This is my tenth annual Kona Bike Survey, and I'm always charmed and amused by what I see on these bikes. I've always just reported on the bikes in a more clinical sense––how many of what makes and models, wheel sizes, and so forth. Sometime's, though, what's on the bike speaks volumes––especially what's on the top tube.

These photos illustrate, I think, the respect that athletes show for the rigors of this race, and the fueling requirements needed. These bikes both have top tubes crammed full of food. As for the top tube above, one might've thought that the Powerbars––stuck on the top tube by virtue of that product's own natural "glue"––could've been applied in the morning, instead of the day before.

The note at left was taped onto the top tube of a female competitor's bike. It was positioned right where eyes were likely to glance on a regular basis during the 6-hour or so bike ride. It starts with BE SMALL, then goes on to describe the items she needs to remember: KEEP HANDS LOOSE, BE SURE TO STRETCH AND STAND.

The note also contains admonitions that represent one key to why women meet or exceed their expectations during this race to a greater degree than do men: ENJOY IT. YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

Another reason why I enjoy performing this survey is that I get a precise look at bike set-ups. Steve Larsen is riding a Lotus, provided him by Craig Turner of Nytro Multisport. Curiously, though, it has a Reynolds Ouzo ProAero fork in place of the Lotus fork. He's got a seat post, at right, that gives him a moderately steeper seat angle than the 74-degrees the bike comes with. I suspect he's sitting at about 76-degrees. Both the DeBooms have similar seatposts on their road race bikes.

Ken Glah is unusual in that he rides with a rearward position, and for this bike ride he's atop a non-logo'd bike, but one I recognize from years past. It is a steel KHS especially built for him. It has round tubes, but these steel tubes are quite small in diameter. The round seat tube curves in front of the rear wheel, fairing it.