Video: Clementz and Cruz Pull the Trigger

Oct 30, 2013 at 4:52
by Cannondale Bikes  
Views: 32,808    Faves: 62    Comments: 1


bigquotesThis is the first time I've felt good on a 29er. - Jerome Clementz

It's not all just about the Jekyll for 2013 Enduro World Champion Jerome Clementz and his Cannondale OverMountain teammate Ben Cruz. The newest addition to their stables is the 2014 Trigger 29 Carbon. Watch them shred the trails around Jerome's house in Eastern France.

bigquotesNot being that big of a dude I feel at totally home in the cockpit of the Trigger 29. - Ben Cruz

Combo shot

bigquotesAnd after seeing Anton and Manny shred theirs at Trans Provence, no one can ever say a 29er can't take switchbacks. - Ben Cruz

Ben Cruz and Jerome Clementz riding in Buhl France. Photographed in June 2013.

bigquotesIt's a bike that can go anywhere... it's good in for long rides and also when things get crazy. - Jerome Clementz

www.cannondale.com

Author Info:
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Member since Jul 22, 2013
56 articles

143 Comments
  • 58 4
 Came here expecting to see people shitting on different forks and wheels, was not disappointed. Seriously guys, I'm almost embarrassed to be a part of this site sometimes with the way people act towards new products or even products that deviate from there norm. Get over yourselves.
  • 28 58
flag hllclmbr (Oct 30, 2013 at 11:25) (Below Threshold)
 If you're not running 160-180+mm on 26" wheels, then you need to ask yourself, "am I really mountain biking?".
  • 26 20
 For every comment where someone complains about wheel size, there is a comment where someone complains about the people that complain about wheel size. Which is worse really? Why is it a bad thing for people to express their opinions about new products?
  • 29 4
 because most of these people are young kids going along with what everyone else says, even though they haven't even ridden the product they hate on
  • 17 1
 It's fine to have an opinion on new products, problem is most of the people expressing their opinions have never actually tried said products, and even more funny is the fact that half these pinkbike kids can't afford to buy them, so based off that, the products suck.
  • 7 12
flag Halbal (Oct 30, 2013 at 16:14) (Below Threshold)
 And you are just adding to it even more...
  • 16 6
 look how awkward they are on the 29er. Have you seen www.pinkbike.com/video/303796 On the jekyll....so much more flow. Now watch this video again and tell me whats better.
  • 4 1
 Yeah but they might be faster on the 29". That said, I think Jerome is on the boarder line of being too short for the 29" (bars look high).
  • 6 3
 They look so awkward on those things.
  • 2 0
 just for fun but I don't follow enduro I would like to see standings on the wc cicuit and what was ridden. If anyone has a link that would be awesome.
  • 3 1
 So much for needing short stays to manual well.
  • 2 1
 will-castenada:

You're right, I find the video you posted to be more entertaining. That said, these two videos are showcasing two different styles of riding. The video above is "Enduro," which I still think just means trail riding. And the video you posted is freeride. Are 26" wheels better for freeride than 29"? I'd say yes. Are 26" wheels better for competition enduro? Maybe not.
  • 3 0
 I get that 29ers are faster, and u respect that. I get that they're in it to win races and a big wheeled bike is proabaly faster for them and if they want to win they may need to sacrifice some of the flow and flickibility of their 26 inch bikes. It's up to the rider in the end and people have to respec that. If you don't like 29ers don't ride one.
  • 4 2
 They're racers... doesn't matter what you look like as long as you cross the line first or clock the fastest time. Let's just hope the wagon-wheel hype doesn't kill a very fun wheel size.
  • 1 0
 *i respect that
  • 24 5
 I can't believe, after 15 years, people are still dumbstruck by the Lefty... " How does it work, won't you fall over, I can't jump with it, looks flexy..." Silly...
  • 7 10
 Is not flexy at all. Try it one day.
  • 13 1
 I'm sure it performs well, but none the less people will never believe in the lefty until they ride one.. I mean look at that thing
  • 4 0
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RIDmSaRUxs

