Course 1 of 5 · Before you ride
Safety & Setup
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Safety & Setup is the first course in the EnduroWow hard enduro training plan. It covers the preparation that makes everything else safer: how to manage risk on a remote ride, a simple STOP / GO rule for hard sections, the protective gear and standards that matter, how to set the bike up for slow technical riding, and what to do when someone gets hurt. Work through the five lessons before your first serious hard enduro ride, then come back to them as your riding gets harder.
Updated September 2026. Sources are listed below. How we work
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Why it matters
Hard enduro happens far from help. A reliable bike, the right protection and clear risk habits turn scary moments into manageable ones.
When terrain gets slow and technical, the consequences rise. You drop the bike on a ledge. You overheat the clutch halfway up a climb. You run out of water miles from the van. Most enduro injuries are to the arms and legs: a 2015 review of the research found "the extremities are the most injured parts in enduro", and most injuries were mild to moderate. But on a remote trail even a mild injury can mean a long wait. AdventureSmart UK warns that rescuers "may take several hours to reach you".
The goal is not zero risk. It's predictable risk with strong margins. Even the bike makers say so. KTM's owner's manual for its 2027 enduro bikes recommends that, off-road, "you be accompanied by another person with another vehicle so that you can help each other", and tells riders: "Do not make any off-road trips that exceed your ability and experience."
The five lessons
Each lesson is written for its own job. Read them in this order the first time.
| Lesson | What it answers | You'll use it |
|---|---|---|
| Safety & Risk Management | Where riders get hurt, how to plan a remote ride, how to call for help without signal, heat and fatigue | Before every ride |
| STOP / GO Decision Framework | When to ride a climb, drop or crossing, and when to scout, regress or turn back | At every hard section |
| Beginner Bike & Gear Guide | Which bike to start on, protection standards (ECE 22.06, EN 1621, EN 13634), what to carry | When buying and packing |
| Bike Setup & Maintenance | Sag, tyre pressure, gearing, bar and lever position, pre-ride checks | In the garage, and before each ride |
| First‑Aid Basics (Trail) | What to do after a crash: helmet, airway, bleeding, fractures, head injury, heat and cold | When it goes wrong |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
How to use this course
Read each lesson to understand the principles first, then apply them to your bike and your riding. Start simple and add layers as your terrain gets harder.
If you're new to hard enduro, this course sits alongside the fundamentals. Set your controls up for standing (Controls 101 has the checklist), get the right protection, and learn the STOP / GO words before your first steep climb. The Start Here page shows where this course fits in the full plan.
If you've ridden for years, the gear standards, the manufacturer sag figures and the first-aid guidance are the parts most worth checking. Both have moved on. Helmets now carry a newer approval series, ECE 22.06, and Resuscitation Council UK's 2025 guidelines say: "In cases of agonal breathing or trauma, do NOT move the person into the recovery position."
Before your first hard enduro ride
If you do nothing else from this course, do these.
- Wear a helmet with a current approval label that fits snugly, tall boots, knee protection, chest and back protection, and gloves.
- Set rear sag to your owner's manual figure and your levers for a standing rider.
- Check tyres, spokes, chain, brakes and controls before every ride.
- Ride with a partner and leave your route and return time with someone.
- Carry water, a first-aid kit, an emergency blanket and a charged phone, and know the emergency number where you ride.
- Agree with your group that anyone can call STOP.
- Book a first-aid course. The Highway Code's advice to every road user is to "learn first aid", and hard enduro riders are further from help than most.
You'll walk away with
- A mental model for on-trail decisions (STOP / GO) that the whole group can use.
- Gear and bike setup choices that favour traction, reliability and comfort on long, slow days, backed by the standards and the manufacturers' own figures.
- A minimalist first-aid and communications plan that you'll actually carry, and the confidence to use it.
Lessons in this course
1Safety & Risk ManagementSafety and risk management for hard enduro: where riders get hurt, how to plan a remote ride, call for help, manage heat and fatigue, and ride in a group.
2STOP / GO Decision FrameworkA STOP / GO decision framework for hard enduro: clear criteria for when to ride a climb, drop or water crossing and when to stop, scout, regress or turn back.
3Beginner Bike & Gear GuideA beginner bike and gear guide for hard enduro: which bike to start on, the protection standards that matter (ECE 22.06, EN 1621, EN 13634) and what to carry.
4Bike Setup & MaintenanceHard enduro bike setup and maintenance: sag from the owner's manual, bars and levers set for standing, tyre pressure, gearing and a pre-ride check.
5First‑Aid Basics (Trail)Trail first-aid basics for hard enduro: what to do after a crash, why the helmet stays on, bleeding, fractures, head injuries, heat and calling for help.