Opinion: Mitch Ropelato Wins Fontana DH On a 29er Trail Bike

Apr 2, 2013 at 14:40
by Mike Kazimer  
This past weekend was the second event on the Pro GRT circuit, a ten stop race series in the United States. Mitch Ropelato (Factory Specialized) rode to victory, besting Aaron Gwin (Specialized Racing), with Logan Binggeli (KHS Factory Racing) finishing third. Normally, seeing Aaron Gwin place second is news in and of itself, but in this case it was the fact that Mitch Ropelato rode to victory aboard a 29 inch wheeled trail bike that caught our attention. Matt Wragg and Mike Kazimer weigh in below on different aspects of the race.


Is It a DH Race If a Trail Bike Wins?
By Matt Wragg


Racing has always been racing. You show up at the race track and do whatever it takes to win. There are no moral victories, only the podium. If you're not sure, go and ask Sam Hill about his Champery race run in 2007. Eventually, we will stop calling it the greatest race run in downhill history, everyone will forget that the rain coming in mid-way through finals turning the track into a mud-bath, and people won't remember the world's fastest riders flocking towards him in admiring disbelief. With time, all that will be left will be the record book. And that says that Matti Lehikoinen was a second and a bit faster than him and won the race. You'd be a fool to bet that Sam doesn't understand that more clearly than anyone else.

Since the earliest races recorded by man, people have tried to find an extra edge over the competition. Whether it was the early Greeks covering themselves in olive oil, or Nico Vouilloz calculating exactly where to tuck on the course to maintain speed without wasting energy, it's hardwired into anyone willing to spend their life chasing wins. They will take any advantage they can find.

That means we can't fault Mitch Ropelato for racing this weekend's Fontana Pro GRT downhill race on a 29er trail bike. It's within the rules and it was obviously the fastest tool for the job. To take that win, he also had to beat his new teammate, Aaron Gwin. We would be pretty damned pleased with the world if we could beat Aaron Gwin in a push-cart race, let alone any kind of bicycle race. For a few years now, we've been hearing from The People Who Know These Kind Of Things that Mitch is very talented rider. Now that he has been taken in by Specialized's racing programme, it looks like he's shaping up to fulfill that potential. So, hats off Mitch. You killed it.

We should also say that we quite like the Specialized Stumpjumper 29 he used to take the win. We have one on test at the moment and while we don't want to give too much away on that front, we can let on that it's a good trail bike. What it very definitely is not, is a downhill bike. The fact it weighs 10lb less than the lightest DH bikes out there is the big giveaway.

What we want to know is why anyone is running a downhill race on a track where that is the fastest bike to race on?

Since Aaron Gwin began beating the rest of the World Cup circuit into submission with the kind of consistent, winning form that hasn't been seen since Nico Vouilloz, people stopped asking what happened to the US downhill racing scene as often. Yet if you look behind him, there isn't what you'd call a stacked field. We've already said here that Mitch has potential, Richie Rude is probably going to scare a few people before long, Neko Mullaly still has his ride with Trek World Racing, and then... For a country as big as the US, with as many people riding bikes, that's quite a small group.

National races are supposed to be the proving ground to move up to the higher, international levels. World Cup racing is at such a high level these days that the jump from even the most competitive national series to that highest level of competition is still brutal. They aren't the only thing that matters, of course. Switzerland has some of the best downhill tracks in the world, and little more than Nick Beer and Florian Pugin to show for it on the World Cup circuit. But, if you look at each of the strong downhill countries, you'll see a strong national series. It's fair to say that if you show up to a national race in Britain, France, Australia or New Zealand on a 29er trail bike, you're going to end the weekend at the lower end of the timesheet with a bag of bits that used to be your bicycle.

Maybe you're now asking yourself "Why does a Brit writing for a Canada-based website care about the state of US downhill?" Because downhill needs the US. It is the biggest bike market in the world, and whether the rest of us like it or not, it's the most influential country for mountain biking. For downhill to grow and develop as an international sport, we need Americans needs to be part of it. It is supposed to be the fastest, most demanding pinnacle of our sport. If one of your top national race series is being won on trail bikes, you can't help but wonder if some people are missing the point...



