New CX Rides From Kona

Kona announces their 2008 CX bikes:

... The Jake is the entry-level bike, and the one that most plays to the all-rounder tag. It's clearly CX-shaped, with Avid Shorty 4 canti brakes and Maxxis Locust tyres. But the FSA Gossamer MegaExo chainset comes equipped with three chainrings, marking the Jake out as more of a recreational/utility bike than a CX racer.

Next step up is the Jake The Snake. It shares the butted 7005 aluminium frame of the Jake but teams it with a carbon fibre 'cross fork (rather than the Jake's chromoly Project 2). You also get a racier spec, with a CX-specific version of the FSA Gossamer chainset, Mavic Aksium wheels and Shimano 105 drivetrain.

Top of the tree is the Major Jake, Kona's 'cross team race bike. The frame is butted Scandium alloy, with an Easton EXC90 carbon fibre fork. Wheels are Mavic Ksyrium Equipes, tyres are Maxxis Raze and transmission is a blend of Shimano Ultegra and 105.

Pictures are available over at BikeMagic.com.

New Sacto CX Site and Calendar Update

Sacramento Cyclocross has their new site up and operational. It has a bit of news about the change in leadership this year and some good links -- most interestingly to the preliminary calendar:

• Sunday, September 23rd: Hagin Oaks
• Saturday, October 13th: West Sacramento
• Saturday, November 17th: Granite Bay
• Sunday, November 18th: Granite Bay
• Saturday, December 1st: Beales Point
• Sunday, January 6th: Sutter’s Landing

Interesting mix of venues this year. And very interesting that everything is more or less in Sacramento (either Folsom or Sacramento proper). I wonder if Penn Valley, Ione and Vacaville will have their own CX series.