Big Wheel Blitzkrieg at Fort Bill – Danny Hart's Mondraker Summum 29er

May 12, 2017
by Richard Cunningham  
Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.



PB photographer Ross Bell captured images of the latest weapon in the wheel war to end all wheel wars. Danny Hart's 29-inch-wheel Mondraker Summum looks to be production quality. The aluminum chassis is dedicated to 29-inch wheels, with different geometry and, reportedly, Danny brought his 27.5-inch-wheel Summum to Fort William to do timed comparison runs and was blown away by the speed of the new big-wheel chassis. Fort Bill is long, fast and rough, and thus has been predicted by many as a showcase for 29ers. If those speculations prove true, Hart could be the most dangerous competitor this weekend.
Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
Danny Hart sets up his Mondraker 29er. Suspension is by Fox. Notice the extra stanchion tube poking above the top crown. Wiggle room built in for future track tuning? To avoid the buzz, Danny has changed to a forward saddle position to clear the rear tire a full compression.

Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
bigquotesDanny brought his 27.5-inch-wheel Summum to Fort William to do timed comparison runs and was blown away by the speed of the new big-wheel chassis.


Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
Wheel clearance is tight near the bottom bracket to minimize the chainstay length necessary to tuck the swingarm around the larger diameter wheel.

Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
Mondraker shaved the head tube length as short as practical to reduce the height of the chassis, created by the taller fork...
Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
...And the upper swingarm bridge is squeezed flat and set as close as possible to the tire to eke out a few more millimeters of wheel travel.

Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
Tires and wheels were a hurdle for early 29er DH designs, but with Maxxis and DT Swiss on board, the door is now wide open.

Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
No reports yet about the extra stress that larger diameter wheel puts on the brakes. The added leverage suggests that rotors will feel proportionally smaller than the same sizes on a 27.5-inch wheel chassis.

Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
Now THAT's a long fork! Reportedly, Mondraker revised the Summum's steering geometry to tune for the larger wheels, but as expected, there was no talk about exactly what those changes may have been.

Fort Bill BDS 29er watch.
Every millimeter counts to minimize the extra height of the 29er DH fork. Could negative-rise handlebar stems be on the near horizon?



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244 Comments
  • 176 6
 i hear the guys at niner giggling
  • 76 4
 ROFL!!!

They would've been laughing harder if they had made a 29 DH bike instead of letting the Syndicate beat them too it.

Resting on laurels much?
  • 65 7
 @BDKR: MEH. Niner knows their market. Their long travel 29er didn't sell well. They have no presence in DH racing. And the biggest reason...sales of DH bikes are declining. An AM/Enduro bike makes the most sense for an average mountain biker.
  • 14 55
flag cikudh (May 12, 2017 at 16:15) (Below Threshold)
 @Grunk: chill bro
  • 33 1
 too bad their geometry has been years behind.
  • 3 4
 thinking exact same thing.....just when they gave in to 275....there is glimmer of re trending of 29........i wonder if they had to do it again, if they would name their bikes niner.....great when that is in....weird though when they put out 275ers.
  • 7 2
 I recall a sound bite from a niner guy at interbike maybe, saying that 275 was a half step in the same way that cable actuated disc were.
  • 11 2
 @Grunk: The WFO was way ahead of its time. It paved the way for what is now happening with the LT 29er movement. Yes it didn't have great geo but I still know ofpeoe hucking themselves of tombstone at highland on them.
  • 11 1
 Can someone put a 16'' on the back to give it the penny farthing look...
  • 2 0
 @packfill: Doesn't seem to Hinder Kurt Voreis much!
  • 5 0
 @bohns1: that could be said for quite a few people. doesn't mean that i'm going to buy the bike that they ride.
  • 1 0
 If you think the guys as Niner are giggling...what do you think the guys at Lenz Sport are doing...They have had a 29er DH bike for about 5 years (or more) now. Not sure how good it is but...I think they pioneered it.
  • 1 0
 @packfill: And that is the greatness about a thing called choice! Geo numbers dont always translate to ride characteristics!
  • 54 3
 Funny thing is, absolutely nobody cared about the other 29er at Lourdes. Santa Cruz swiped all the cameras to their pits. Looks like this season will be absolute non-stop battering as brands make the switch. 2012 all over again.
  • 2 0
 Yep!
  • 23 0
 What was the other 29er at Lourdes?
  • 12 0
 Who's going to win the last UCI DH race on a 27.5?!?!?!?!

2014? all over again.
  • 33 3
 29ers are so Lourdes, figured we would be on 30s by now....
  • 8 1
 @AJayTCP: Bergamont if I'm not mistaken
  • 10 0
 @BDKR: That's because SC did a proper launch. I am curious with this bike; how much did they modify the current 27.5 frame or did they just completely rebuild the bike? While the bike looks like its production ready, it strikes me as odd how crammed the rear wheel is in there with the rear axle in the "long position."

