Monthly Archives: June 2010

BC Bike Race Report – Wicks and Sneddon Out Front

Posted on 06/29/2010 by mitchell

Barry Wicks laying pace for Kris Sneddon, BC Bike Race leaders after Stage 2

The BC Bike Race is in full swing, and Kona riders are leading the charge. Here’s the lowdown on where our riders sit, and who’s on their heals.

Stage 2: Cumberland
Competition is heating up in the BC Bike Race’s Epic Men’s Team of 2 category, where Kona riders Kris Sneddon and Barry Wicks have a five minute lead over the second place South African DCM 1 Team – Branden Stewart and Max Knox. Not only are Stewart and Knox trying to close the gap with the leaders, but they are feeling the heat from the Rocky Mountain Factory Team of Marty Lazarski and Stefan Widmer, who are hovering just 42 seconds behind in the overall standings.

After two full stages complete, and five more to go, the overall standings are as follows:

Epic Team of 2 Men
1. Kris Sneddon and Barry Wicks – Team Kona 6:07:15
2. Branden Stewart and Max Knox DCM1 6:12:22
3. Marty Lazarski and Stefan Widmer Rocky Mountain Factory Team 6:13:04
Epic Team of 2 Women
1. Brandi Helstermen & Cathy Zeglinski 8:09:20
2. Alana Heise and Kate Aardal 8:12:55
3. Colleen Little and Mary Shaughnessy 9:26:47
Epic Team of 2 Mixed
1. Geoff Kabush, Rocky Mountain-Maxxis and Catharine Pendrel Luna Pro Team 6:48:04
2. Jeff Neilson and Mical Dyck 7:01:52
3. Wendy Simms and Normon Thibault – Team KONA 7:17:13
Epic Solo Men
1. Chris Sheppard 6:01:30
2. Jason Sager 6:09:38
3. Colin Kerr 6:15:03
Epic Solo Women
1. Melanie McQuaid 7:33:18
2. Katy Curtis 7:57:1
3. Jennifer Schulz 8:02:05

For stage results, visit the BC Bike Race page. Check back here for mid-race Team Kona ride interviews.

Posted in Racing | Leave a comment

Regular Joe Rides Montreal

Posted on 06/29/2010 by mitchell

Montreal: The Most Bike Friendly City in Canada?
While Montreal is often celebrated for its European-esque buildings, restaurants and nightlife, the Old-World bike culture that permeates the very fabric of this city is often overlooked. I just spent a week in Quebec, and soaked up the bike vibe that la Belle Province has to offer.

In a move that hopefully will be replicated by cities all over North America, Montreal introduced the Bixi bike sharing program in 2009 with great success. This summer there are over 400 rental stations throughout the metro area, with 5000 bicycles in circulation. It is relatively cheap for tourists like me, and locals can buy season passes for only $78, which gives them free reign of the bikes for the entirety of the season.

The combination of these bikes and the incredible network of safe bike paths create an urban environment ripe for bicycle happiness. My girlfriend and I had such a good time in the city, and much of it was due to the fact that we could cover so much ground on these bikes, and see so much. I really hope more cities follow suit, the Bixi program works so well (ie Vancouver, cough, cough).

Read More→

Posted in Advocacy, Asphalt | Leave a comment

It’s All About the Cargo

Posted on 06/29/2010 by mitchell

This in from one of our outstanding US sales reps, Dale Plant….

Just when you think you’re doing o.k. by riding a bike with an; Adirondack Chair, Bike Frame, Whole Salmon (see tail hanging off chair), beer, other food, in flip flops… while drinking a beer, you see the below link and realize… you’re not.  

Thanks Dale, the Picnic Table vid goes up for sure. Check out Dale’s cargo bike link HERE.

Posted in Asphalt, News | Leave a comment

Kona Riders Dominating BC Bike Race

Posted on 06/28/2010 by wicks

This just in….Barry & Kris have been ruling the singletrack Mecca known as the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. 400+ kms of trail with two days down along with a time trial for day one. Kona is sitting pretty. Wins for both Day One and Day Two. Check back here for the official release and more photos when we get them.

Posted in Racing, XC | 1 Comment

Shonky Inc. on August Cover of Decline

Posted on 06/28/2010 by mitchell

Wayne Goss on his 2010 Shonky Inc. Photo: Matt Domanski. Check out Decline HERE.

Posted in DirtJump, Freeride, News | Leave a comment

3 Kona Clump riders place in the top 10 at 26Trix

Posted on 06/28/2010 by wicks

Here’s a little edit from this weekends 26 Trix.

26TRIX 2010:
Cam McCaul wins first place FMB World Tour points, Brandon Semenuk scored second and Martin Soderstrom third Leogang, Austria, July 27th 2010 – The Out Of Bounds mountain bike freeride festival hosted the 5th anniversary of the 26TRIX dirt jump contest. 60 riders from 17 countries rocked the dirt line located next to Bikepark Leogang’s gondola station to get a junk of the overall prize purse of 10,000 Euros. Cameron McCaul (USA/1st), Brandon Semenuk (CAN/2nd), Martin Soderstrom (SWE/3rd), Sam Pilgrim (GBR/4th) and Yannick Granieri (FRA/5th) took the most points for the FMB World Tour due to the “Gold Event” status
of the 26TRIX.

