MATT FRITZINGER USED TO laugh off suggestions that he grow his NorCal High School Cycling League to a national level. After all, he had enough on his plate as it was running the first-ever high school mountain bike league, an idea he conceived more than a decade ago while teaching math at Berkeley High School.
But, slowly things progressed. The NorCal League, established in 2001, ballooned from fewer than 100 riders in its first year to 500 kids on more than 40 teams by 2008. That year, the SoCal High School Cycling League formed with 14 teams and 100 riders thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Easton Foundations. Word started spreading and requests for leagues flooded in from nearly every state.
It became apparent to Fritzinger that some sort of national governing body would be necessary to facilitate new league development and promote and establish mountain biking as a legitimate interscholastic sport.
Ryan Trebon and Barry Wick have a new weapon in their race kits. While shooting the latest and greatest at the Crankworx festival in Whistler, Cyclocross Magazine contributor Joe Sales was able to catch a glimpse of the new all-carbon Kona Major Jake. The new photos provide a closer look at the updated ride that we profiled earlier this summer.
by Jamie Mack
In the world of ’cross bikes, 17 pounds is a respectable weight that many manufacturers claim for their average size frames. With a new ’cross frame revealed during the Sea Otter festival earlier this year, Kona has met that benchmark with the bikes built for two of the tallest riders in ’cross, Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks. Typically found on custom 62+cm frames, the Twin Towers of Kona ride some of the biggest, and perhaps heaviest, frames in the Elite field. But their new 2011 Kona Jakes are taking things to a lower level, in weight anyway, and giving the Kona duo a leg up on the competition. Cyclocross Magazine was able to check in with Barry Wicks and get the inside story on the new rides.
Kona was given a simple mission by their star riders – make a bike that was lighter, stiffer and faster than one of the most respected frames on the circuit. And don’t dare sacrifice the ride quality and durability that the scandium Major Jakes have shown over the past few years. And do it all in a 63cm frame. Nothing like a little pressure from the daunting pair of Elite ’cross riders to bring sweat to the brow of a few engineers and builders.
Read the rest of the review and see the photos HERE
One final test before the racers are allowed to rest, team Kona confirms with one final win – Rafter Six Ranch: Canmore, 46km, 1350m climbing/ 1350m descending
The final stage of the 2010 TR3 took riders from the civilized surroundings of Elkford, BC deep into the wilds of the Canadian Rockies and represented the last chance for the closely bunched top riders in the Open Men’s Division to move up in their divisions and grab more of the UCI points and Cash on offer.
Having split the first two stages, Max Plaxton (Shoair/Specialized) and Cory Wallace (KONA) were battling with Adam Craig for the overall title with everything to ride for on Stage 3. The race had three distinct stages, a long rolling approach climb followed by a sheer 1000-plus metre grind up to the day’s high point at the crossing of the Great Divide and finally a raw, steep and technical 15km descent to the finish line.
Kona Surges Back to top during Stormy Day in the Rockies – Anchor D Ranch: Little Elbow Camp, 54km, 1500m climbing/1300m descending
After a day of riding over and through the foothills of the Rockies to the west of Calgary, riders headed back into the heart of the mountains on Stage 5. In doing so, they left the mud and meadows of the cattle ranch lands behind entered the high peaks and spectacular valleys of Kananaskis Country.
The 54km route starting at Anchor D Ranch included no major passes or high-altitude rides but a relentless up and down profile and endless singletrack added up to another gruelling day in the Rockies for the over 200 riders still moving toward the finish line in the TransRockies.
The first couple of days Crankworx are well under way. It is a non stop show of the who’s who in the Mountain Bike world. Couple of key highlights.
• Joe Smith rides the Supreme Operator.
• Karim Amour takes fourth in the Super Enduro with Matt Slaven in 7th.
• Angi Weston rocks her category in the Garbonzo DH to take the win.
• Aggy gets his first autograph of the event. guess who’s it is? Remember this guy
• LifeCycles screening… It blows minds.
Stage 1 (August 8th) Fernie Time Trial, 31km, 1300m climbing. Barry and Kris take the first stage. Looks a little muddy to me. Cory Wallace takes third place behind Max Plaxton and Adam Craig. In the mix category, Wendy and Norm are sitting in third as well.
Day two today. Check back here on the Cog to see how the Kona factory riders fair.
BY NICOLE FORMOSA