10 years ago under two of the best riders in the world... If those two could win 4X on it back then, I'm sure it's well up to par now.
  • 2 0
 @kulten
I think that's what he was trying to say...
  • 7 2
 as an owner of a lefty, it is great when it works. but it breaks so much. i had to send it to the factory 6 times last year. rockshox are so much more reliable
  • 13 1
 The music is this video made me feel like I was watching an ad for a dating site...
  • 2 0
 Left me wondering how long the honeymoon will last.
  • 18 10
 I'm on a Carbon Trigger 26 with a Lefty Carbon on 'er. I've put it through the ringer and... it's the best AM bike I've ever ridden. Anyone who's sketchy about the Lefty should try one out. Jaw dropping how good that fork is. The only "problem" with the bike is the little wheels in some circumstances. The 29 is gonna be unstoppable.
  • 9 22
flag KonaGuy77 (Oct 30, 2013 at 8:16) (Below Threshold)
 Tried one out during a demo day. Hated it, it was way too stiff!
  • 2 1
 Agreed, and so the aswer to the caomment at 3:53 is "less".
  • 5 5
 I love my Lefty and Prophet frame but in my opionion the Triger 29 looks very akward.
  • 12 1
 No problem with the lefty but lets face it ,whenever a smaller rider rides a 29" it looks like some kid robbed his daddy's bike.
to sum things up, even though it seems nice its still a WAGON compared to a 26.
  • 5 3
 In certain conditions, a rider on a 29" will have an advantage. I would rather climb and ride rocky singletrack on a 29". In different conditions, a rider on a 26" will have an advantage. I would rather send jumps and descend on a 26". Different wheel sizes excel at different things. Thus, why multiple sizes exist.
  • 8 0
 Am I the only one that find this article for liiiiiiil bit ironic? I mean Jerome just won the enduro world title with 26" bike and now says how good it feels on the 29". Nice try Cannondale!
Yeah, 29 is good, I rode a lot of kms both sizes and they are great in their own way, believe me (if I had the chance I would have 26 and 27.5 and 29" bike Smile ) but seriously... Jerome to be the man for 29" bike, not a good idea.
  • 14 7
 I watch the video that the 26er will be dead and replace by the 650b and 29er you guys are agree. I'm not agree with that I'm a fan of 26 forever. The video watch in you tube posted by Bike Radar.
  • 9 1
 No anti-29er comments yet? I am surprised!
Always a pleasure to watch @eduroJC ride
  • 4 0
 @enduroJC *
  • 12 5
 I hate 29er.... Oh gosh, i'm getting to mainstream!
  • 6 2
 Just so all you that go .. Oh the Lefty is so weird ... Go look at your cars front suspension and tell me what you find .. A lefty !! what ! And even aircraft use a similar design, its not unique to Mtn biking.

Jerome does look very awkward on that bike, he's so small. I wonder how much more energy he has to put out to constantly keep those big wheels rolling with his short legs. The wheel debate for me is it should fit the person. Imagine putting a tiny little honda motor in a monster truck and then telling that motor to turn those big wheels.. just not going to happen. Now someone like steve peat, big motor bigger wheels. I don't know. I also don't care, I'm gonna ride what I like and call it whatever I like as well :p
  • 1 0
 Sorry for the messy beginning to the sentence above.. I can't even make sense of it. Stupid dyslexia.
  • 1 1
 He big wheels aren't the issue, they're light. The problem is 29'ers are super stable and require a lot of body english to throw around. This increases the smaller the rider/lower CoG.
  • 3 0
 I had the owner of a LBS here nice enough to lent me his personal 2013 Trigger 1 29er for me to test ride. I was impressed enough that I bought his bike. Very quick steering, VERY stiff, both suspensions work extremely well. I was not in super gnarly stuff, mind you, but I could just feel the integrity of the frame/suspension components being on par if not better than the best offerings out there. Great bike, and I can't wait to ride it more next summer (only had a few hours on it before season coming to a halt).
  • 9 6
 Its a massive sell for the 29er, not convinced though have yet to ride one in anger... one noticeable thing though is the amount of wheel flex, really highlighted in some slo-mo in the vid, is it felt when riding ? because nothing in this vid was that extreme... and as for the 'lefty' ? its just wrong... the bike will look real pretty riding to the shops, or on a canel path... but harsh mountain terrain in the hands of a normal mortal ???
  • 6 2
 29er wheels do flex a bit more (only heavier guys generally notice), but I can say from experience that the Leftys are as stiff as my fox 40, and as smooth. To me it doesn't make a ton of sense to use a traditional, non-inverted shock
  • 19 0
 I recently sold a 29er. it was fun but a bit too flexy in the wheels for hard aggressive cornering for me. I'm sure it would be perfect for some riding areas though. I'm back to 26 and happy as can be. I'm not against 29 but it didn't work for me and where I ride.
  • 7 3
 As to rigidity, I could not be less bothered by the role of wheel size in the equation. Jerome rides Crossmax SLR wheels which have i19mm narrow rims. That makes the 2.1+ tyre flex noticeabky. 29ers need carbon rims to live up to their full potential
  • 3 2
 I'm a big guy (6'4", 210lbs) and Lefty-equipped Cannondales have been my cross country race bikes since I started racing. I had a 26" one for six years, and sold it for a 29er two years ago. Both have been incredible bikes. ...Oh and having lockout right at your fingertips doesn't hurt either. Wink
  • 2 1
 I ride easton haven carbon 29" wheels on my xc bike and those things are stiff as all hell. only noticeable flex has been through the roughest of turns and even then I'm pretty sure its my frame more than the rims.
  • 1 0
 It will more than likely be the frame bud, I purchased a set of haven carbon 26 inch to stiffen up the back end of my mojo (and for the other benefits of course) and it had the opposite effect. They are so stiff they just make the swing arm feel even more flexy. They wheels are absolutely amazing.
  • 5 0
 Dear Jerome and Ben: if this bike is so good, why didn`t you raced it in the EWS?
  • 6 0
 simply makes you want to ride, beautiful bike trails, vid, nice job
  • 7 1
 These Do ride so well,
  • 3 2
 650b will be available 2015 Cannondale Smile , im still on 26", but been after a 29 for a year or so, Keep switching between a tallboy lt or a trigger 29, Looking at carbon too. I've worked in the trade for 16 Years and there's for and against on all wheelsize's to mankind. My personal advice......................... Get out and Have some fun Smile , Shred the trails and enjoy what ever wheel size you ride Smile .

