Kona Mash Up - Week 19 of 52 weeks

Dec 10, 2009
by John Lee  
This week I have been getting out of the Midlands and down into Afan Wales for a new breed of racing at The Kona Mash Up.

Read on to find out what The Kona Mash Up is, why over 400 riders turned up in the typical Welsh horizontal rain in Winter, rode for over 6 hours, and finished with wide smiles upon their mud splattered faces!The Video edit is by Ian Harvey - (Team Boon) and Pictures are by myself and Tim Fisher Photography t-f-p.com of The Kona Mash Up December 2009

Views: 3,609    Faves: 21    Comments: 12

Monday

After a rough night's sleep and a weird awakening from my son - I quickly realized that my left shoulder is in a lot of pain. After a trip to the doctor they confirm the worst and suggest I may have dislocated or stretched some muscle in my shoulder in my crash yesterday. He explained that because of the armor I was wearing and the way it is designed - the force was distributed more into that area and then combined with sliding around a few meters on it into a rock garden - it's gonna be sore for a while. Doctor suggested 2 weeks rest - I said - "3 days mate, max!"

Wednesday

After spending the last 72 hours not riding, skating or BMXing my brain was looking for something to give me hope away from the soft play center me and Elijah seemed to have over visited this week. I get a sweet result from Tyler at Pinkbike informing me that I can take on a part time role at www.pinkbike.com as the UK assistant editor to Si Paton - chuffed to bits and it really helped cheer me up. So you are all warned - watch out cause some crazy new creative stuff is on the horizon!

Thursday

I entered this race a few months ago via the internet after reading a forum on Pinkbike raving about how much fun this race is - and now as normal in the world of man planning - the day is here a lot quicker than I expected. After loading up the newly serviced bike from Haro HQ and packing enough crap to sink a boat, I headed up to Sutton Coldfield to pick up Videographer Ian Harvey and begin the incredibly dull and lifeless 3.5 hour drive through the 50mph Zoned Jungle of M4,M5,M6 roads which eventually got us to our destination, Afan Forest, Wales.

Friday

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Beautiful view from our accommodations

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The Green Lanterns accommodation

Green Lanterns Accommodation

Just woke up to a beautiful view from our sweet accommodation, which was hidden by the winter darkness when we arrived at the Green Lanterns Guest House in Cimla yesterday afternoon. After a hearty English breakfast we missioned to Glyncorwyg Mountain bike center to ride the trail and meet Micheal Wilkens and John Lloyd - The organizers of The Kona Mash Up.

Race organiser, Michael Wilkens gave us a sweet description of what the Kona Mash Up was all about - as I had an idea but it was mainly from what I had heard elsewhere on the pinkbike forums.

"The Mash-Up brings Cross Country, Trail Riders and Downhillers together, timed over several off-road sections. The bonus is the riders get to spend a few hours in the saddle riding around other sections with their mates as it is similar to a Car rally tournament. We have to race categories to compete in the Technical for the DH and aggressive XC riders and the Enduro for the fitness freaks."

After a quick briefing and friendly, detailed interview with Micheal and John, Ian and I kitted up and headed off to ride the whites level trail in preparation for the event the following day. After a great ride out on the course, we arrived back at the trail center suffering with no big mechanicals or crashes - so it was into the Cafe with a couple of riders we met on the trail for a slab of cake and pint of Tea.

Saturday

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Signing up for some fun in the cold!

Typically we are welcomed into the car park with some Welsh horizontal rain and on arrival at registration the rain becomes a distant memory as I have been given a goodie bag and a electronic chip timing device. Gadgets and free stuff = happy man!

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My number board


The event soon began at a fresh, wet and windy 9am, and as we tackled the first long and sustained climb of Whites level within the sheltered forest of Afan, I was safe in the knowledge that the trail center Cafe had used their noodle and placed a temp Cafe station on the summit, with real chairs to boot!

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When you get to the timed sections it's on with the Game face

As we make our way to the top sections I am so refreshed to be riding alongside such happy, friendly, granny geared, groups of riders in such a positive atmosphere. Everyone is chatting and having fun and as the banter is flowing in all directions, you soon forget that you are in a race environment at all - it feels like a ride out with your mates - it's an excellent atmosphere.

As we grind up we go through the first timed stage just for the Enduro boys - "Dastardly and Mutley" - My chain broke about 10 pedal strokes in - so I pulled off to the side and begin my trail repair praying I was carrying all the tools I needed to fix this and carry on. As I rummaged in my Camelbak stuffed mini trail bag I found all I needed and I am quickly joined by some crazy jock who pretty much pushed me aside and fixed my chain for me. This is ace - even if I didn't know or have the tools to fix my bike - someone would have probably stopped and helped me. Thanks crazy Jock guy, whoever you are!

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The winding climbs on Dastardly and Mutley

At the top is a great site. Shelter, food, Tea and free energy drinks! After a quick pit stop, I walked straight out of the Cafe and onto the start line of the first timed section for the Technical class.

First timed section - Black Run

The first timed section for us in the Technical category was "Black Run". You started on a very simple, scenic and Tour de France inspired pedally fire road heading up quickly into a maze of bermed and stepped technical boardwalk.

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Unknown rider hitting the sweet berms on the black run - mind your tongue fella!

After the wooden sections it was straight out into the mountain view and onto the tight switchbacks and a large series of mountain hugging berms which propelled you into the final steep and technical black descent (which claimed a good few riders over the day!) thus spewing you back onto the steepest fire road that exists at Afan!

