OFF ROAD ENDURANCE EVENTS HAVE HELD A PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF AMERICANS FOR DECADES. REQUIRING STAMINA, TECHNICAL SKILLS AND A WILL TO ENDURE, THESE ENDURANCE EVENTS CAN TAKE MANY FORMS SUCH AS 24 HOUR RACES, POINT TO POINT ENDURANCE RACES AND GRAVEL GRINDERS. ALL OFF ROAD ENDURANCE EVENT PARTICIPANTS SHARE A COMMON LOVE OF PUSHING THEIR LIMITS IN ISOLATED AND BEAUTIFUL AREAS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND OFTEN ALONE.
Endurance Cycling & Trail Running
The 6, 12 & 24 hour category of events are considered timed endurance races and take place on a closed course that usually falls in the 3 – 15 mile length.
Beginning with a mass start, racers attempt to complete as many laps as possible in the designated time (for example 24 hours). In the longer events, such as 24 hour races the racers are required to use lights to enable them to race through the night. Competitors consist of solo racers or teams with multiple team members such as 2, 4, 5 or 10 person teams. Teams are only allowed to have 1 team member racing at a time. A team member would race a lap and then pass a baton to the next team member who would begin their lap. At the end of the designated time the teams with the most laps in each category win the race.
Gravel grinders are off road cycling events that have mass starts and are held primarily on gravel or dirt roads but can include some pavement.
Gravel grinders can be ridden on gravel bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes or cyclo-cross bikes and the distance can vary from 25 miles to several hundred miles. Gravel Grinders utilize gravel & dirt roads as well as some pavement during the event. The first rider to cross the finish line in a gravel grinder is declared the winner.
POINT TO POINT ENDURANCE RACES CHALLENGE THE RACERS WITH A COURSE THAT GOES FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
These events have mass starts and can utilize a combination of dirt roads, double track & single-track courses. Point to point endurance events can include single day races and multi day stage races that have a designated course for each day. The first racer to cross the finish line is declared the winner.
OFF ROAD DUATHLONS COMBINE TRAIL RUNNING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING.
Off Road Duathlons combine 2 sports as racers must complete at least one trail running stage and one mountain biking stage in a duathlon. Distances can vary and the courses can be a combination of dirt roads, single and double track trails and often involve rough terrain or steep inclines.
MOST OFF ROAD ENDURANCE EVENTS OFFER AN EASY CROSSOVER FOR RUNNERS, MOUNTAIN BIKERS, CYCLO-CROSS AND ROAD CYCLISTS. UNITED STATES ENDURANCE "USE" IS COMMITTED TO THE POSITIVE GROWTH OF OFF ROAD ENDURANCE EVENTS BY PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO RACE DIRECTORS AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
National Sponsors
