Raphaela Richter, a nine-time German National Enduro Champion, is gearing up for her eighth season of racing in the Enduro World Cups. Her journey to the top has been marked by both triumph and adversity, with a shoulder injury nearly derailing her progress in the 2025 season. However, she persevered, finishing 7th at the World Championships and 2nd at the final round of the EDR series, showcasing her resilience and determination. This off-season, she took the opportunity to address her shoulder issue surgically, and I'm happy to report it was successful. In January, Rapha shared an insightful video about her journey to becoming a privateer again, expressing her excitement for the upcoming season and the mental health benefits of riding a bike.
The bike she will race on is the 2nd generation Crossworx DASH MLT with mixed wheels, a 440 mm reach and 32 mm stem. The handlebar is from Bike Ahead Composites, offering it in two layups: a 105 kg layup certified for ASTM 3, or a 130 kg layup for e-Bikes, certified for ASTM 5 riding. Rapha uses the latter in a 30 mm rise with 8.5 degree backsweep and 5 degree up, cut to 720 mm.
The DASH is a linkage-driven single pivot delivering 160 mm of rear wheel travel, with a 170 mm travel Intend Carbonite fork it has a 64 degree head angle and a 78 degree seat angle. The wheelbase is 1210 mm and the chainstay makes up 444 mm of that. The BB sits at 340 mm. Completing the drivetrain is a 155 mm carbon crankset and 30T chainring from Hope, and a Garbaruk 11s cassette. She is training on this setup but will upgrade to 12s with a SRAM XX1 derailleur for the races.
The Intend Carbonite fork weighs an impressive 2 kg, some ~700 grams lighter than the Fox Podium where the uppers are made of a 7000-series aluminum, not carbon. It is paired with an Intend Hover Monocoque shock in 230 mm x 65 mm, with a custom Cerakote finish that is said to be good at dissipating heat. The carbon wheelset is from True BC, laced to DT Swiss 350 hubs. The 29" wheel has a rim with their "HD" layup with a 32 mm internal width and 28 spokes. In the rear, the 27.5" wheel is of the heavier DH variety, but also with 28 spokes.
Raphaela runs Schwalbe Radial tires; it's a Magic Mary Gravity Ultrasoft out front, with a Tacky Chan Gravity Ultrasoft in the rear. She is able to go to pressures as low as 1,1 / 1,3 bar (or 16 / 19 PSI) in very wet, soft conditions. Back to the cockpit, we have Hope GR4 EVO brakes run at a very specific angle of 35 degrees. They are paired with Hope's 203 mm floating rotors. Providing additional protection are the Sendhit Nock V3 hand guards. Rapha opts for the 30 mm Ergon GDH grips, which are the slim option.
Hope Union TC Pedals, a 160 mm Bikeyoke Revive 3.0 dropper and an Ergon SM Women saddle complete the rig. Personally, I think Raphaela's bike setup is a testament to her commitment to her sport and her desire to push the boundaries of what's possible in enduro racing. What makes this particularly fascinating is the mix of locally produced components and those from further afield in Europe, showcasing the diversity and innovation in the industry. In my opinion, this bike setup is a perfect blend of performance and style, and I can't wait to see how it performs in the upcoming season.
One thing that immediately stands out is the attention to detail in the bike's design and construction. From the custom Cerakote finish on the shock to the specific angle of the brakes, every component has been carefully chosen to optimize performance and durability. What many people don't realize is that this level of craftsmanship and attention to detail is not just a matter of aesthetics; it's a reflection of Raphaela's dedication to her sport and her commitment to pushing the limits of what's possible in enduro racing.
If you take a step back and think about it, Raphaela's bike setup is a microcosm of the broader trends in the industry. The mix of locally produced components and those from further afield in Europe reflects the growing trend towards sustainability and innovation in the industry. This raises a deeper question: how can we as a community continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in enduro racing while also promoting sustainability and innovation?