Also ridden a lefty and its so much stiffer than a conventional fork, do a wheel test between the legs, and twist the bars, tel me which is stiffer Wink , and they are so easy to use and setup. my only complaint cant x-up but can x-down Wink
  • 2 0
 Annnnnnnnd where did you the info about Cannondale making 650b for 2015 ??
  • 2 0
 People need to realize that different wheel sizes have different applications, and it's been that way since the first 29er was released. Ride what you want, and let others do the same.
  • 1 0
 as for leftys....... they are stiff and tough as anything, ive got a c-dale fanboy friend whos ridden them loads did the megavalanche on a gemini with a lefty a couple of years ago and hes not afraid of jumping either
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7100382476&set=t.1112210686&type=3&theater
  • 7 7
 I'd be terrified to actually buy one of these bikes. It's a pull shock and a pull shock specific frame. The stock shock is the only shock you can run. They also use really high positive and negative pressure. It just seems like a bad design and a disaster waiting to happen to me. Anyone blown up a DYAD RT2 yet?
  • 8 1
 Running the DYAD shock on my Jekyll for 2 seasons now. 1 issue last year which Fox quickly rebuilt and returned. Seems no more or no less reliable than any other type of Fox shock.
  • 4 1
 coud not stop staring and wondering about the lefty the whole video
  • 3 0
 My riding buddy has a claymore, and its ridden Virgin, Ut. Not the best for DH, but no issues on it yet.
  • 6 5
 It is a terrible design, doesn't work, Jerome didn't win EWS....

Works amazingly well, easy to setup/adjust, never heard of one "blowing up". Extremely easy to get serviced...