To me it looks like Trek may be the ones with a truly redesigned bike top to bottom (SC made new links and rear end, but the didn't update the front triangle I believe)
  • 2 0
 @AJayTCP: Trek had them and so did Mondy. Probably had a media black out on them.
  • 18 10
 Haha all you anti 27/29 crybabies are so f*cked!
  • 21 9
 STAY ON YER 650B DANNY!!
  • 10 4
 @me2menow: you don't want Danny to win???
  • 11 4
 Sorry I couldn't hear you I was going to fast on my 29er
  • 3 1
 No one else had 29ers at lourdes, so of course the media couldn't have hyped about something that wasn't around...
  • 2 0
 @dhx42: it's the 27.5 rear triangle
  • 2 0
 @me2menow: why?
  • 2 3
 @Travel66: Good to know.

I think the advantage with 29 isn't just the wheelsize. It's the fact that bike companies know how to design the bike around 29 wheels so that the bike handles great and has the rollover advantage... just sticking 29 inch wheels on a 27.5 bike seems like you're chasing something without committing to it...
  • 1 0
 @AJayTCP: bergamont :-)
  • 1 0
 @cldnld: really? didn't heard that. Are there any pics?
  • 2 1
 @siderealwall2 it is not a casual event that SC showed up with a 29er in Lourdes and others are doing it right after.
They are very likely industry agreements between few brands.
For whatever reason–probably bc they have been the top team in the media for years– SC got to present their 29er first. And all others brands agreed. I think Trek had their bike ready way before SC. At the end of the day, all they want is to sell bikes.
  • 1 0
 @RedRedRe: hardly likely lol
  • 41 1
 Hahaha shiiiit I said as soon as I see Danny Hart riding a 29er then there goes the wheel size should be proportional to body size debate... 29 for the fastest time apparently
  • 29 5
 It's a stupid debate that needs to die. Unless you are on the extreme lower end adult height (~5'0") you can fit on and control a 29er just fine. May need a negative stem to make it happen. But otherwise fine.
  • 19 8
 I think the end result of this will be that 29ers are for racing (any kind of racing) and 27.5ers are for playing.
  • 10 0
 @PAmtbiker: Isnt' Hart 5'10" (178cm)? He's not that small, is he?
  • 7 2
 @PAmtbiker: nah no money in that believe me they will be shoving 29dh bikes down our throats before you know it.
  • 3 1
 @carsoncp64 That might make sense if Danny were short, but he's listed as 5'10". That's exactly the average height for an adult male.
  • 4 1
 @PAmtbiker: Maybe.... I have abandoned my 26er in favor of 29er
  • 2 0
 @dlxah: He's 5'8" iirc.
  • 15 1
 @PAmtbiker: Nah, 26ers are for playing (and Rampage), 27.5s were just a fad. Razz
  • 8 2
 I think 29" DH bikes are still for a specific course so with the way prices are going, nobody will be able to afford a top end 27.5 and 29" DH bike so will stick with the all rounder 27.5" one. At least for the hobbiest and not the pros.
  • 2 1
 @panaphonic: He looks shorter than that when on his bike
  • 4 3
 @PAmtbiker: my 29 is for playing as well, and oh so much fun it tis!!
  • 3 0
 @nismo325: Don't have to buy, and more choice is all the more welcome in my world!
  • 1 1
 @TucsonDon: you watch, In the next couple rampages, someone will rock a 29..just cuz.
  • 1 0
 @PAmtbiker: maybe for small, tight tracks too?
  • 1 0
 @dlxah: he's shorter than me and I'm 5'10. Met him at FoD got my picture taken, he's short alright!
  • 23 0
 I think people often forget that in racing, you have to go for the fastest option. Who gives a crap about the general riding populations opinion?! You don't have a go at F1, for making their cars unrealistic and out of touch with your standard hatchback do you? This is a discipline based on results, and if your Job depends on you winning, You'd be a fool not to ride the fastest option. It's not all about fun on the circuit. That should be left to the rest of us. #RideWhatYouLike
  • 2 4
 fair point, but you failed to mention that 29ers gay. Nah but seriously, if everyone runs 29ers, then there won't be any advantage will there? I suppose people used that argument when 650b came out too but idk. UCI should make 29 the maximum wheel size for sure anyway...
  • 2 0
 @coolskidz: I wasnna see the Specialized Demo 36er that's in the works. The rollover is going to be sa-weet!
  • 4 0
 "You don't have a go at F1, for making their cars unrealistic and out of touch with your standard hatchback do you?"

