mountain biking) Enduro is a type of mountain bike racing where the downhills are timed, and the uphills are mandatory but not timed. Riders are timed in stages that are primarily downhill, with neutral "transfer" stages in between. The transfer stages usually must be completed within

234-539: The Trek Session 9.9 or Kona Supreme Operator. Dual crown e-bikes typically weigh 25–35 kg (55–77 lb). Adjustable head tube angles are also available to adapt the bike to the owner's preferred style of riding. Will typically have 7–10 inches (178–254 mm) of rear suspension travel, and be designed around a 7–8-inch (178–203 mm) suspension fork . The suspension sag is also much higher than cross-country bikes (25%-50% of total travel vs. 10%-20%) for

252-543: The UK during the 1980s and 1990s. A precursor to the modern enduro format was the rallye format based on time stages and unlimited liaisons. However these races, located in France, tended to be more cross-country rather than downhill orientated. Downhill bike A downhill bike (also known as a downhill mountain bike ) is a full suspension bicycle designed for downhill cycling on particularly steep, technical trails. Unlike

270-460: The event", due to the yellow vests protests taking place across France. Megavalanche organizers announced in 2018 a series of races entitled the 'European Mass Start Series', including the Megavalanche race and other races dubbed 'Maxiavalanches' (using the same mass-start format), to take place in 2019. The winner of the series' races will receive travel, accommodations and entry fees covered for

288-463: The first downhill tracks in Europe. The first race, held in 1995, saw 400 riders in attendance. The race has been managed by Edwards since its inception, and is organized by his company, UCC. The exact route of the course may change from year to year, depending on terrain and weather conditions, taking riders between 20 minutes to over 1 hour to complete, but on average lasts 35-50 minutes. The 2007 race saw

306-403: The inherent dangers, officials state that injuries are modest, and that the race is less dangerous than it may seem to outsiders. The course is designed to slow the riders down around tight curves and the width of the glacier at the race's start line allows the riders to spread out. The Megavalanche race was the creation of mountain bike pioneer George Edwards, who was involved in creating some of

324-509: The use of up to 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) width knobbed tires. Downhill frames are also overbuilt to handle the stress of riding over rocky terrain, drops , and jumps . Bike weights have been typically over 34 lb (15.4 kg), but modern downhill bikes have broken the 30 lb (13.6 kg) weight barrier (with some custom builds on carbon frames weighing between 27–29 lb (12–13 kg)). Some newer (2014/5) downhill bikes can be built to weigh under 30 lb (13.6 kg), such as

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