Lefty is amazing as well...
  • 3 0
 I will say that the rental fleet at Canyons Resort had a lot of their Claymores blow out their pull shocks, but that was back in 2011? and I hear they changed the seal system. Like I said, my friend who hucks pretty big has yet to have any issues with his
  • 2 0
 I've had nothing but fun from my DYAD on my Jekyll '12 It's a great shock, just go ride one and you'll find out for yourself! Can't comment on the lefty as I've never ridden it!
  • 3 0
 Using is for a full season now . It was just a set and forget when I got the bike and I haven't had ANY issues with it. Bike is a Jekyll 4 2012
  • 2 1
 the shock i kept blowing up was the dyard 2. worst shock ever from my experience. and its not from hitting big stuff either. did the odd 6 ft drop but was mostly trails. blow it up 4 times in about 8 months or so
  • 1 0
 Guess I was wrong about the quality. It seems silly to have a 250+ psi shock, but if it works, it works. I demoed a 2012 Jekyll, it rode great, but I was turned off by the high shock pressure and lack of non-OE shock options. I'm glad all your DYAD's are still working!
  • 2 0
 I can really relate to the proprietary shock issue. I have always loved cannondale, but I would much prefer to have rear shock options
  • 1 1
 The high pressure thing isn't really an issue tbh as you pretty much just set and forget about it! The pressure guide from Fox works really well. Yeah it does tie you into just the one shock for your bike, but at least its an awesome one.
  • 1 0
 My Jekyll has been great and the dyad has had no issues. Fun bike, handles my size just fine (6'06" 225)
  • 2 0
 I own a 2013 Trigger 1, and it shreds everything from back country chunder to riding chairs all day with your bros. Even opens your b's for you in the parking lot..
  • 1 1
 Not sure if any of you bros saw that Anton Cooper who is Junior World Cup XC Champ beat the entire Cannondale Enduro team including Cruz and Weir on a Trigger 29 at the Trans Provence. I think he placed 7th overall... In the States people are stoked on 29 for going fast since most trails are pretty rolly-polly
  • 2 1
 Get buying 29ers boys... I like trying cheap normal wheeled bikes, Was an ok video ruined by some crap about wheels sizes. If the 29 was that good then you would have raced the enduro series on it.
  • 1 1
 I'm still not sold by the lefty fork. I haven't tried one but I would like to do so to feel the riding feel and see how stable it is. Has anyone tried one? With positive and negative feedback? Thanks
  • 5 1
 the bike is so unbalanced ugh.... you should try it out
  • 4 0
 I had a 2005 Prophet, with a lefty, I didn't notice any stability issues at all. The only thing I disliked about mine was that it didn't perform very well. I feel a lot people think balance wise, it is different than a traditional fork, it's not.
  • 1 0
 Thanks guys. I would like to try one. I definitely wouldn't buy it before I have tried it though.
  • 2 0
 How stable it is? I don't know, but this guy has no problem with lefty : watch?v=jPRtov2Ex20
he is really fast and this is typically an enduro trail
  • 1 0
 @chunter I had the exact same setup, but the lefty I had was a lower end. It was smooth as butter, very stiff, but the damping sucked. I think this had more to do with it being the cheapest lefty they made at the time. Low end RockShox stuff sucks too.

The lefty is an inverted, double crown shock, that is as torsionally stiff as any traditional fork. The damping is usually a bit different from what many are used to, but I really like them.
  • 2 3
 i had the 2013 jekyll 3 and had nothing but problems with the dyard shock. it lasted an average of 2 months between the oil seals blowing and a warranty claim. i was told to set the air chambers pressures one way by the fox instructions and then another way by mojo only to have it fail again and again. i was told by the shop that it was the hardest ridden jekyll that they had to deal with but as i bought it as a first bike i very much doubt i was pushing the shock beyond its manufactured limits. eventually the shock was totally replaced with a brand new unit only to go again.so i have now changed the bike for a normal push shock set up. so from my experience i would not recommend getting a jekyll or trigger because of the pull shock set up.
  • 3 0
 The 29er marketing machine out in force again!
  • 1 1
 I'd seriously consider this bike if I had a competent Cannondale dealer near me. No way would I have those suspension pieces front and back without a mechanic on standby. From what I've read, Lefties have poor reliability.
  • 3 0
 Sweet trails!
  • 2 0
 The song choice made it seem like they were having an off season romance.
  • 1 0
 The closest building at 4:13 is where I've been to school ! Smile Those are perfect trails !
  • 1 0
 Turned off when they started spouting the same old clichéd marketing guff. Only came here for the riding.
  • 1 0
 Looks sweet. Roll on big wheels with a lefty and laugh at the people upset at your bike choice.
  • 1 0
 Ben Cruz sounds like Hiccup off How To Train Your Dragon..... Pretty awesome
  • 1 0
 Nice place! Riding under some castle's ruins. Eastern France... exactly where?
  • 1 0
 I think they are trying to sell me one of those larger diameter bikes with a stick fork.
  • 2 3
 can't imagine feeling confident on a lefty, especially for aggressive riding. would like to try one sometime. whatever the wheel size, those trails look amazing
  • 12 1
 You realize that some airplanes use the same one-sided strut design as the Lefty... It will hold for you just fine.
  • 2 10
flag KonaGuy77 (Oct 30, 2013 at 8:17) (Below Threshold)
 Airplanes also land on a flat tarmac that is straight!
  • 11 1
 Seriously? that is your counter?
  • 4 0
 The force and the reaction are exactly the same as on a standard fork, you'd never notice the difference when riding.
  • 3 0
 every car you've ever been in (unless you drive a robin reliant, in which case i salute you) has the wheel braced on one side and allowed to move on its own... (also excluding the US where live rear axles are still a thing) can't see what would be the issue with it on a bike!
  • 3 0
 C'dale aren't going to sell a fork that would catastrophically fail, injuring the rider under 'normal' riding scenarios, Can you say lawsuit? As the fork's been out for over a decade, it's probably safe to say it's 'safe'. Now how its compression and rebound perform compared to RS or Fox is a completely different issue.
  • 3 1
 Look at a lot of motorcycles too, the rear wheel is attached on one side. They work perfectly fine.
  • 2 0
 great music great trails
  • 1 0
 awesome video!! great trails mint location quality style!!
  • 1 0
 also bikes look awesome! dont get why people dont think expanding the sport to more people isnt a good thing?
the manufacturers arent forcing you to buy new bikes for different wheel sizes...
  • 2 0
 Nice bikes and video.
  • 2 1
 I'm I the only one who thinks this whole segment sounded gay as hell...
  • 2 0
 Nope, 29ers ar super cool, I'm just kidding they're super ...
  • 1 0
 I'd love to ride through that castle someday-- beautiful, just beautiful!
  • 1 0
 这是一辆可以超长时间骑行,并且四处疯狂的战车!!
  • 2 0
 Nice place
  • 3 5
 Poor JC having to sprout marketing BS to sell his sponsors product All part of the job no doubt Wonder if he'll be racing it in the EWS next year? Love the Jeckyl hate this thing.
  • 1 0
 Thank God, you will NEVER see one of these cruising the North Shore.
  • 2 4
 Im sorry Candonale but I dont know how much I trust that lefty fork if my wheel ever comes off the ground, I feel it would just snap
  • 5 0
 It's not a new design. It's been around for ages and has proven itself to be just as viable as a regular fork.
  • 4 3
 JC dislike 29'er
  • 1 0
 beautiful
  • 2 2
 so what will he be racing on next year?

