Bike Check: Rhys Verner's 3 Bikes of Crankworx Summer Series

Aug 7, 2020

by Aidan Oliver

Crankworx Summer Series is a unique event in lots of respects. Riders that live in BC, no spectators, but most interestingly of all, athletes are competing in four disciplines - downhill, enduro, dual slalom and air DH. As a result, we saw an array of different bikes at Silver Star, with some riders using the same bike all week and others having a fleet of 3 bikes to switch between. This time, we're taking a look at Rhys Verner's 3 Kona bikes: his Process 153 enduro bike, Operator downhill bike and Process 111 slalom bike.

Details
Height 5'11" / 180cm
Weight 160 lb / 72.5 kg
Age 23
Hometown Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
Instagram @rhys_verner

All bikes have ODI grips and HT pedals which are your two contact points. It takes a minute or two but once I've done a half lap, I'm used to the bike. They all use SRAM brakes and RockShox suspension so it's pretty easy to swap between the bikes.—Rhys Verner

Process 111
Dual Slalom Bike

It's actually Connor Fearon's bike. Kona had built it up for Connor to race Dual Slalom at Crankworx Whistler last summer and instead of taking it back to Australia, they just left it at my house in Squamish. So we just happened to have it and then this whole Crankworx thing happened and it worked out great as it was at my house so now Miranda and I can use it. It's pretty ridiculously dialled.—Rhys Verner

Frame: Kona Process 111 Medium
Fork: Rockshox Pike Ultimate 130mm
Shock: Rockshox Monarch 111mm
Seatpost: Deity Retina
Wheels: Enve M730 Wheels with Chris King hubs
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF, 2.5 WT, EXO Casing, 25psi front. Maxxis Minion Semi Slick, 2.5 WT, DH Casing, 30psi rear.
Saddle: Deity Sidetrack
Cranks: SRAM X01 170mm
Bars: Deity Black Label 760mm
Stem: Deity Copperhead 50mm
Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 DH 7 Speed
Pedals: HT T1
Grips: ODI Elite Flow

Despite not being a frame Kona manufacture anymore, they keep some Process 111s for Dual Slalom riders and swap out 29" wheels for 27.5".

A semi-slick Minion keeps the bike rolling as fast as possible and an EXO casing Minion DHF kept the weight down.

Small and compact 7 speed cassette and shiny Chris King hubs to match the frame and pedals.

Rhys was running high PSI and almost max rebound.

Kona Operator
Downhill Bike

This year I rode my DH bike a bit more often even before I knew Crankworx was happening. I lived on Vancouver Island while attending University so put in quite a few Prevost laps out there, they're like the best downhill trails I've ever ridden. I try to get out there and chase Finn around, so I definitely felt fairly comfortable on the downhill bike before coming here.— Rhys Verner

Frame: Kona Operator Size Large, flip chips set to max length
Fork: RockShox Boxxer Ultimate, 124 psi, 2 tokens, 1 click HSC, 5 clicks LSC from closed
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH, 425lb spring
Seatpost: Deity Retina
Wheels: Enve M930 with Chris King Hubs
Tires: Maxxis Assegai, 2.5 WT, DH Casing + ZK, 24psi front. Maxxis Minion DHR II, 2.5 WT, DH Casing + ZK, XC Cushcore, 27psi rear.
Saddle: Deity Sidetrack
Cranks: SRAM X01 170mm
Bars: Deity Black Label 770mm
Stem: Deity Intake 50mm
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC, 220mm rotors
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 DH
Pedals: HT X2
Grips: ODI Elite Flow

Rhys had both the headset and chainstay adjustments set to max length.

Big 220mm rotors for all the stopping power.

Enve M90 wheels and added ZK armor in the tires for the sharp rocks of interior BC.

Kona Process 153
Enduro and Air DH Bike

Frame: Kona Process 29 Size Large
Fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 91 psi, 3 tokens, 1 click HSC, 5 clicks LSC, neutral rebound
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate with Meg Neg, 6 clicks LSC, neutral rebound
Seatpost: SRAM AXS
Wheels: Enve M730 with Chris King Hubs
Tires: Maxxis Assegai, 2.5, Double Down, 24 psi front. Maxxis DHR II, 2.4, Double Down, XC Cush Core 26 psi rear.
Saddle: Deity Speedtrap
Cranks: SRAM X01
Bars: OneUp Carbon Bar, 770mm
Stem: OneUp Stem 35mm
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC, 220mm rear disc, 200mm front
Drivetrain: SRAM AXS, 34 tooth chain ring
Pedals: HT X2
Grips: ODI Elite Flow

Rhys has been riding Kona Bikes for a number of years and kept with them after switching from XC to enduro.