Yeah, but in F1 there strict rules controlling things like wheel size...
  • 1 0
 @KeithReeder: Which they just changed this season, with obscenely wider rubber. Everybody's doing it, only difference is now F1 is trying to win back the fans they lost going to the new power plants by making the cars faster in corners. They have essentially eliminated the smaller teams from being competitive with all the changes so there are only 2-3 guys winning the whole season, and if that happens with DH people will stop caring about that sport too. I used to love watching F1, now it's a snoozefest.
  • 29 4
 If Danny Hart runs it,everyone will quit crying,right?
I mean...except on Pinkbike of course.
  • 9 4
 does danny hart running it mean people didn't waste money on another obsolete wheel size?
  • 6 5
 @nismo325: What is obsolete about the wheelsize that is the most produced currently? I mean, 26 is obsolete as it gets really. But 27.5 is far from being that.
  • 7 4
 @mgolder: people where saying that about 26 before 27.5. after years and years of 26 it ony took one model year to basically kill all of them.
  • 1 0
 it takes no time for Danny to adapt...
  • 7 0
 Danny hart said on a recent interview on another mtb site that he thinks the uci should cap wheel sizes at 650b... From the mouth of Hart himself
  • 6 0
 @ctd07: Rachel just said the same this weekend in front of the trek camp!
  • 3 1
 @Travel66: @ctd07 So they both don't like riding it but know it's a faster bike.
  • 1 0
 @gonecoastal: don't know, although Rachels face didn't look keen.

I suspect the riders don't really want the field unofficially split via wheel size and nobody wants smaller teams to leave because they can't afford to run 29ers when the business economics look dubious. Variety is the spice of life and consumers don't want just 4/6 different choices for a DH rig otherwise it's going to look like the V10 club out on the trails.

Wheel size is a genuine dilemma imo, bigger guys need a bigger proportionate contact patch/wheel size, but with that comes the wheel up the arse problem and I reckon I'm border line at 6'2" in terms of running say a 180mm 29er DH bike let alone minnaar size travel.
  • 20 0
 Mountain biking is the only thing in my life that makes me wish I was 20 or 30 years younger, just so I could do it all again but on the great bikes that younger riders will have thanks to rapidly advancing tech.
Don't waste time moaning, grab what you can and ride while you can ! #onelifesoliveit.
  • 3 0
 @konabigshed, damn right there mate
  • 2 0
 You mean to tell me you didn't enjoy DH on old xc bike with v brakes. Those days where the best... when evey part failed. Broken cranks, broken bars, snap and bent forks, bent rims with brakes rubbing on wheel, no stopping power when rim rides over a puddle... how can you and you scars miss that?!?!?
  • 1 0
 ...oh and forgot no lock grips. That was the best Smile
  • 2 0
 @Rider656: I first rode my bike(Cannondale) down from Brevent in Chamonix in 91, before V brakes!!
And my grips were stuck on with hair spray, that's how I rolled back in the day.
I enjoyed every second but kit is so good now, bring it on !!
  • 2 0
 Eh, these kids don't know nuthin' about banging down a hill on a full rigid and looking for your chain & lost spokes afterward!
  • 20 1
 I do enjoy how the mtb media is behaving like these are totally alien - "No reports yet about the extra stress that larger diameter wheel puts on the brakes. The added leverage suggests that rotors will feel proportionally smaller than the same sizes on a 27.5-inch wheel chassis" ........umm yea no sh*t
  • 1 0
 And you'll be going exactly 10% faster on a 29er so need bigger brakes to account for that too
  • 7 1
 Rim brakes, mate! MORE effective
  • 6 0
 @simooo: surely rim brakes are the same as having a 29" rotor? moar power? science?
  • 1 0
 @jbradley1985: No brakes needed at all when you're Danny Hart tho!
  • 7 0
 And shaving mm off the headtube, then putting a rise bar on
  • 3 0
 @BryceBorlick: Yes! Negative riser stem + riser bar = win
  • 12 0
 I like Danny's take on all the hype and coverage of 29'ers www.wideopenmountainbike.com/2017/05/danny-harts-mondarker-summum-29er-gee-athertons-trek-session-29er-fort-william-british-downhill-series
  • 11 11
 I heard an interview with Danny where he's says he rather be on the 27.5 and uci to introduce a cap on wheel size, I'm down with that. Also brendog hit the nail on the head saying "the race will be the same just 3secs quicker or whatever on 29ers". Yes they are faster but not for a new standard in DH, Who's just bought 650b DH for this race season? And now it's no good and ya need a 29er. Don't agree and Just don't see the point
  • 2 0
 Damn Daniel,speaks the truth.He's bloody wise for his age.
  • 7 0
 Interviewer: How would you describe the differences between your 27.5” downhill bike and a 29’er?

