The guys from Kona Bike Park Skyline Cycles (Wales UK) have been getting out with the video camera, showing off their trails, in the latest installment Liam Murphy takes a look at the new Kona Tanuki full suspension, blended with a backdrop of Welsh mining history - Check out what's on offer at one of the best trail centres in the UK by visiting Skyline.
I liked the idea of the video. It had a sort of RAW feel to it. Right from the raw material, the craftsmanship, the people involved that we would never think of, hence the mines, miners and blacksmith, lining up individual pieces of the bike at the beginning to give a feel for the individual strengths.
In short, I liked the film, it had depth, but isn't the Tanuki just the Dawg renamed?
I'm glad it worked for someone. Juxtaposing completely unrelated subjects in an unexplained way just annoyed me. With the blues music as well, just turned it into a mishmash of "arty" shots that were trying too hard. The riding wasn't much better, sticking a boom out on the side of a bike (especially short travel bike) gives a horrible angle.
Putting some things aside, ie the bike and the filming, Afan Argoed (and this takes in Glyn Corrwg just a few miles up the valley too) is the mutts nuts for singletrack. As previously mentioned, there are 4 slightly different flavoured tracks in that valley, with the option to join them up into a 47km epic if thats what floats your boat. The singletrack is superb and the scenery is typically Welsh - bloody gorgeous! As long as its not raining that is. You could easily spend a weekend in just that valley, let alone the other superb tracks in South Wales.
As for Skyline Cycles, and I don't have a vested interest here, I can honestly say that the guys in there have never been anything less than cheerful and helpful on the many occasions I've been in there. Great staff and normally enough drool worthy bikes to make you late for your ride.
I've been told by the guy that spent a couple of years in japan that 'tanuki' is some sort of a crazy raccoon or badger with massive balls , I guess kona uses this name to show this bikes attitude. I had a quick spin on one and it fills funny, my size but i felt super cramped and like I was falling over the bars...weird.
" samsquamsh I've been told by the guy that spent a couple of years in japan that 'tanuki' is some sort of a crazy raccoon or badger with massive balls Smile, I guess kona uses this name to show this bikes attitude. I had a quick spin on one and it fills funny, my size but i felt super cramped and like I was falling over the bars...weird."
The rider looked cramped and got pitched over in one shot imo
Original idea, well shot, too much post effect (dark)
i know im a dick... but that showed little about the bike ... riding... or the area. it was like some pan in and out competition... i like harmonica but this still sucked for a pro edit.
i thought the editing/camera work was pretty good, but ya i agree with you about the bike and trail. This doesnt make me want to go ride that trail or buy that bike hahahah
Dude, trust me, you want to go ride that trail, its about 1 1/2 hours if you're fit, but its just such sweet single track, and theres three other epic trails in that valley as well! This vid really doesn't show any of the decent bits :/
Are you kidding me? The loop through my living room, dining room and kitchen is way cooler than that lame azz trail! Im kind of thinking Kona and K-Marts bike videos were switched around, or not?
They should have filmed on penhydd (the other trail in that base) but nooo they have to go and close it for a whole year don't they! Also there wasn't enough riding in my opinion.
yeah it does, and seriously, glyncorrwg, whites level... bitching singletrack climb, amazing and brutal descending good jumps section called energy with some good sized tables as well
Between myself and my brother we've owned 4 konas. 2 coilers, a stinky 6 and a dawg. Never a single frame fail. In fact, they are very low maintenance and put up with a ton of crap.
And yes we ride pretty hard. He's over 200 lbs and does large drops to flat more than is advisable. I ride super D and my dawg had a longer than standard fork. No problems.
My only complaint was the lack of imagination in the design. Only the abracadabra and the coilair have magic link and the rest haven't changed this century. 4 bar is strong and reliable, but it climbs and descends pretty much exactly the same.
@apachemauro You've got two of them, and have ridden them enough that they have both failed? Amazing, considering I work for a Kona dealer and we JUST received our first Tanuki. It's not even built yet... Maybe you should spend your time riding bikes instead of hating on Kona.
In short, I liked the film, it had depth, but isn't the Tanuki just the Dawg renamed?
As for Skyline Cycles, and I don't have a vested interest here, I can honestly say that the guys in there have never been anything less than cheerful and helpful on the many occasions I've been in there. Great staff and normally enough drool worthy bikes to make you late for your ride.
Go ride. Go shop. Go ride again.
www.pinkbike.com/video/179038/#top
I've been told by the guy that spent a couple of years in japan that 'tanuki' is some sort of a crazy raccoon or badger with massive balls Smile, I guess kona uses this name to show this bikes attitude. I had a quick spin on one and it fills funny, my size but i felt super cramped and like I was falling over the bars...weird."
The rider looked cramped and got pitched over in one shot imo
Original idea, well shot, too much post effect (dark)
www.pinkbike.com/forum/search/?q=kona+bass+snap