Category Archives: Kona UK

Kona Velocity wd-40 team race report


Another great day on Sunday where both the Youth A and Junior teams were racing at Hog Hill, Essex, UK; a podium for Matt Walls and top ten finishes for Jack Escritt and Christian Braybrooke aboard their Zing Supremes. We were also lucky enough to be accompanied on the day by the promotional girls from The WD-40 Company. They were a big hit in sunny Essex.

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Kona Crank Cycles Grassroots rider Thomas Davies, UK


Still just 14, Thomas had his first taste of downhill riding in February 2011. He took to it like a leech to a soggy dog – Two years on, he’s loving it; even managing to talk the Megavalanche organisers into letting him compete in the infamous Alpe d’Huez event when he was still only 13, qualifying just outside of the main pack to compete in the Affinity 1 group. Thomas has natural balance and a refreshing lack of fear – but he also works very hard at his riding. He can’t wait to ride the BDS and Pearce DH series’, especially at Fort William in a few short weeks. Thomas will be receiving tech and equipment support from Kona dealer Crank Cycles Ltd.

video: Max Wilman

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Best for adrenaline junkies: Tanuki DL by Kona


One of Kona’s most popular bikes with female cyclists, the Tanuki DL is a guaranteed energy-pumping ride built with 26-inch mountain wheels, perfect for adrenaline junkies looking to leave a trail in the dirt. Click image for more

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velocity wd-40 kona team race hard in Belgium

Off we go. Van packed, with the team Zing Supremes and three youth riders Alex Braybrooke, Adam Hartley and Matt Walls onboard and en route to Belgium for a weekend of top quality racing against the best on the continent. Read More

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Road.CC checks out Kona Rove & Road

“We’ve just popped over to Bristol to see what Kona have been brewing up for this year. And they’ve got some crackers on the road side. Kona have largely been known as a MTB brand on these shores but they’ve always had a good range of quality roadgoing machines, from the super-practical Africabike and Ute to sport and touring bikes, as well as an excellent CX range.” Read the full report here

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The Jake Diaries #6 – Rod Fountain

If Cyclocross is a winter sport then by now all the race tape and poles should have been collected, the coffee cups binned and the cow-bells put on the shelf until the local pub announces they’re screening the Tour de France. Fields and parks should no longer be racetracks, Sundays are yours again and there’s a really nice CX bike, or two, buried in your shed waiting for autumn to roll around again. Does anyone really only use their Cyclocross bike during ‘the season?’ In Molly Hurford’s excellent book ‘Mud, Snow and Cyclocross’ she is quick to dispense with the idea that people these days only ride Cyclocross by way of staying fit when the weather’s too shitty for riding a road bike. Read More

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2013 Kona Wheelbase Grassroots Update


The Kona Wheelbase Grassroots downhill team headed to Innerleithen on the weekend of 23/24 February for the first race of the season. The winter break has been a long one and this was the firstopportunity to see if the training had paid off and to race the updated 2013 Kona Supreme Operator. Unfortunately Dan had knocked his elbow the week before and was advised not to ride for a couple of weeks. Andy was riding in his first race in the Expert category and determined to do well. Read More

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Kona Zing Supremes get their first outing with the Velocity WD-40 Team


With Matt Gibson returning back to the North West after a gruelling week in Scotland with the Olympic Development Programme, it was just three Velocity WD-40 juniors to contest the traditional season opener here in the North West – the Clayton Spring Classic. With Alex Braybrooke having stretched his legs for the second week running at Marsh Tracks in Rhyl, trying to outgun the E123s the day before, it was Christian his brother getting the first taste of adult racing on open roads here in the UK, joining second-years Will Thomas and Andy Leigh on the start line. Read More

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Kona Chamberlaines Grassroots rider Matthew Webber – It’s all over!

The 2012/13 cyclocross season draws to a close after 5 months of riding, racing and training, and 28 hard fought races. It’s my second full season of cyclocross and it’s been a very different experience to Year One. This season was proper ‘cross.

Mud, mud and more glorious mud – broken bikes, burning legs and bright white smiles beaming out of filthy faces. The kind of mud where you have to work hard to go downhill and where the only line is the one that’s been carved out by the wheels of the rider in front. Read More

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Singletrack Magazine Review the Process


“I’d not read the spec, but just hopped aboard and went off for some bike riding. Two days later I brought it back in, smiling. The Process had handled everything with such little fuss that it was tempting to just assume it was just another trail bike.” Overall: “…fantastic fun for ‘hang on and grin’ descending and eye-wateringly fast trail riding.” Click image for more

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March issue of MBR magazine – The Kona Honzo


“Tight, direct and responsive, the Honzo is easily the best bike here for slashing corners, hitting jumps and generally mucking around down the local woods.” Click image for more

Posted in Enduro, Freeride, Kona Europe, Kona UK, Review | 1 Comment

World Championships Report from Helen


Well we all know what happened out there. Only about 400 meters into the race I was held up behind a crash. My race was over there and then effectively my dreams of World Champs medal went with it. So I spent the race chasing back through the field from basically the back of the pack.

Depressing, annoying etc etc, but I rode hard. I posted some fast lap time and showed I had what it takes to get up there. Vos was imperious, Compton rode through well to secure silver and Lucie took the bronze. Congrats to all of them.

I had a great time at the championships, spending the build up with my Kona team in the Louisville countryside. A cold in the run up to the event had meant I missed the race in Cincinatti although I’d got rid of the effects of the cold and was confident I’d maintained my form. That is racing, there is nothing you can do. A lot of other people had their dreams disappear as well. Geogia, Meradith, Wendy, Gabby and me were involved. All riders capable of top 10 at least on the day.

I WILL get a chance to ride worlds one year without incident. It seems like a long time ago I got 5th at the world champs, but this has been my best ever season. I’m enjoying racing more than ever this year. I have big plans for the summer and next season although I haven’t got any specific goals planned yet.

The support was unbelievable I have genuinely never had so many people cheer for me the entire way around the course reaching deafening levels in places. For that I want to thank every single person who cheered for me it was truly incredible. Thank you.

America has given us a special and unique world champs. It’s another 13th for me at a world champs, not one for the history books. I’m looking forward to finishing off the season well and trying to push for a good overall spot in the BPost Trophy. To get your form right for the Championships, you compromise a lot of other results, so it will be nice to try to finish the season with a win.


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