Enduro roundup 2026

“ It is actually just going out for a
ride with mates in a social and fun atmosphere”

Enduro- the sport which should have consulted a PR team before it chose a name.

Christened after its motorbike cousin, it conjures up an image of some sort of gruelling Tour de France stage, when it is actually just going out for a ride with mates in a social and fun atmosphere.

Once you head out on your bike, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to get to the top, the clock only runs for your downhill sections.

The fitness required is the same as that for going out for a ride on a weekend for four-five hours which includes chatting, eating snacks, acting like an idiot and, for some participants, having a cigarette and a pint.

I returned from a week-long mountain biking trip in June, absolutely fizzing and declared that I should enter the Scottish Enduro series 2027 as a “fun” challenge; after checking out some of the routes it took in 2026, it slightly chilled my enthusiasm.

So thankfully this year, I stuck with events which seemed particularly cuddly, fluffy and approachable.

Tartan enduro series - Glenlivet - May 2026

Nae craic obviously, as there were no other hervelos there. Glenlivet was supremely well organised, with a lovely atmosphere. It was a treat to check out the trails for the first time - the two family-friendly techy tracks on the course were a highlight. 

Bolly skyline enduro - July 2026

The fingerprints of Josh Bryceland’s good-spirited love of the sport are all over the event. I particularly like his “grins not wins” emphasis for the day. The race allows you to ride trails in his (literal) backyard beside the Peaks district which are not normally open to the public. These were a completely different style of trail from what we ride here, with a cool mixture of sandy chutes, rocky gnar and stylish sends.

Practice day was Friday and thankfully, the eminently organised Kirsty McCarlie helpfully informed me that my plan for practice day would have seen me arrive once practice had basically closed for the day, so I slightly rejigged my morning to a bracing 5am start, with 5 hour drive. Practice day involved hot, uphill grassy slogs, being passed by hordes of people on e-bikes, queuing at the top and watching people crash on the trails in front of you. By the end of it, I was questioning why, in the name of enduro, I had signed up for this.

Raceday itself saw a huge rally in my morale as we started at a cool 8.30am without a group start, a completely chilled start to the ride. We enjoyed no queues at the start of every trail and any time I looked behind and saw some hulking dude queuing behind me, I just politely asked them to give me an extra headstart and so never had to contend with anyone passing me on the trails - bliss.

The trails were all great whoops and hollers, we had a blast. Nice additions included a compulsory no-practice stage and fuel station with DJ on the vinyls. It was interesting to see the difference between the trails after 800 people had been down it on practice day. The last stage had turned from a child's sandpit to the sandmonster scene from The Mummy - a few grown men took a look at the start and decided against it, while Kirsty didn’t bat an eyelid and sent it down with confidence. All in all, a great event, great atmosphere and also a place to go if you want an after-party.

Below a video of the race made by Kirsty!

Tartan Enduro Series - Tarland - August 2026

Anna McEwan

With 3 of the 33 female entries, Hervélo made a great stab at world domination with this 10% offering.

A mass start made this a bit more intimidating than the other enduro starts, but the crowds quickly dissipated as we all went about riding in wee gangs. The trails chosen were great craic, with Project mushroom being my favourite.

Again, I asked any XY chromosomes queuing behind me to give me a little bit of extra time before dropping in and it meant I never needed to contend with people careening down behind me on the trail - very relaxing!

Katie Hughes

Katie Hughes ran out of water and had to borrow some from a child, probably due to the fact that she chose to ride the (for “fun”) timed uphill stage twice. Once was more than enough for me and Anna McEwan decided to save her energy for the down. Obviously, a good strategy as Anna came first place in the Senior 35+ female category, smoking second place by almost TWO minutes, placing 5th female overall. A great show by team Hervelo!

Overall, three events of great craic and fantastic fun, with the added blessing of no mechanicals, injuries or major weather events.

Here’s to the Scottish Enduro Series next year.

Maybe.

Jeanne