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Pro Bike Check: Leah Maunsell’s Kona Process 111

If you are looking for a shining example of a child prodigy, and a certain star of the future then Irish racer, Leah Maunsell, must surely fit the bill. Even though she has just turned 16, Leah won the Junior Category at the recent EWS Emerald Enduro with ease, but what was most impressive is she would have come 15th in the pro-women, only a little over a minute behind a top10 spot!

This is a simply astounding performance for a rider so young, and Leah certainly has a bright future ahead of her in enduro racing. After following her father and brothers into biking she started out in XC racing, before jumping onto enduro when the Irish scene exploded. Technically she is too young to be racing at this level, but her speed and prestigious race history (three times Irish National XC champ, four times XC series champ and winning the pro-women category in the Gravity Enduro series and the Irish Nationals) made her inclusion essential. Kona noticed her potential and were keen to get her on board, and working with Garry Davoren of MBW Bike Shop, Galway, she now runs a 29er Kona Process 111, we were keen to check it out.

The Kona Process 111 has exceptional standover and combines 111 mm of rear travel with a 120 mm Rockshox Pike
The Kona Process 111 has exceptional standover and combines 111 mm of rear travel with a 120 mm Rockshox Pike
The rear suspension is set up by Garry Davoren of MBW Bike Shop, and has an aggressive race tune
The rear suspension is set up by Garry Davoren of MBW Bike Shop, and has an aggressive race tune
The scuffs and scratches say it all, Leah rides a lot!
The scuffs and scratches say it all, Leah rides a lot!
Leah chose to run a Maxxis Minion DHF on the front and a Maxxis High Roller on the rear. Leah chose to run her tyres pretty firm for the race, “I did not want to take any chances on the rocks”, with 30 psi front and back (normally she would run 20/22 psi)
Leah chose to run a Maxxis Minion DHF on the front and a Maxxis High Roller on the rear. Leah chose to run her tyres pretty firm for the race, “I did not want to take any chances on the rocks”, with 30 psi front and back (normally she would run 20/22 psi)
Leah ran a 32t chainring for the race, working well with the big wheels
Leah ran a 32t chainring for the race, working well with the big wheels
Knowledge is power, a Garmin Edge allows Leah to monitor her race progress
Knowledge is power, a Garmin Edge allows Leah to monitor her race progress
Shimano SLX provide reliable and tested braking performance
Shimano SLX brakes provide reliable and tested braking performance
Leah runs a Stans Flow and Mavic 521 rear wheel for racing, for maximum strength through the rocks
Leah runs a Stans Flow and Mavic 521 rear wheel for racing, for maximum strength through the rocks
Leah Maunsell is probably faster than you!
Leah Maunsell is probably faster than you!
Watch out for this name, she will be a superstar one day!
Watch out for this name, she will be a superstar one day!

If you want to follow Leah’s progress though the season you can do so on her blog.

Words and Photos: Trev Worsey

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