Connor Fearon Wins Regional Enduro Race on a Hardtail

May 8, 2019
by James Smurthwaite  

Connor Fearon has backed up his third place in the Tasmania EWS with a win in Round 1 of the Gravity Enduro South Australia at Fox Creek... except this time he did it on a hardtail.

photo

bigquotesSo fun at the first SA enduro. Thought I would spice things up and race the Honzo... didn’t know it would be so fast but there was a lot of sprinting and it came out on top.Connor Fearon

This may have only been a regional race but Connor still had some tough competition from Troy Brosnan and last year's series winner, Steven Gebert. Brosnan and Fearon swapped stage wins all day with Fearon taking four of them and ending up 4 seconds clear.

photo
photo
Photos: Andy Rogers

Results
Men

1st. Connor Fearon - 17:22.2
2nd. Troy Brosnan - 17:26.8
3rd. Steven Gebert - 18:04.9
Women

1st. Shelly Flood - 20:40.0
2nd. Amy Schwarz - 21:07.8
3rd. Emily Hill - 21:51.3

Full results here.

Author Info:
jamessmurthwaite avatar

Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

152 Comments
  • 233 2
 Let's bring on the bike check of his Honzo!
  • 3 1
 Yes pleeqeeaase! Bike check.
  • 20 1
 And a post-race back wheel check !
  • 90 0
 erm and it's not exactly like he was up against some goobers ...keeping Troy in 2nd place can not have been easy
  • 15 0
 And over 4 seconds at that.
  • 7 2
 Pffft... Troy Brosnan? The guy’s a complete Joey. What’s ya talking about? Hard to keep in second place indeed.
  • 8 0
 He was just lucky that Randy wasn't there in his tricycle, otherwise the results would have been wildly different!
  • 4 0
 Amazing to see though that the series winner last year is a whopping 40 seconds back from them though
  • 1 0
 @fattyheadshok: in Australia, we call em squids hehe
  • 78 3
 But was is a 29-27 hardtail?
  • 16 0
 But was it single speed?
  • 15 0
 Flat pedals?
  • 12 0
 water bottle holder?
  • 1 1
 must’ve been brakeless too, to beat everyone that far ahead
  • 2 0
 With chain?
  • 5 0
 Rigid? Flannel and beard with single orgin coffee in said water bottle?
  • 2 0
 but had it internal cable routing?
  • 7 1
 most importantly.... did it look like a session?????
  • 2 0
 @Boardlife69: with a goat story horn-shaped coffee mug so he could look like a d*ck...
  • 5 1
 A basket on the bars. The guy in E.T. was flying too.
  • 3 1
 did a dentist make an offer?
  • 56 0
 He just single handly increased the global sales of hardtails. Whoop
  • 7 0
 Bet hardtails already outsell full sussers
  • 3 1
 @mkotowski1: lol sussers
  • 5 0
 I have matched Strava times on my enduro bike with my 160mm forked HT. It can be done, but its horses for courses. If you have smooth sections or lots of flat out pedaling you're going to do well on a HT.
  • 8 11
 Been saying for ages hardtails are better than full suspension. Haha
  • 1 0
 @headshot: what bike are you on, I was thinking about getting a 160 ht but I have no idea where to start
  • 1 0
 @LucasHills-Field07: I have a cheap On One Dee Dar that I built up as a 26er with old parts including a 160mm Pike. The frame was on special at £120 at the time.
  • 44 0
 Connor is a hero. At the ews race in rotorua on 2 separate stages I was being a bloody good spectator and screaming abuse at all the riders. Out of all the riders I shouted at that day (Pro and amateur) Connor is the only one that responded in any way with a shout back, not only on one occasion but twice.
Anyone that takes time to answer back to some hecklers is a legend in my eyes.
  • 6 2
 Literally just became my favourite rider.
  • 7 4
 Yea you have to have a fs with a dropper or you are in an inferior positionnnnn it's not mountain biking!
  • 74 3
 Out being a little bitch somewhere
  • 16 37
flag owlie (May 8, 2019 at 20:01) (Below Threshold)
 making out with his BF
  • 41 5
 @owlie: Not that there’s anything wrong with that
  • 7 15
flag Boardlife69 (May 8, 2019 at 23:47) (Below Threshold)
 @Gassymagee: except for the mental image which cannot be unseen.
  • 8 0
 He's boiling frogs in the other comment section.
  • 7 0
 @Milko3D: calm down with frogs, it's not his business.
  • 2 1
 @WAKIdesigns shouldn't have an issue with this. Seeing as it's a sensible fork travel length.
  • 1 1
 @fracasnoxteam: haha, nice one Wink


I actually often agree with Waki's view of the world...until he goes off on a tangent. Like his drawings as well. That's just for the record.
  • 1 0
 @Milko3D: he must be throwing them into already boiling water then, the bastard.
  • 1 0
 @Gassymagee: Definitely something wrong with @WAKIdesigns making out with anyone... Ergh
  • 20 5
 What do you little sausages want to say here? That I was right? That fork has no more than 140mm of travel. Looks 130 to me. Waki said: HTs eith more than 140 are stupid... check! That in order to ride fast on fs you need to clip in? Check! Or some other stupidity that maybe hardtails are generally faster than FS and this is a proof for it? Want to take credit for someone elses win on a HT so that you feel like you are just as fast? Connor would outpedal you on your silly pretentious choppers on his Operator (laughs hysterically)
  • 6 1
 @WAKIdesigns: we're just saying we like you and Pinkbike wouldn't be the same without you!


