The details on this website were updated on 1 February 2013 and are the final details for the 2013 event. The 2013 Kona Odyssey event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here and we encourage all riders to download and read prior to the event. (Either left click the link to download or right click and ‘save link as’ to your desktop. 22meg)
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 your nearest bike shop for a tune up before the race to make sure it’s running sweetly.
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 15th 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 also recommend any of the products from our exclusive Hydration and Nutrition sponsor - Shotz Nutrition whose products are some of the best around.
Check out their website www.shotz1.com.au for more.
MAVIC now introduces mountain bikers to 3 more inches of the finest MTB wheels on the planet. We now add these 29er wheels to our extensive range of 26" wheels. All the 29" wheels are multi compatible to nearly every fork (including Lefty) & rear end dimension so whatever your bike is (& hopefully it's a KONA!) there is a MAVIC wheel to suit your riding style & budget.
MAVIC's NEW PRICING for 29" & 26" is the same & is awesome !
Crossmax SLR (UST) 29" or 26" $1299
Crossmax ST (UST) 29" or 26". $1099
Crossride 29" or 26" $399
Crosstrail 26" (UST) only $699
Check them out on the web @ mavic.com or test ride some at the Kona Odyessy if you can wait that long!
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 indicatedon the maps above. 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 Football Ground
- 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 75% of the entire 50km and 100km courses, 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 17th 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 a ‘Severe’ fire danger rating for the South West fire district on Saturday February 16th 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 17th.
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 Forrest Football Ground 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.