Danny: An inch an a half on each wheel!

hahahaha
  • 5 0
 ha, he's like the Kimi Raikkonen of mtb
  • 6 0
 @Crouchie: You don't need anything.. We aren't pros.. You don't need to ride what they ride.. Your 26 or 27.5 is more than enough if that's what u bought..
  • 3 0
 @bohns1: When your old stuff wears out, you need to ride what's on the market. Wanna buy a new 26" dh bike? That's cute. -Regards, the industry.
  • 2 1
 @kanioni: "Buy a new 26" dh bike?" Who would do such a thing when there will be plenty of wonderful 27.5" DH bikes with prices going smaller and smaller because of the new DH 29ers bikes?
  • 1 0
 @etga6657: Freeriders might wanna do that. Anyway I was just making a point that when we get more otions, we actually don't get more options. We'll be all riding trains when the racing teams realize that those f*ckers go like 400 km/h in Japan.
  • 3 0
 @etga6657:

Point.

Missed.
  • 1 0
 @kanioni: That is true.. But that's not the statement I was responding to..
  • 1 0
 @bohns1: Yeah looks like I've got to do some work on reading comprehension Big Grin
  • 11 1
 "What is interesting is how uninterested Danny is in the hype around 29”. I asked him what he thinks about the fuss they’re creating… his answer? “Get a life, get off the internet and go ride your bike!”"
  • 11 1
 29ers will give the advantage until everyone is on them. After that, it won't matter.
  • 4 0
 I'm still waiting for front and real spoilers on bikes for more down force and more traction, that's when I'll take up bowling
  • 1 0
 So true.
  • 1 0
 @Waldon83: just imagine all the sweet air you wouldn't get
  • 9 0
 DT swiss has made the EX471 for 29ers for years! I've got them on my trail bike. Seems like wheels and tires weren't such a big hurdle....
  • 11 2
 My (low) arse already feels the rear tire scratching. Not happy.
  • 8 1
 How can people be willing to drop hundreds on lighter components to go faster, but then dislike it when a larer wheel size is introduced to go faster?
  • 9 1
 That bike is sweet. #sorrynotsorry
  • 9 2
 According to strava, DH has just nabbed the Fort Bill KOM in practise. Big wheels roll faster.
  • 5 0
 Danny is the man to beat from last season. I dont think you can put it to the wheels dude
  • 6 0
 Holy shit, I just looked it up. Up by 7 seconds over Minnar's 2012 KOM.
  • 1 0
 @atrokz:
  • 10 2
 The Bike Industry is so predictable! RIP 27.5
  • 4 1
 It's worked out nicely for all teams except Syndicate. They showed up at Lourdes, had everybody surprised and then got smashed by the weather. With more teams sorted with big wheels for the next round the advantage is with Gee having 80 odd points from Rd 1.
  • 7 0
 27.5 is dead. Sell me your old DH bikes for cheap... please
  • 7 0
 So is my 26er dh a kids bike now lol
  • 5 0
 Wheel size debate is pretty fckng boring now but.....
I would like to see a ruling that teams/riders have to stick to a wheel size for the whole season.....
  • 1 0
 AMEN to that.
A kind of "(Before the season begins) Choose a wheelsize, keep it the whole season and (don't) be a dick about it" UCI rule.
  • 3 0
 It seems pretty obvious to me (an average dumb f*ck with no information whatsoever) that at a track full of high speed sections of large rocks and large holes in between the rocks that a bigger wheel would help smooth that out and therefore help carry speed more speed and therefore be faster overall. The motorway section which makes up the bottom would also benefit from a faster rolling speed surely?
  • 1 1
 The real question is why nobody tried it out sooner in light of that.
The enabling parts/technology bollocks is just that - just that nobody wanted to be the lightning rod in such a fashion-conscious industry.
  • 7 1
 Want to see Champery track on 29" !!
  • 4 3
 It would still be faster. The steeper the track the better a bike with more BB drop will handle it.
  • 4 0
 holy crap, that thing is a monster truck. I can't believe how low it looks like he's sitting between those wheels.
  • 5 1
 British Downhill Series this weekend, almost identical track to the world cup - thats why over 100 world cup riders are there.
  • 3 0
 And that my friend is just as big as the rolling resistance advantage. You ride in a 29", you ride on a 650b.
  • 3 2
 I can barely give half a fuck what these people ride, these racers are amazing and there's plenty off plot lines running through both men's and women's DH. Gwin v Hart, Lil Trace v Rachy, it's time to get stoked. but I love seeing the bikes so by all means keep writing about and photographing them. Lourdes was effectively ruined by the weather and the lack of established guidelines with which to delay the comp. Fort Bill is going to off the chain and I can't friggen wait! Long live Chainsaw and McGazza!
  • 4 0
 HOLY SEAT SLAMMED FORWARD ON THE RAILS!!!! Tire been tickling them jewels eh Danny?!?!
  • 5 2
 Thank you lord that I just bought a new 26" and didn't fall to the peer pressure of 27.5". I'd be so pissed if I had gone 27.5 to die a month into it.
  • 4 0
 ALUMINIUM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 29ers !!!! short guy...... my god!!! the world is upside down.....lolol
  • 5 2
 Yet another highly successful world cup racer racing on aluminium. Carbon is kind of a ridiculous fad on some of these bigger bikes
  • 3 1
 Hart is only on a aluminum bike because the manufacturing time and costs are 1/10th of that for a new carbon bike. He will be on a carbon 29 dh bike possibly by Cairns, no later than opening round '18. It's coming, deal with it, accept it.
  • 1 0
 I assume the Mondraker has an entirely new 29er specific front triangle whereas because Santa Cruz and Trek are carbon they are the 650b front ends with modified rear linkages/swingarm
  • 1 0
 @bigwhls: yeah I assume the same, I just mean to mention that obviously for these guys it was more important to get Hart out on bigger wheels quickly than to have to wait to make it carbon, which isn't something you'd ever see in road or xc. Also, it is important to mention that commencal and scott riders do not ride carbon.
  • 1 0
 Well from a neutral perspective bigger wheels make sense for professional racer who can handel the bikes effortlessly! I dare say that the average rider shouldn't give in 29inch wheels since the 27.5 seem like a perfect compromise between agility traction roll over properties and stability for an everyday wheel! If you are a racer and will to test one go for it! Nevertheless I wouldn't want to switch to 29 since I think it's a less playful ride.
  • 1 0
 "Now THAT's a long fork! Reportedly, Mondraker revised the Summum's steering geometry to tune for the larger wheels, but as expected, there was no talk about exactly what those changes may have been."