...might be better, but there's no way we can know for sure Wink


Now, off to ride my choppa...
  • 6 2
 @Milko3D: I am dumb but I would be much dumber if I didn’t have people arguing with me. Keeps me sharp. Like edges of Hope products!
  • 8 1
 @mkotowski1: if you said: out being a btch/ahole to someone somewhere, would be very true Smile

All hail to Connor. He is one of my favorite riders of all times. The side knobs on his Minions have "help us!" written on them. Cornering God. He may be Senna of MTB.
  • 43 0
 First step, win on a hardtail. Second step, look like a backwoods serial killer on the podium. DONE!
  • 25 0
 I thought that the Enduro Hardtail was a fallicy. Seems I was wrong.
  • 6 0
 Logan took the 1st Chuckanut Enduro on a Raleigh Hardtail. That's a rough course!
loganwetzel.blogspot.com/2013/10/chuckanut-enduro.html
  • 20 0
 I think we need a Pinkbike comparison. Enduro hardtail vs enduro full suspension, timed on the same track back to back.
  • 16 0
 Was the carbon.
Interview for those keen: cog.konaworld.com/connor-fearon-rides-honzo-cr-to-enduro-win
  • 18 1
 the Honzo is not an hard tail, it's a Honzo
  • 16 0
 Please please full bike check
  • 14 2
 if photo is representative of the track in general, seem like a hardtail could actually be an advantage in the right hands.
  • 5 0
 He did mention there was some sprinting in places. Super aggressive move to run a hardtail and flats though!
  • 20 0
 This was my first race in Elite racing against these guys and obviously got my arse handed to me. The track pictured (stage 6) is actually one of the roughest, known locally as The Boobshaker, 2nd gen forestry with old stumpholes everywhere. But there were lots of flat out pedally sections and conditions were all-time super tacky hero-dirt.
  • 5 0
 @watermouse: Probably also known as the "moobshaker" by some too...
  • 11 1
 Any suspension, no matter how poorly designed, can be made to work reasonably well if you just stop it from moving. -Colin Chapman
  • 9 0
 Maybe I'll sell mine now and make bank while everyone is still wiping the drool of their face..... honzo 4 sale 10k.. PM me Smile
  • 2 0
 This guy's crazy...I'll sell mine for 9k
  • 6 0
 It's really cool that you've done a piece on racing hardtail in enduro. I have been racing hardtail for several years. I've won the British Enduro Series Open Women overall and the Welsh Enduro Series Over 30's women overall. I have also podiumed in several DH races. If you want an interview both for a cool article and to raise the profile of womens mtb then let me know.
  • 10 0
 Connor put the fearon Brosnan.
  • 2 0
 #DCAF
  • 9 0
 I think more people should race hardtails on enduro.
  • 2 0
 They were legion 10 years ago when everyone wanted to try the new discipline
  • 9 1
 wonder if Troy went "you MFer" again
  • 9 2
 I’m glad it worked for him and he showed no Fearon losing to Troy
  • 7 0
 And based on the first photo, looks like he did it on flat pedals too!
  • 8 1
 Flats ftw
  • 9 1
 downcountry AF
  • 6 0
 Congrats to Fearon! That's a great thing. I love an aggressive hardtail.
  • 6 0
 Geo 50%, tires/brakes 30%, suspension 20% and I'm sticking to that!
  • 3 0
 True. Just add a stout fork in there somewhere. Almost gotta have a stout fork to ride an aggressive hardtail on fun trails.
  • 2 0
 @babymorox: agreed.
  • 5 0
 100 odd comments and still nobody says it. Looks like I’ll have to again.

Yeaaaaaahhhhh Connor.
  • 4 0
 Carbon frame ,carbon wheels ,short chain stays and no daft over forked or over slack ht wins race. So many fingers to so many haters I love it.
  • 3 0
 so sick! I tried to do the same thing on my SCB Chameleon a while back and ended up just KO'ing myself OTB on a little finish line jump haha.
  • 1 0
 If anyone can show me how you fit anything bigger than a 2.35 on the back of a Honzo Carbon, please do pray tell???

I have a 2.25 Ardent on the back, desperately want to put on a 2.4 something but there's no way it'll fit.