An interesting touch on Rhys' set up was that he runs the lower paddle on the left and right AXS shifters as the gears, and the upper paddle on the gear shifter as the dropper. Quite the mod.

Meg Neg can on Rhy's shock to increase negative air space and keep the shock supple.

All of Rhys' bikes run on Chris King hubs.

Big 220mm rotor on the front of the Enduro bike.

Oil slick AXS.

Custom handguards for 'Verner the Burner'.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks DH Bikes Enduro Bikes Kona Kona Operator Kona Process Rhys Verner Crankworx Summer Series 2020

Author Info:

aidanoliver
Member since Jun 10, 2006
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37 Comments

18 1

FoesKnows (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:05)

It's actually Connor Fearon's bike. Kona had built it up for Connor to race Dual Slalom at Crankworx Whistler last summer and instead of taking it back to Australia, they just left it at my house in Squamish. Bet Connor regrets that, and boy would I love to see him smash that sikkkk 111.

20 0

gus6464 (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:10)

Ahh the Process 111. The original downcountry bike.

jozhua130 (Aug 8, 2020 at 5:06)

what about the GT distortion?

privateer-wheels (Aug 8, 2020 at 13:26)

@jozhua130: what about it...?

RayDolor (Aug 7, 2020 at 13:40)

It's so nice when somebody just leaves their top shelf fully tuned bike at your place and then goes to the other side of the planet. That Conor dude must be one helluva guy!

anchoricex (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:05)

lol connor fearon just left his bike there and they were like hey this will do LMAO.

Notmeatall (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:42)

The Axs setup is quite the Gamer aproach! Right side harder gears, left side softer gears! While I apreciate this setup, I don't know why no one has taken advantage of the third button on the right axs controller to operate the dropper and leave the left controller at home.

hmstuna (Aug 7, 2020 at 13:07)

What third button. If your talking about the little tiny button that's pretty impossible to reach on the trail. Apart from that there are only two buttons (although there is two different ways to actuate one of them so it does kind of look like three).

Notmeatall (Aug 7, 2020 at 13:22)

@hmstuna: I've heard in a bike check video from Nino about the AXS controller having this third button he programmed for "turbo" mode, or sprinting mode, reached from above, with the index finger.

whattheheel (Aug 7, 2020 at 13:57)

@Notmeatall: I assume you are talking about a blip taken from the time trial/road bike world.

www.biketiresdirect.com/product/sram-red-etap-blip-shifter-clamp-318mm?adl=1&msclkid=8cd189a42da0172118e9d689eda88463&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping%20-%20Split%20by%20Brand&utm_term=1100507194969&utm_content=SRAM

Snowytrail (Aug 7, 2020 at 14:15)

Third button is for minor gear adjustments, if you strike the derailler during a ride and slightly bend the hanger you can adjust to get the clean shifting back. This is still a very cool setup that I didn't know could be done.

Linc (Aug 7, 2020 at 14:54) (Below Threshold)

Shimano did this left/right shifter thing with rapid-rise xtr years ago. Never caught on, but was cool.

hmstuna (Aug 7, 2020 at 16:22)

@Notmeatall: I'm pretty sure they were talking about the two ways to actuate the upshift button one with your index and one with your thumb. Either way the axs controller only has those buttons.

valleytroll (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:52)

I put 27.5 on a 29er hardtail and upped the fork travel and it’s sick. Enjoyed it so much thinking my next bike might be back on the party-both-ends wheel size

bouslayer (Aug 7, 2020 at 13:14)

The 111 was a magic bike. way more fun of a ride than it had any business being.

avg-roadie (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:09)

Dont think he runs 41 PSI in that Lyrik... at 72.5kg and fast probably closer to 85psi

wellbastardfast (Aug 7, 2020 at 12:15)

41 in lyrik 124 in boxxer makes sense.....

rhysverner (Aug 7, 2020 at 14:26)

I run 90psi in my lyric, must have been a mistake in the write up

gapos999 (Aug 7, 2020 at 20:24)

More like 141psi

kbh (Aug 7, 2020 at 14:24)

Its interesting to see the Lyrik token differences between Rhys and the Norco guys...
www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-comparing-norco-factory-racings-sight-enduro-setups.html
three tokens to a half or no tokens.

friendlyfoe (Aug 7, 2020 at 21:56)

It's a nice trick by rockshox to sell us a shock that doesn't work correctly unless you spend an extra 125 dollars for a new air can. Just installed mine.