From the picture looks like the Fox 49 has a looong offset.
  • 1 0
 Does anyone think the 29er will help little guys out more than big guys? If the bike fits Minnaar perfectly and its huge for Danny Hart and everyone's moving to longer roomier bikes anyways why not? If you could make a really nimble, well handling 30.5 bike it would be extremely fast
  • 1 0
 I guess im a little behind because im from Kansas and we bearly have wifi let alone hills to fly down... but how do 29 inch wheels not snap when bombing down a mountain??? I mean I have 29s on my trail bikes but on downhill id totally want 26 or 27.5. 29 sounds sketch AF lol
  • 5 0
 negative rise?
ffs.
  • 5 0
 "Every millimeter counts to minimize the extra height of the 29er DH fork. Could negative-rise handlebar stems be on the near horizon?"
So shortarse Danny runs a 20 or 30mm rise bar.Mmmm
  • 5 1
 @watchmen: I was having a shit and jokingly decided to watch Global Cycling Networks video on roadies and negative rise stems so I could have a laugh, but when its on Pinkbike its not funny Frown
  • 4 0
 flat bars will come first. They are called riser bars, so they should be called lower bars. Not neg risers. Or upside down town flippy whippy bars.
  • 2 1
 The hilarious thing is that Renthal makes Fatbars in 10, 20, 30 and 40mm rise...
  • 1 0
 @gonecoastal: That is SO unbelievably funny.....hysterical.I'm actually crying.
  • 1 0
 @watchmen: I'm glad you've found that funny
  • 5 1
 But is it 27.5+ compatible?
  • 4 1
 that's for the future.
  • 13 13
 I can't understand how there is no rule to impose an equal wheel size to everyone. In my point of view this is just cheating, it's like someone shows up with a more powerful vehicle in motorsport. The race should be about the athletes and not a faster wheel size.
  • 18 5
 Go watch Nascar or F1 if that's the kind of shit you're into.
  • 7 2
 So Minnaar who possibly would have won many more races on a bike that offsets his height should continue to be forced to ride 650b?