How did they get a 2.5 on Connor's bike?
  • 5 0
 Huge boost for Kona. Dayummm
  • 5 0
 @hardtailparty Your people are winning.
  • 3 0
 Woot! I was stoked when I heard this.
  • 4 0
 People saying the course would "suit a hardtail" - no lockout on the other racers' full sus bikes?
  • 4 0
 A proper write up would have shown how much of a feat this was. Coupd have at least mentioned the track conditions.
  • 3 0
 Connor Fearon has been a favorite of mine for years. Congrats, and big ups for representing the hardtail crews out there! No easy feat considering the competition!
  • 1 0
 I wonder how his knees are... my only fully is my DH bike, so I'm in favor of rocking the HT. I bet you could have a great fully for enduro though with the longer travel fork and a stiff 80-120 rear to take the edge off the bigger hits.
  • 4 0
 couples that win together stay together...
  • 4 1
 Is that as far as the report goes. No information on his ride or set up? Anyway glad someone is out there keeping it real!
  • 9 0
 But but... it's carbon! You can't be happy about that!
  • 6 2
 On We Are One carbon rims too! Wink
  • 2 1
 @WayneParsons: did they have your signature on them? Wink
  • 1 2
 @bishopsmike: It would have made it down!! ????
  • 1 0
 Wow just realized how short Brosnan is after I thought he was in 3rd, then I realized the other guy indeed had a lower podium step but made up for it with significant height. I feel ignorant. LOL
  • 3 0
 Was wondrring what to ride today, gonna go with the hardtail - i am easy to maipulate
  • 3 0
 C.F. has always been a beast of a rider. Well done sir!
  • 3 0
 Yeah for the Honzo. Those things rip down hill.
  • 3 0
 Would've been 10 seconds up if he'd been on a Steel Honz!
  • 2 0
 Dave Harder won the Canadian National Enduro Series overall twice on a hardtail.
  • 1 0
 Guys that ride with no gloves are the rider that I aspire to be. Just a cool nonchalant look. Yet I still put gloves on every single time.
  • 3 0
 Wait, what?
  • 3 2
 I remember a certain prototype hardtail won at 'Ard rock some years back... #veganpowered
  • 2 0
 Dave Harder won one of the first BC enduro series overalls on a Chromag if I recall correctly. Maybe 2014?
  • 4 0
 @ratedgg13: yes, he passed me on a steep stage in Revy like I was stopped
  • 4 1
 Flats for the win!
  • 1 0
 Makes me wanna enter a race on my honzo replica tranny vanquish. That also kicks arse way better than it should do
  • 2 0
 How to sell a billion honzo step 1
  • 3 0
 Wer kann, der kann Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Go Steve, he probably won't be stoked with 3rd but bloody good effort and good start to the year.
  • 2 0
 What bike was he riding?
  • 2 0
 Honzo.
  • 3 0
 Carbon Honzo
  • 5 0
 It says Kona Honzo in his quote. Not sure if that's steel, aluminum, carbon, or titanium, or if he kept it 29" front and rear. Angle-set? So many unanswered questions!
  • 34 1
 @mmoon: an unconfirmed source says he was chewing Orbit gum (wintergreen flavor) for stages 2-4 and hadn't clipped his toenails for 17 days. not sure about you guys, but those were the questions keeping me up at night.
  • 1 0
 @mmoon: third picture definitely indicates the carbon. It looks like it's a 150 mm Pike on the front.
  • 1 0
 @sk133872: Thanks for the tips, I just got to find the gum!
  • 1 0
 @mmoon: Looks like their latest carbon frame from the pic.
  • 4 0
 I asked him on Instagram and he said 120mm but he wishes it was at 140mm. @briceps:
  • 2 1
 Once again proving it's not about the bike. Awesome!
  • 1 0
 Fearon to race hardtail at Fort William. FTW
  • 1 0
 Flat foot hard arse'n like a boss
  • 2 0
 legend!
  • 2 0
 So sick
  • 1 0
 Also it seems you need a Kona of any sort to win this event
  • 2 0
 And beating brosnan too!
  • 1 0
 #thingsthatarentsurprising
  • 2 0
 I wish Randy was there
  • 1 0
 Even on the Enduro Rides poor Troy keeps getting 2nd ????????
  • 1 0
 Troy is probably the best rider in the world at almost winning.
  • 1 0
 ..
  • 1 0
 What'd Troy ride?
  • 4 0
 Spectral CFR
  • 1 0
 sooooooooo dhope
  • 1 0
 Freaking bad ass.
  • 1 0
 So freaking cool.
  • 1 2
 OH MY GOD... what size wheels?
  • 1 0
 I can’t tell if you’re serious
  • 1 0
 @wimcdo: I was not at all serious, just being a Richard about they hype driven trends.
  • 2 2
 downcountry!
  • 1 2
 thats not even the big honzo (enduro version), that is the xc frame!
  • 1 0
 Big Honzo is not an enduro bike, and the Carbon Honzo is not a XC frame... there just Honzo's!
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