Victory for Morrison
One of the more demanding courses of the Enduro World Series, the stage in Olargues was described by many as “relentlessly technical†and with rain pouring before the start, the day was never going to bode well for those underprepared for the testy route ahead.
Morrison, knowing the course well, nailed the first corner and swiftly built an insurmountable lead – the Kiwi rider flying to the finish in a rapid, but composed fashion to snatch her first ever Enduro World Series stage win.
Oblivious to the result, Morrison didn’t actually realise that she had taken the stage until she brought up the time sheet on her phone – noticing a 1st place next to her name before the internet connection cut out.
LIV’s Enduro and MTB line
Rae Morrison and LIV’s unique Trail Squad all swear by the LIV Enduro and MTB line, the machines powering them to both Enduro World Series stage wins and success in the Absa Cape Epic – a stage race considered to be one of the hardest mountain bike races in the world.
Morrison’s LIV Hail Advanced is not yet available on our online shop, but it can be ordered on request to any of our stores – allowing serious enduro riders to race on a thoroughbred competitive machine, just like Rae herself.
The LIV Pique Sx, ridden by LIV’s Trail Squad, is available however and enters the enduro scene with a bang – an extremely versatile trail bike with an affinity for speed both uphill, and downhill. With superb 120mm suspension and a low stand over height, the Pique remains stable over the toughest of technical sections. The 27.5 inch wheel size is a nice touch, ensuring that handling is nimble and playful while remaining stable around tighter corners.
For their entry level model, LIV make no compromises in trail performance, their Embolden model just as nimble and speedy on the enduro trails. With a similar 120mm suspension to the Pique, the Embolden is just as stable over the trickier, more technical trails with powerful disc brakes providing that added confidence.
LIV also offer a versatile, recreational model in the form of their Bliss line-up. The Bliss 1 adopts similar shapes and geometries to LIV’s other models at a fraction of the price – ensuring that the freedom of cycling shouldn’t come with such a large investment.
The full Enduro package
The Enduro setup doesn’t just stop at the bike, those of you considering a life on the singletrack requiring a lot more than just a two wheeled, dirt-munching machine.
As much effort must be put into all the extra components, but what shoes do you wear? What’s the best pedal choice for optimum power transfer? And, most importantly, what’s the right helmet for the job?
For the optimum foot-pedal interface, with enduro racing in mind, nothing can quite compare to the combination of Motodiva MTB shoes with Shimano XTR SPD pedals – a durable and rigid shoe that is able to deliver maximum power through the ultra-secure XTR pedals, specifically designed for downhill and Enduro racing.
For Enduro racing, helmet choice often depends on the route and how sketchy the downhill sections are – but, more often than not, riders opt for full-face protection, ensuring that all boxes are ticked when it comes to safety. Bell’s Super 3R is designed with varying demands of MTB riding in mind, a removable chin bar for the longer, flatter races and a Float Fit system to keep the lid rock steady on the bumpier downhills.
Are you eager to channel your inner Rae Morrison and embark on your own enduro quest? Then check out what else Bicycle Chain have to offer in their Enduro/MTB range.