Dumb.
  • 4 2
 @jpcars10s: F1 is a bit bad comparision, the teams have different engines, gearboxes and stuff, which makes every season look like domination of one team, that actually went to the good point in research in between the seasons.
  • 11 0
 Only cheating if it wasnt available to everyone else!!!!!!
  • 6 0
 @Carl96: Exactly!!! Don't see why no one else gets that.
  • 5 0
 @s3thevo: F1 has regulated tire size.
  • 1 0
 @s3thevo: Exactly although there are still strict rules around various aspects of the cars to try and make things a little more equal...like they all have the same wheel size...ironically.
  • 16 1
 @RafaGamas "cheating"? Are you serious? Product technological development is the crux of this sport. So by your logic, if some guy racing Enduro can't afford to buy or isn't sponsored with a dropper post, all of his competitors with a dropper post are cheating? When Kulhavy won the first UCI World Cup XC on a 29er was he cheating? 90% of the top 20 riders in World Cup XC racing are on 29ers, the wheels are just faster, it's that simple. This was inevitable, it was only a matter of time before manufacturers and R&D racers figured out the geo for 29 dh bikes to take shape. By the first race of '18 every team will be on 29 bikes, get used to it, it's coming, no amount of hate spewed from weekend keyboard warriors can do anything about it, no one can stop it. Natural evolution of the sport, it is awesome to see and I can't wait for the rest of the season. What's not to like about watching the fastest dh racers in the world go even faster? If all their pros themselves are stating "if the big wheels are faster, then I'll be riding one", what the hell do we as spectators have to complain about.
  • 2 0
 @bigwhls: couldn't upvote more. Sense.
  • 5 0
 "Showing up with a more powerful vehicle" is quite an important part of motorsports.

I'm a bit confused by the idea that 29ers are cheating. Wider handlebars or slacker angles apparently aren't an unfair advantage, let alone suspension or disc brakes.

I have some perspective on this as I have 2 MTBs, a modern(ish) 29er trail bike, and a battered old 26er ht with rigid forks. The size of the wheels is in no way the biggest difference between the two
  • 2 0
 Lol, so have you even seen McLaren/Honda running there 26 inch car vs Mercedes 29er. It isn't cheating it is development.....
  • 3 0
 We kinda need to stop making the comparison to motorsport.

The majority of motorsports are highly regulated, unlike DH mountain biking where it seems you can run whatever you want.
Many technical advancements in F1 have been outlawed and those that gave a team a massive edge over the rest of the field were gone sometimes within the same season.

The point being missed here is that in motorsports, even in F1, rules and regulations are constantly being updated to try and make it about drive skill rather than equipment, problem with F1 is the amount of money in the sport...the best example of driver skills over equipment (I can think of) is V8 Supercars.
  • 2 0
 @bigwhls: Amen.
  • 2 1
 @ischiller: Amen to your "Amen".
  • 2 0
 @s3thevo: "F1 is a bit bad comparision, the teams have different engines, gearboxes and stuff, which makes every season look like domination of one team, that actually went to the good point in research in between the seasons"

Nope, it's an EXCELLENT comparison - pretty much every last component on an F1 car complies with specific FIA rules, and the only significant performance difference is how well the teams implement within the design criteria.
  • 2 0
 I'm not against the 29ers, just think it was a fairer competition if all the athletes were using the same wheel size. Would avoid speculation about whether or not a standard is faster than the other
  • 2 0
 @RafaGamas: Again,,,,, riders or teams can choose what to ride and what they feel is faster. Nothing is being held from teams.. You may see everyone on a 29er by the end of the season.. Atleast on certain tracks.
  • 1 0
 @RafaGamas: Speculation, schmeculation.....Callahan just won Madeira on a 29. As the geo and available parts on these long travel 29ers become more and more refined, you will see more and more 29ers at the pointy end of every UCI DH WC and EWS race. I'm not hating on 27.5 by any means, unlike SOOOO many peeps bagging on 29 wheels on PB. I agree that 27.5 bikes CAN be more playful and might get through a sharp switchback .0056 secs faster than a 29er. To each his own though. The 29 revolution is upon us and the sooner everyone accepts it, the less non-sense will be written on these comment sections.
  • 1 1
 man its unreal to see all this change in wheel size again i all ways said i would never ride a 29 inch wheel mountain bike but shit i gets i was wrong i still have 26 inch dh bike and love it but have been thinking ov changing my race bike and from what I've read and watched i think it may go a different way but like danny said the speed difference is unreal braaaphpppppp
  • 3 0
 why is this even a debate?! - racers are going to want to ride what is fastest if they want to win
  • 2 0
 I just desperately hope that his team can get Florent Payet. It'll look proportional on him, and obviously Mondraker have been working this problem for a while.
  • 2 0
 i feel like they already have build up 29rs, and kept them hidden, they were just waiting who is gonna be the first one to call it! Big Grin
  • 12 12
 Hey bike companies, I hope you understand how you're hurting mountain biking right now.

I remember the days, three to four years ago, when I couldn't wait to buy a new DH bike to ride at the bike park, and race the local weekend downhill series and be competitive on the same bike. I coveted a new V10, a GT Fury, a Commencal V3, a Devinci Wilson, a carbon Kona Operator...the list goes on, and I've been fortunate enough, and stoked, to have owned several of those bikes. Now, I know I'll never own a new DH/park bike, because they will no longer exist. We don't want to ride 29er park bikes, and we won't.