no 650b for canondale?
  • 1 1
 He's trying to figure that out...
  • 2 1
 Their website doesn't list Jekylls or Claymores for 2014 anymore. So I'd assume they are shaking things up a bit!
  • 1 1
 I'm on their website right now looking at the 2014 jekyll
  • 1 0
 Okay interesting. I just found the jekyll on some other countries page. Cannondale UK site lists only the 26 and 29 triggers!!!!

Frown
  • 1 2
 ``You'll see the Statue of Liberty wearing Lederhosen before you see me riding a 29er!''
  • 2 3
 Yeah but only 4 comments in an hour doesn't say much either...
  • 5 5
 PB is tossing out comments … This is an Ad gone wrong … People can see these shorter riders struggling on the big wheels. What's wrong with selling 26 bikes… O people already have them
  • 3 0
 Yeah, jerome and ben both looked uncomfortable on the bikes, almost as if their style was muted on the 29er, On their 26" they look fast! In the video not so much. What do I know though.
  • 1 0
 Give them time - you know the theory - a good rider can win on anything, even a niner ;-)
  • 4 5
 Sorry but I think that bike looks like dog sh#t
  • 3 4
 Good grief, 29ers are hilarious. Throw in a Lefty, comic genius.
  • 1 1
 "Step 23: pick a wheel size, then be a d1ck about it."
  • 4 7
 29" are ugly, lefties are awkward. The combination of both is outrageous...
  • 4 2
 But somehow the combo belongs together.
  • 2 5
 I would never trust that retarded fork it seems like a hub killer and you probably can't jump for shit on that stick.
  • 1 0
 Brilliant. It's been around for 10 years, so, you know, they just might, might, have those issues sorted out by now.
  • 1 0
 This is true, but I will never trust this thing and the wheel is even less protected than a normal fork. Not to mention this fork will bring bad looks to you on the trails, or anywhere. Sure i understand the idea of it, eliminate the weight of the other leg which doesn't have a air spring (correct if wrong) and stick everything in one leg. But a few jumps later and you will have a wonky hub. Just my opinion on this "thing" doesn't even deserve to be called a fork.
  • 4 7
 I honestly feel like these guys visibly look like they're going way slower on this bike than their normal Jekylls.
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