The text on this page was updated on 31/1/2012 and are the final details for the 2012 Kona Odyssey.
The 2012 Kona Odyssey event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here.
Click the links below to go to following sections of the Equipment page:
Pre race equipment checks
Don’t forget to double check your bike for any mechanical issues before the race. There is a list of relatively simple things to check on our website or take your bike to the Torquay Cycling Factory (TCF) and get them to give it the once over well before the event. TCF will also be set up to provide repairs and emergency servicing during the event in case something breaks, but it always pays to have your bike running well before you arrive!
Things to carry with you
Compulsory equipment to carry (as listed in the rules)
- a First Aid kit comprising: 2 x crepe bandages, 2 x non-adhesive wound dressings, 6 x steri-strip wound closures, 1 x triangular bandage and 1 pr of surgical gloves. (A limited number of these First Aid Kits will be available for sale at Registration at Forrest on Friday 18th Feb). Random checks will be made and those caught without a First Aid Kit anywhere along the course, including at the finish line will be penalised 20 minutes
Recommended things to carry with you:
- At least two litres of water and/or sports drink at the start of the event – even more if it is a hot day and you drink a lot!
- Sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Food and nutrition to last you until you reach the Forrest Festival site – we recommend Shotz Nutrition
- Bike pump, tyre levers, at least one spare inner tube and puncture repair kit.
- Chain breaker, allen key set, small bottle of bike lube, and a spare derailleur hanger in case you break it or bend it. (Also well worth knowing how to use your tools!)
- Cash to buy food at the Festival and if you need to purchase any bike repairs at Forrest (in case you have a big mechanical and break your derailleur for example). There is no ATM at Forrest!
- Rain jacket and/or thermal top and bottom (weather dependent).
- Mobile phone (there is a new mobile phone tower in Forrest so the oval now has reception – yay!).
- Emergency space blanket
This may sound like a lot of gear to be lugging around on a ride and in many cases you won’t need it all. However, if something does happen to you or your bike in a remote location, you’ll be well equipped to deal with most situations or stay safe until help arrives.
Plan your Hydration / Nutrition
It really pays to plan your hydration and nutrition intake during the race and we encourage all riders to read up on recommended ideas and intakes before the race. We have some great resource informaiton on this on our training and preparation page here.
We also recommend any of the products from our exclusive Hydration and Nutrition sponsor - Shotz Nutrition – their stuff really is some of the best around and will help keep you going and going and going when things get tough. Check out their website www.shotz1.com.au for more.
20% off 2011 Mavic Crossmax SLR Wheels and Evoc Bike Bags for all entrants
The super desirable Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels are ultra reliable, super light and stiff race wheels with the red hubs and single red spoke that are known as the most popular choice for competitive riders all around the world. They normally retail for $1,499 but all Kona Odyssey participants who enter and present their registration receipt to their local Mavic wheel dealer will get them for $1,199. HOW GOOD IS THAT!
And for those travelling with bikes, you’d want to get your hands on the new Evoc Bike Bags, usually $499 but for you guys, only $399. This is the ducks nuts of bike bags! Featuring an internal strapping system to keep everything firmly in place, it also has a large drive chain protection block, abrasion resistant protection panels in key areas and removable 'ribs' to help protect your bike’s fragile components, fork and the dropout during transit. Perfect for trips by plane, car or train, it fits all DH / FR / XC and road bikes.
Check out where your local dealer is via www.groupesportif.com and click on Dealer Locater and then take your Kona Odyssey entry receipt with you to secure these mighty discounts.
Event withdrawal for emergency purposes – severe injury:
If you have a serious crash or injury whilst out on the course we suggest the following procedures:
- if you are able and without incurring further injury, move off the actual line of travel so you are out of the way of other riders and cannot cause further injury to yourself or others
- stay on the course / track at all times - do not try and find your own way to a road by cutting ‘cross country’
- seek assistance from other riders as they come past - tell them to relay a message forward to the next marshal and checkpoint confirming your location and suspected injuries
- stay calm, use your First Aid Kit. Help will be on its way as soon as possible
- We will have a ‘Grim Sweeper’ following the last riders along the course.