And we won't be racing the local downhill series, and we won't be practicing getting faster to test ourselves against the Eastern States Cup guys when they show up, and we won't be gathered at the start gates on Friday nights stoked to drop in, and we won't be sharing beers and stories at the bar about our race runs, and we won't congratulating the local park kid who just beat the pro who podium'd at three events this year. Because you just segregated us. We're either freeriders on smaller wheels, or we're racers on big ones, it's no longer possible to be both.

All you're doing is killing the stoke, which is what all of us who got into this sport run on. And for what? So your world cup racer can have an advantage over the others, for two, maybe three events, until the rest catch up with the trend and you're all back on the same wheel size again? I see a lot of people on this forum advocating, and even celebrating, the the 29er movement in downhill. But I'll guarantee they're not downhillers, because I ride with downhillers every day, I am a downhiller, and none of us are celebrating it from the top of the mountain.

I don't know what's to come of downhill mountain biking after this, but if our only options are going to be 29er World Cup bikes, and a couple of inferior designed 27.5 branded "park' bikes, I can tell you that those of us who have been entrenched in this sport for years, buying your bikes, supporting your brands, and giving life to this industry are not going to be stoked, we're just going to feel betrayed.
  • 2 3
 Way to repost the same comment on every 29ers dh article.
  • 2 7
flag chriskneeland (May 13, 2017 at 5:30) (Below Threshold)
 @srjacobs: Bike companies need to know. You should help spread the word.
  • 6 1
 u just don't know that u want a 29er park bike yet.
  • 9 1
 You sound like an old bitter dude.
  • 1 0
 "We don't want to ride 29er park bikes, and we won't." Okay, so before it ever happens, you already refuse to ride not-even-existing bikes...

" I see a lot of people on this forum advocating, and even celebrating, the 29er movement in downhill. But I'll guarantee they're not downhillers, because I ride with downhillers every day, I am a downhiller, and none of us are celebrating it from the top of the mountain." Okay, so Kurt Voreis, Greg Minnaar, Cédric Gracia, Danny Hart are not downhillers.....
  • 2 4
 @etga6657: When not against the clock, 26 is the preferred choice by pro's. See Lacondeguy, R-dog, Semenuk, Zink, McCaul, Rheeder, Aggy...non racers don't want shitty wagon wheels.
  • 1 2
 @etga6657: And not even Danny want's to ride a 29er

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuWfmUdQ9Qw
  • 5 0
 @cmkneeland I spent half of my parks days last season on a 6" 29er enduro and the other half on a 8" 26er. 29er is fun as f*ck for park riding, they boost like crazy, rail berms, and let you plow through gnar like you're on a longer travel bike.
  • 1 0
 Personnaly I would love to try a 29er park bike. I tried a 29" hardtail one recently, I couldn't belive a easily that thing climbed, it felt like cheating compared to my 26er.... If bigger wheels make the same difference going down on a DH bike as they do going uphill on a hardtail, then I would be pretty open to consider that wheel size for my next DH rig.
  • 5 1
 "We don't want to ride 29er park bikes, and we won't. "

"WE?"

I didn't get the memo telling me that you'd been elected "Voice Of The World's Mountain Bikers".
  • 1 3
 @KeithReeder: Well I can't speak for people who don't have the skill to go faster and need a bigger wheel size.
  • 5 1
 only if its gluten free
  • 2 0
 Bet there are a couple bike design engineers working their ass off right now since their company is behind...
  • 1 0
 I thought the rear end is just an alloy version with the axle in the longest adjustment. It is the front triangle that is new.
  • 3 4
 Is it just me or do downhill bikes look so much uglier and less gnarly with bigger wheels (even 27.5). as it makes the fork and shock travel look so much smaller. They are just starting to look like a 160/170mm travel bike with 26" wheels...
  • 1 0
 All this tek talk and iv just fitted a fitheliment shock on my Scott voltage, it works amazing hhaha.its like riding a chirpy velvet glove
  • 2 0
 Negative rise bars?? I think there are still few cm of spacers to remove under the upper crown before changing bar rise...
  • 1 0
 Why not a mixer style with 27.5 rear? Carves the corners better, less ass buzzing, with all the benefits of the monster truck front end.
  • 1 0
 Coming soon will be hover bikes- fastest over all terrain: Riders pedal their ass off to keep the props turning and let gravity do the rest. Mark my words.
  • 1 0
 Some 29er fans are like Trump fans. They don't defend 29ers when they're being made fun of, but their all over an article with a lot of positive 29er coverage.
  • 3 0
 Are we surprised?
  • 3 3
 Doesn't look so bad, but the Santa Cruz V10 29" is clearly the "best looking" bike IMO.

