The 2025 Cherokee National Enduro continued 2025’s wet weather pattern with 1-2” falling Saturday night. All racers woke to wet grass and a slippery clay road through camp as we gathered for the 8:15am riders meeting. It was here that we learned key time was going to be pushed back an hour, and one of the test sections, the 7th of the day, was going to be cut from the enduro. As the riders meeting disbanded, talk quickly turned to how slippery the singletrack would be – Georgia clay has a reputation for a reason.

The drive for me to get to the Greensboro, GA area was a one day affair. My oldest kiddo had her high school graduation Friday night in Bonham. That left me getting up at the crack of dawn Saturday morning, making breakfast and coffee, and hitting the road. Google Maps says the 866 miles should take 12 hours and 50 minutes, but we all know gas, coffee, and pee breaks add to the time on the road. I pulled into camp around 9:15pm EST, unloaded the bike, dropped a bed, and crashed out.

One note for other clubs of National Enduros, if the event has an “away from camp” gas stop, please put that information out BEFORE the rider’s meeting. I created the Utility Can Caddy to make gas trailer gas stops easier for riders, but we still need to know that it’s coming to prepare what we want to have in the UCC at the gas stops. I don’t have a crew of people helping me at spectator points and gas stops. Putting the format of the race out before racers hit the road, even if the route sheet isn’t solidified, is helpful information for those of us driving across the country and who want to plan accordingly.

The race started right in camp, and we hooked a right hand turn into exposed roots and slick clay. We only had three riders on Row 41, Sean Billenstein (45+ A), Carsen Franklin (Enduro Futures), and myself (45+A). Yes, that’s two 45+A racers on the same row; May the odds be ever in your favor. I do believe we got lucky with only three racers, as we were supposed to have a full row. Row 42 behind us though had a AA racer, Scott Gawler, and a NE Pro1 racer, Jack Mentha. When we rode decently, they would pass us after 3 miles into a test section. When we didn’t, which was the majority of the time, they would pass us around 2 – 2.5 miles into a test section. Scott was 26th overall and Jack was 44th overall, so I got decent at hearing them coming and giving them space to zip on by. I will admit I am too liberal with the space and time I give them. I noticed in the footage I wasted 3 – 4 seconds a few times, I need to shore that up so I only waste the 1 – 2 seconds it takes for them to ride by.

Each test section had an extremely slippery section, a perfect dirt section, and a deep section. The slippery sections were the most prominent on the day, as the Saturday night rainfall made the Georgia clay like a slip ‘n slide covered in dish soap. I rode test one a little timid, I wanted to feel out the terrain, the singletrack, the arrowing, and the conditions. This led to Sean and I going back and forth a few times, which was honestly just fun. I know some riders could get frustrated in this situation, but in the long run I didn’t need to “win the day” in the first test section.

The start of the second test section was where I made a rookie mistake I haven’t made in a long time. We took a left hand turn and there was clearly a rider stuck in a deep rut. I looked to the left and right to see if I wanted to go high or to go low. I was going to go low, and started to make that directional change. But then I saw the rider in the rut start to make forward progress. I thought, “oh, he’s got this and it’s not as bad as I first expected”. For some reason I just pointed the bike directly INTO THE RUT, and the rider went nowhere. The stuck rider did get out, and I gave it the beans to get any momentum I could to try and clear the footpeg deep rut. Well, I caught a root on my right footpeg that stopped all momentum and killed the bike. I had found the reason for riders getting stuck and the rut forming. I got going again, ringing the poor EX350F out to the moon, and was quickly passed by Scott while I was in another rut. Reminder, if there is a rider in a rut, don’t ride into the rut to sit behind him. It’s just not a good plan.

Test 3 had the tight pine tree sections that reminded me of SERA races from back in the day. It was also the shortest test section on the day. I rode decently well, wiggling myself through the young growth pine, and attempting to latch on to Scott and Jack when they came by.

Test 4 was the test section I had a full test POV out from. I legit thought I was putting Test 3 out because I labeled it wrong in FCPX. I think I was still too tired from all the driving and racing. Test 4 was a really fun test section though, having just the right amount of wiggle tight and open flow.

Test 5 was the slickest on the day! Brendan Griner was on row 2 and he found me after he came out and told me it was SLICK. He wasn’t wrong. This section had some of the weirdest stripe down the middle of the trail. I’m not sure if it was from riders braking hard, or being on the gas hard. Either way, I know I wasn’t riding as aggressively as they were. My guess is that this section of trail had more clay, which the moisture just turned into the least fun slip ‘n slide I’ve ever ridden.

Test 6 seemed to be the fastest test section of the day. It still had some slick sessions, but the trail itself was the most open. Even though I thought I was riding the same I had been throughout the day, two more riders from my class beat me, knocking me down to 6th place in my class. Nice work to them, because they stepped it up at a time where I obviously couldn’t.

The more riders I pass in enduros, the more riders I see that need to stand up. We have so much more leverage on our bikes when we’re standing, especially when the trail flows. There are always going to be wiggle tight trails when we need to be up on the gas tank, but those are less than we think they are. If you’re wondering how to evolve toward standing more, force yourself to stand up all the time. You’ll start to strengthen your legs and lower back, as well as feel the times you should be sitting down. From there, bring in the intensity and you’ll be attacking the trail before you know it.

With a 7th place at Sumter and a 4th place at Cherokee, I am 4th place in the 45+ A class currently. That’s pretty cool to be sitting in the top 5 right now. There are a lot of races left, and I think even a drop round. So there’s no telling what the year will bring as we work our way Gobbler Getter in November. I know I have more in the intensity tank that I need to dig deeper for. I am still finding myself riding at too comfortable of a pace. Part of that I think is due to the sound the four stroke makes. It sounds like I am riding fast, when in reality, there’s loads more speed to be had. I knew what “fast” sounded like on the two stroke, but I’m very much under-riding the capabilities of the EX350. Attack and leave my ego at the start of each test section. From there, we’ll see what a good ride can do as the results come in.

Thanks to everyone who says hi at the races. It means a lot that you’re enjoying going on this journey with me. I hope you’re learning a few things as I learn them, and enjoy getting seat time!

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