Event withdrawal for non emergency reasons
If you wish to withdraw from the event because of fatigue, mechanical failure, an injury or any other reason AFTER YOU HAVE REGISTERED please tell a race official. We need to keep track of what riders are out on the course, so if you wake up on Saturday morning (having registered on Friday) with the flu and will not be riding please tell us so we know you will not be on the course.
If you started the race and are out on the course and want to withdraw please tell the next marshal (who has radio communication). MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE NEAREST CHECKPOINT as indicated in the directions above and on your map. For non emergency withdrawals we can only arrange for a ‘grim sweeper’ to come and pick you up from a checkpoint rather than anywhere on the course.
If you get lost or lose the trail
If you think you are lost or have gone the wrong way we suggest you follow these procedures.
- STOP! Sit down, have a drink of water and assess the situation with a clear mind. Consider where you are
- Think about where you last saw a course marker – how far back do you think it was (200m, 700m or 2km?) Are there other bike tracks along the track where you are?
- When you are certain you have gone wrong backtrack along the exact route you came. Be aware of how far back you have gone and try to limit yourself to what you decided. Use your bike computer or look at your watch for time.
- STAY ON TRACKS AT ALL TIMES – do not try and cut cross country back to a track or take a short cut.
Mechanical repairs
If you have ‘a mechanical’ out on the course, you are entitled to accept the assistance of other riders and still continue. If you have a mechanical failure, cannot fix it out on the course and are taken to the Forrest Festival by outside assistance (eg in the sag wagon or in someone else’s car) to get your bike fixed but wish to continue with your ride:
- advise an official when you get to the Forrest oval
- we are happy for you to return to the race course but will remove your number and your timing tag and you will be considered as an ‘unranked’ rider. Unranked riders may complete the rest of the course but will not be listed in the official results as having finished the event and are not eligible for any prizes
- please recommence your ride from the Forrest Football Ground and continue on the next loop.
It is the rider’s responsibility to carry sufficient tools with you and fix your own bike if you experience any mechanical failures.
Mobile Coverage
There is a new mobile phone tower in Forrest so the last 60km of the 100km race and all the 50km race, as well as the start finish area at Forrest should now have reception for Telstra and Optus users.
We are in constant communication with DSE, Parks Victoria (PV) and the CFA about the prospect of a fire in the region of the event. We have made a commitment not to compromise the safety of any competitors, any CFA, PV or DSE personnel dispatched to attend a fire, any private land owners or the wilderness and surrounding areas as a result of the Kona Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon or Forrest Festival.
As a result, there is a chance that the course could change on the day or the event could be postponed to the Sunday or the event could be cancelled. The event will only be cancelled if there are extreme fire weather conditions in the area over the entire weekend and it is determined that the fire danger is too great to permit cyclists to go through the course. Declaration of a Total Fire Ban on race day DOES NOT mean the event will be automatically cancelled or postponed.
Declaration of a Code Red or “Extreme” fire danger rating for the South West fire district on Saturday will mean the event will be postponed to Sunday 19th of February. If Sunday is also declared a Code Red or “Extreme” day then Rapid Ascent’s refund policy for the Kona Odyssey will be enacted as detailed on the event website.
Declaration of an “severe” fire danger rating for the South West fire district on Saturday February 19th will result in discussions with land managers. Riders will be advised of the outcome as detailed below. The event MAY still continue on the Saturday OR it may be postponed to Sunday February 19th.
Any change of course, evacuation or event cancellation will be communicated to competitors as soon and as safely as possible, through any of the following means:
- SMS sent to competitors mobile phones
- at the event registration area on Friday evening at Forrest
- when riders are assembled at the start line
- when riders pass a checkpoint
- Directional arrows stating “Fire – proceed direct to Finish”
- all messages will be copied and placed on the official event notice board in front of the registration area at the Apollo Bay SLSC and on the notice board at the Forrest Festival and on the event website at www.konaodyssey.com.au
Once again, these changes would be a last resort, but we respect rider safety, the landowners, residents, flora and fauna of this beautiful part of the world in extreme circumstances.