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The final black descent claims another rider

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The short but steep fire road taking you back from the black run to the summit

I really enjoyed this section and felt that I was at my strongest on this one of 3 separate timed areas. I decided to race this section 3 times and make sure I was going as fast as I could. On one of my runs I overtook two riders which can only be described as the Mountain bike version of Jedward. You guys were found guilty of being wannabe hero`s - from matching bikes, gear and clothing - we all saw team Jedward on the hill dressed in Trek clothing and all laughed to ourselves thinking. Maybe Tandem riding would suit you guys better if you really wanna look like this!

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Did you see Team Jedward in Trek gear at Kona Mash up?

Second Timed section - Windy Point

Windy point was a run that was hard to nail perfectly. My 2 runs down this section were ok but the trail and its sweeping singletrack and pumptastic descents were met with short uphill pedally sections which would rob your momentum as soon as you stopped paying attention. The track only really got difficult on the energy sapping rock garden berm which could either inspire you to go faster and harder into the finishing section - or bundle you off your bike quickly into the rocks and snakebite city.

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Long sprinty singletrack was exposing us to awesome views all the way around!

Third Timed section - The Darkside

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The big climbs to the top always meant you were rewarded on the way back down

I am going to be honest, when I got there I was a little worried. After that much riding for a DH rider over 2 days, I decided that I am going to get one good run down this section and head straight to the cafe for a celebration brew! The section is steep, rocky and some of the best technical singletrack I have ever had the joy to ride on. With a mixture of rock gardens, tight berms, rock drops and fast, energetic, flowing singletrack this was a perfect way to descend to the bottom of the track! My run went as well as I expected and my whole body was relishing the fact the cafe and a comfy sofa was only 1km away.

As you crossed the finish line you are met by some happy staff who quickly detag your body and swap it for a free t shirt for completing the race. Then it's off to the car for a quick session on the Dirtworker and to climb into some warm comfy non biking clothes!

What some of the riders had to say about the event;

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Riders from Sussex and Hampshire - Obviously embracing the Movember movement still!

"Really impressed with the race format as it means we can race and ride with our mates and have a lot of fun in the process. Ability and level of fitness haven't left any of our friends from coming - it means we can all come and enter no matter the level of ability. If Kona Mash Up was to run more events we would totally go!" Riders from Sussex and Hampshire

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Team Wig and Jessica Stone

"I have come over from Switzerland, we used to ride together and it's a great excuse for me to come over to the UK and visit them all and ride a great course at the same time. The race format is really chilled out but at the same time competitive enough to keep you interested in riding all day." Blondie, originally from the UK but now living in Switzerland

"I am currently training for my 2010 Downhill season, this event is a great way of getting the miles done over winter, raising my level of fitness and keeping the training on 2 wheels and outside" Jessica Stone - World Cup Downhill Racer

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Birmingham Riders after 6 hours of riding at Afan


"This was my first race like this and it adds a really fun, exciting dimension to racing because of the combination of timed sections and then riding sections. I will definatly be back next year for more!" Birmingham endurance virgin

Finally my comments...

The Kona Mash up concept is a great event. It's competitive, fun, exciting, hard work and extremely well organized. Everything Michael and John have tried to make this event - it is. The race captures an atmosphere that events strive for in the UK. The Kona Mash Up captures the beauty of All mountain riding and has spawned a fantastic racing environment where you actually get to see your mates for the entire day, have great banter and when you get to the timed section - it's game face time until the 2nd bleep stops the clock and brings you back to a good old ride with your mates!

The standard of trail maintenance was incredible too, where we normally ride at home the trails have really suffered because of the wet weather recently and here thanks to the Forestry commission, the trails are in perfect riding condition and it's obvious they are really well looked after and drained - this is huge testament to the guys who run Afan - it's such a great place to ride!"

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Chilling out with old and new friends Mike and Rachel after the event

-Jumble

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Lumicycle
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Aquila
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Pinkbike
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Ripnroll Goggles
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Leatt Brace
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Knox
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Action Cameras
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Dirtworker
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Haro Bikes
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Dirt mx
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Geax
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New Life Derby


Author Info:
jumble avatar

Member since Aug 4, 2008
94 articles

12 Comments
  • 6 4
 The guys in the Trek kit were Rob and Jon Parkin of Dirt TV fame, they work for Trek! Don't be so judgemental....they were there as I was for the same reasons as you to get out our bikes and have fun....
  • 2 2
 why was there a cannondale in the 1 2 up
  • 6 1
 no offence was made and i spoke to the guys and they seem really nice - it was just alot a comment that they looked very similair with matching bikes, clothing etc. To be honest everyone was talkiong about them and alot of people at the mash up commented on the fact they reminded us all of jedward. No offence was meant to rob and jon - sorry for any ill communication - it wasnt intended that way.
  • 1 1
 lol i met one of them in my local woods in the summer (think it was john) he was really nice, he would have been paid by trek but i can imagine it was still quite funny
  • 2 0
 I'm sorry but if you ride matching kit & matching bikes you damn well better be top of the class or you deserve to get made fun of... that's not being judgemental, that's just calling a spade a spade...
  • 1 0
 glad that it went well was hopeing to do it this year but having a job makes evrything harder ahh well local trails for me and having my dad work in the forest park also helps 2 Smile
  • 1 0
 I had a good one, but i will take a more suitable bike next time, the course was definitely more suited to a shorter travel full-sus type bike, my freeride bike knackered me on the ups!
  • 2 1
 Did they bugger up the timing system this winter then?!
  • 1 1
 not as far as i could tell - everything was working sweet!
  • 1 0
 i wish we had something like this here, looks so effing funSmile
  • 1 1
 song was awesome!
Why the need for full-sus?
  • 1 1
 personal pref for me!







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