Perhaps because he's so big that he doesn't look like a 29"...
  • 2 0
 I'm confused. Isn't Fort William in 3 weeks? Why is everyone there now?
  • 8 0
 For extra practice - the British Downhill Series track is almost identical to what's used in the World Cup, so lots of teams use it as a way to make sure the bikes are all set for the big show in June.
  • 1 0
 Round 2 of the British Down Hill series is this weekend at Fort William and it looks like a few riders are using the opportunity to get some practice in / do some testing.
  • 1 0
 BDS round I think.
  • 2 0
 i'm not quite sure, but there might be a British Downhill Series event there this weekend. I don't really remember where i saw that though...
  • 17 0
 It's an annual 29er festival
  • 1 0
 @ckcost ahahah
  • 2 0
 The paint isnt even dry yet!
  • 2 0
 Go on Danny son! Win the fucker! You're an absolute animal!
  • 2 0
 Negative rise stems. #DHgoesXC
  • 2 1
 Lower the BB and add some length to those stays and the 29ers are going to eat up the competition.
  • 2 0
 it's so funny it took this long, the silly 275 fad is over now
  • 1 1
 so mondraker's foward geometry is now nullified by moving saddle forward so as to allow for big wheels.......slow clap for that one. god i've seen it all now.
  • 2 0
 I think you didn't really understand the point of Mondraker bikes' geometry: the point is to have a longer REACH, a longer distance between the bottom bracket and the top of the head tube. The saddle position have nothing to do into that, even more in DH.
  • 1 0
 @etga6657: but if you sit further forward it will decrease the reach messing up the c of g. although i concede it's not a huge amount of time there in the saddle but they do still use it.
  • 2 4
 so are we expected to believe SC commencal and mondraker and others never tried 29ers for dh when looking at moving to 650b from 26 sounds like very sloppy testing if thats the case. we were all told that 650b was the best for dh and now a mere 2 years later everyone is so amazingly suprised by how super special there new 29 inch wheels are.....like so surprised they work. Dont even bother trying to fob it off with silly excuses like "now the geometry is better suited they work better" its a bloody bike frame and things dont change that much in a couple of years in regards to prefered geometry for certain disciplines and 29ers have been around since the early 90's fairly commonly so its hardly a new thing as the geometry has been sorted several years ago.
  • 3 0
 I still ride a 26
  • 2 0
 Wonder what Gwin and YT are up 2?
  • 3 1
 Next up... 29+.
  • 3 3
 Go fast by whatever means necessary... Totally get that, but wagon wheels in DH makes me sad for some reason
  • 4 7
 IMO the future is in 36er's! It's only a matter of track building. If you build an absolutely straight run with massive obstacles and boulder-size rock gardens I am sure a 36er will win. And the industry will be happy to sell a new standard wheel size "fastest" DH bike. But in my riding, I also enjoy slower technical tracks with tight turns, switchbacks, slaloms in-between trees, and I love to have good times in the air when I jump. So for me, WAGONWHEELS, NO, THANK YOU.
  • 1 0
 I hope Danny can whip no matter what size wheels is
  • 1 1
 29ers over the fort bill motorway... That'll be scary/interesting to see
  • 1 0
 Well played Danny Hart......well played....(raspy low tone voice)
  • 1 0
 I see one small geo problem... his ass is I too of the back wheel.
  • 1 0
 "his ass is I too of the back wheel"

And again in English, please?
  • 1 0
 @KeithReeder: sorry bout that. Translation: His ass is on top of the back wheel.
  • 1 0
 @fattyheadshok: Apparently you missed the line about rear brakes vs 29" wheels... guy has to slow down somehow
  • 1 0
 Ok...now... gt.. specy... canyon??? Hurry up...
  • 1 0
 FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
  • 1 1
 hhhmmmmm wonder how much these bike companies donate to pink bike??????????????
  • 1 0
 how is it pronounced again? Some,numb Get it right !
  • 3 3
 It looks like a monster truck. And not in a good way...
  • 1 0
 How YT?
  • 1 0
 natural consequence..
  • 3 2
 Bullshit 29er
  • 1 1
 I eat sleep and ride a 29er down hill bike.
  • 1 0
 horrible ......
  • 3 4
 I like to listen to Spiegel im Spiegel when the world is burning.
  • 5 6
 HOW DOES DANNY HART SIT DOWN WITH BALLS THAT BIG!?!??!
  • 3 0
 Those big ol balls begonia get tyre buzzed when he hangs out back on a steep Wink
  • 1 0
 29er balls - they're faster, apparently.
  • 1 2
 Funny, Danny's on an Aluminium bike, anyone noticed that?
  • 2 2
 Fast and Fuglious!
  • 2 3
 I'm not racist, but I can't handle people who ride 29ers. Period.
  • 1 0
 Faster than you?
  • 1 1
 ALUMINIUM WON
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