Does every enduro rider have a self-destruction complex? To pedal up 1700m mountains in the blazing sun and deep summer dust seems to point to yes. Big days snaking up switchbacks and putting your tires to the dirt for hours on end certainly isn't everyone's idea of fun. And the uphill grind to downhill glory ratio doesn't always seem like a fair pay-off. Take Lord of the Squirrels in Whistler, Canada for example. Over three hours and 1400 metres of climbing for just over six kilometres of downhill? Does that seem like a good deal to you?
The answer? Hell yeah, it is. Ratios don't really matter to those who prefer to pedal. What matters is getting their asses in saddles and going for a ride. So that's what Joe Nation and Ronja Hill-Wright did. One day in Whistler - the mountainous mecca - to explore the highs and lows of enduro.
As the summers come and go, British Columbia's wildfire plague only seems to become more severe. This past summer was the worst year on record, with the government declaring a state of emergency as over 2000 fires burned throughout the province.
Luckily, Whistler remained largely untouched. However smoke blown in from the north hung in the air ominously, blotting out the sun and drenching the resort in a humidity like no other.
So Joe and Ronja thought it'd be a good time to hit the infamously exerting Lord of the Squirrels trail. That, and they wanted to put Mons' merino Air-Con bike jerseys to the ultimate test.
Though the trail rating is a blue, Lord of the Squirrels is, by all accounts, a black due to the sheer effort of getting to it. There are few different variations of the climb, but ultimately, we're talking about 20km+ uphill. It's a true backcountry experience. You sweat buckets to get to the top. And then you're immediately greeted by a gorgeous alpine landscape and all the temperature and weather conditions that come with it.
Merino has literally evolved for this kind of climate. Merino sheep are wooly badasses who spend most of their time in the high alpine doing sheep stuff. Their wool allows them to survive in extreme climates with very little sustenance. On hot days, the wool acts a natural air conditioning system and regulates the sheep's temperature while managing moisture. But when it's cool, the merino has a high warmth to weight ratio. Meaning that it's lightweight, but still warm. Oh and get this, because of the crimped structure of the fibers, it's difficult for bacteria to attach themselves to the wool, making it anti-odor.
Now imagine you're a merino sheep enduro biking. Okay not actually, but you can see why we made merino Air-Con for this kind of riding.
Merino sheep might not need much sustenance to survive, but you do. A full day of enduro riding calls for a pitstop at Camp Lifestyle and Coffee, a local guilty pleasure found in the heart of Function Junction. A quick bite and a little punch of caffeine energy and it's time to explore the lowlands of Whistler.
If you cross Highway 99 and have a clue of the right place to look, you'll find the Train Wreck site, one of Whistler's most unique destinations. At one point, this gem was an off-limits local secret. But since the Cheakamus bridge was installed, it's since become a popular area for wayward wanderers to walk amongst the decorative boxcars.
An observant passerby might notice the slow decay of former mountain biking paraphernalia, evidenced by the abandoned gap jumps, ladder bridges and dirt landings scattered in and around the boxcars. A stunt graveyard left behind from the shoot of a mountain biking film years prior.
Though most of these are not safe to ride, the rot creates some beautiful loam around the site, perfect for schlarping corners. A small but intricate network of trails lie nearby, with just the right amount of rock slabs and pinball corners to keep you grinning.
While the Mons Air-Con jerseys will no doubt keep you feeling light and airy in the low altitudes, nothing truly refreshes like a hard-earned beer. After a quick half hour pedal along Whistler's famous Valley Trail to the Upper Village, a cold brew goes down easy at local hotspot The Handlebar.
Look, it's not always bluebird and sunny on the days that you want to ride. Sometimes, Mother Nature even throws some smoky skies your way just to mix it up. But as an enduro rider, you know how to perform in the valley bottom and the high alpine, in any condition. We made our merino Air-Con jerseys to keep up with you. Now go ride your bike.
Can't get enough enduro riding? Us too. The long-awaited return of the Enduro World Series is kicking off at Crankworx Rotorua on March 24th and Mons will be there cheering on our riders. See you there.
Athletes: Joe Nation and Ronja Hill-Wright
Photos: Jay French
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