Sho-Air International, Team Big Bear and Blue Wolf are proud to announce America’s richest XC/Endurance Mountain Bike Stage race. The event will take place August 21-24, 2008 in around Brian Head, Utah. Racers will travel 170 miles in four days and climb over 14,000+ feet through some of the most beautiful country found anywhere. The American Mountain Classic-Brian Head is designed to be a true stage race, not a lesson in survival. The course layout will offer a variety of terrain and elevation changes to challenge the world’s top riders, yet allow the weekend racer a chance to complete the entire stage race and realize the dream of wearing the American Mountain Classic finisher’s jersey. 

Full details here www.americanmountainclassic.com

In 2005 Kona began Biketown Africa - a program developed to provide durable, easy-to-maintain AfricaBikes to healthcare workers to assist in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. Kona has designed and developed a bike specifically suited to the needs of healthcare workers in Africa.

To date, Kona has donated roughly 500 bikes and will double their output this year by generating 1,000 AfricaBikes for the project. Read more about the program here or visit Kona's dedicated website www.konabiketown.com.

This is from our friends at New Belgium Brewing

I just got the Kona Dawg Supreme in for testing last week and I thought I would put up a few posts as we test this puppy.  First off, I'll say I'm very impressed with the bike right out of the box.  It has a uses XT brakes, shifters, and front derailure, while the rear derailure is an an XTR Shadow - a nice touch.  I . The cranks and cockpit are all Raceface.  The wheelset is a beautiful set of Mavic CrossMax ST with 24 hole rims.  They look awesome and I can't wait to see how they ride.  The frame is the new Race Light Scandium Butted Alluminum with a full 5" of travel.  Kona was able to shave an entire pound off of last year's model with the new frame and component package. I have not yet hoisted it onto the scales, but my first guess is sub 28lbs, and for a 5" travel bike that is very respectable.  The only aspect of the bike to give me pause are the Maxxis CrossMax ST tires. I have ridden these before and have not had great luck with them in muddy conditions.

Anyway, enough talk, I need to get out and ride this beautiful red beast!  More posts to come as this Dawg and I get aquainted...

here are afew more pics after the first couple of rides . . .