After the qualifications on Friday, overall 16 riders made it into the finals: Brandon Semenuk (CAN), Sam Pilgrim (GBR), Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP), Martin Soderstrom (SWE), Amir Kabbani (GER), Yannick Granieri (FRA), Linus Sjoholm (SWE), Kelly McGarry (NZE), Niki Leitner (AUT), Cameron and Tyler McCaul (USA), Grant Fielder (GBR), Paul Basagoitia (USA), Graham Agassiz (CAN), Sam Reynolds (GBR) and Simon Kirchmann (GER).

Read More→

Posted in DirtJump, Freeride, The Team | Leave a comment

Josh and Joes’s DH Adventure Continues

Posted on 06/28/2010 by wicks

3rd Round of the 2010 UCI World Cup. Leogang, Austria.

Straight into the Euro alps for the first time this year. The surrounding mountains still blow my mind whenever I see them.
I travelled down from Wales with Gaz Brewin and his dad, farmer Graham. After 1500 km’s of driving, a 2 hour ferry ride full of dirty euro gromets running around, an argument with a massive 6 foot, 150kg german restroom cleaner for not paying the useless 50 cents to use the bathroom (who wasn’t too happy after I threw 30 cents at him and then legged it), we finally arrived in the town of Leogang.

The next day we woke up to the amazing mountains and some awesome weather. We made our way to the event to set up pits and walk the track. We setup the Kona pits, played some cricket in the sun, and hit the mountain. The hill looked small from the bottom but as you got higher up it grew back further and further.
Some of the sections on the track looked mean! others looked pretty average. There were two massive pedally sections in between all the steep technical sections. It definitely looked tough.

Read More→

Posted in Downhill, Racing | Leave a comment

Grassroots Rider, Bentons Report

Posted on 06/28/2010 by wicks

Hey guys, thought I’d send in the June riding update. It’s been very hot in Kelowna and are jumps are dry but were still working hard. I was recently just up at Silverstar Bike Park shooting with some pro filmers for the opening video! I also got the story on the Pinkbike headlines! Check it out.

I’m off to Goatstyle in a few weeks. Thanks for everything.

-Bento

Posted in DirtJump, Freeride, Videos | Leave a comment

Bikes. The next pick up joint?

Posted on 06/25/2010 by wicks

Here’s a repost from this mornings Globe & Mail from Micah Toub. Great Read.

A couple weeks ago, I was cycling down Queen Street in Toronto when I was serendipitously swept up in a mass ride celebrating Bike Month. It was fun to be taking over the street with this two-wheeled mob, but I have to admit I also felt a little dorky as chic shoppers gazed at us from the sidewalk, bewildered. I imagined approaching one of them at a bar.

“So, do you come here often?” I’d ask, shuffling my hair, trying to remove the strange sculptures created by my helmet.

Read More→

Posted in Random Weirdness | Leave a comment

Josh & Joe’s Excellent DH Adventures

Posted on 06/24/2010 by wicks

Photo by AleDiLullo

After Fort William World Cup Joe and I we spent a few days XC riding and hitting the gym. The following weekend there was a local race which is part of the Welsh midlands race series. We decided to race considering it was only half an hour from Joe Smiths house. We rocked up Saturday, caught up with some local mates and got into practice. The track was unreal. Open pinned turns at the top, a big forest section with tight techy turns and roots, and to top it off an open grass field with some mean turns and a big sender to flat. What more could you want?

Read More→

Posted in Downhill, Racing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Kona Shoot the Ride Photo Contest – The Third Edit

Posted on 06/23/2010 by eddy

International Field, Beautiful Photographs

They came from all over the world. Nearly 200 entries all told. Backyard dirt jumps, local races, exotic sunsets, downtown commuters, from action to culture, advocacy to storied moments, the Third Annual Kona Shoot the Ride Photo Contest saw it all. We put the call out for your favorite cycling images—anything and everything that best captured the emotion and inspiration of riding a bike. The response came from a cycling world that is big, beautiful, and incredibly diverse, not to mention skilled with the shutter. As voted internally by Kona staff, here are the top five winners.

1ST PLACE: “Nostalgia”

Photo by Ng Hum Kean, Penang, Malaysia
Prize: $500 Kona Store Credit
“This picture was taken during our regular family ride last year, with 9 month old Lwen enjoying the ride on a classic bicycle child seat made of rattan that brings back wonderful childhood memories.”

Kona Kudos: It starts at an early age, the cycling bug. And for those lucky enough to whiz through the world on a bike before they can barely walk, well, that’s just beautiful.

Read More→

Posted in News | 5 Comments

The Rider

Posted on 06/22/2010 by mitchell

“(H)e lays bare the athlete’s peculiar mixture of arrogance and terror, viciousness and camaraderie, and the result is one of the more convincing love stories of recent memory.” – The New Yorker

Posted in Random Weirdness, Review | Leave a comment