What Wheel Size for World Cup Tracks?
By Mike Kazimer


At first, it sounded like an April Fool's joke: Mitch Ropelato beat Aaron Gwin at the Fontana stop of the Pro GRT race series riding a Stumpjumper EVO 29er. With a water bottle in the cage. Now, it's not surprising Ropelato won, as he's a ridiculously skilled bike handler (witness his three-peat at the Crankworx Pumptrack Challenge), but winning aboard a 29er trail bike does raise some questions. I will let Matt Wragg address the questions about the course itself (you can view one racer's helmet cam footage here), but while the Fontana course isn't the longest or gnarliest course around, three out of the top four riders were on non-26” wheeled bikes – could this be a glimpse at what will happen during the upcoming World Cup season?

For the internet mountain bikers, the message board trolling experts of everything, Ropelato's win is a splash of gasoline on the already blazing fire of wheel size debate. Granted, the Fontana course is tame in comparison to World Cup standards – it's unlikely anyone, no matter how talented, could win Val di Sol aboard a trail bike, but aboard a downhill bike rolling on something other than 26” wheels? It's entirely possible.

With pre-season training in full swing for pro riders, there's no doubt that many of them are experimenting with different wheel sizes, especially 650b. For a racer, if changing something as simple as wheel size can give them an advantage, they're going to do it. When racing is your job, equipment selection becomes more crucial, and can mean choosing to race on a wheel size that wouldn't be your first choice if winning wasn't the ultimate goal. With the difference between standing atop the podium and watching from the crowd coming down to a matter of seconds, or even milliseconds, it's worth trying any bit of bike technology that might add that extra blast of speed.

When asked for his thoughts on riding a 29er vs. a 26” wheeled bike, Mitch Ropelato said,
bigquotesThe 29er is a bit different to jump - it takes some getting used to, and you can't really scrub off the lip, but it handles like a champ everywhere else, the same as a 26 inch bike.
The part about jumping is the part that many die-hard 26” riders cite as a reason against the bigger wheel size, and it's a completely valid point. But now, with 650b wheels bikes entering the fray, there is an option that may add a dose of speed while offering handling characteristics closer to that of a “traditional” downhill bike.

No professional downhill racer has piloted a bike with anything bigger than 26” wheels to the top of a World Cup podium. That could change this season, and if a bigger wheeled bike does make it to the top, it will signal the tipping point in the wheel size debate, providing evidence other than the scientific and pseudo-scientific facts that marketing teams use to peddle their goods. There are still two months before the first World Cup, but Sea Otter is rapidly approaching, and the downhill course there is notorious for being better suited to a shorter travel bike. Will bigger wheels take the win? Only time will tell.

Mitch Ropelato aboard his Stumpy 29er, complete with water bottle and cage. Photo: Cashman33



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mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,716 articles

332 Comments
  • 408 3
 I got 29 problems and Fontana ain't one.
  • 79 1
 Trail Bikes at South Africa WC this year
  • 39 2
 It's happening...
  • 56 4
 Hey, if the guy wants to man up and have less travel then everybody else, let him be! He won too, so fellow downhillers, we got to pick it up!
  • 111 28
 That "DH" track (DH used looser than a 29er tyre on a 26" rim) is a joke!
Any track that is won on a light weight 29er trail bike should be stopped!
A track with that much pedalling is going to be won on a shorter travel rig, it's simple. And it should not come under the category DH.
And why are DH riders not allowed to use skin suits that creat less drag and wind resistance (like the mojo team did a few years ago). But a larger faster rolling wheel is allowed?
  • 62 13
 I live about 9 hours from this track and have had many opportunities to race there, but have turned it just for that exact reason.
Why are pro downhillers making this an important race in their schedule? If it can be won on a 29er trail bike, it is not a proper DH race!
  • 23 12
 i raced the race too, and it definitely wasnt a joke. I talked to Mitch and even he said it was very scary riding down parts of it, some hold on and hope for the best parts. it was gnarly, but he pulled it off
  • 89 4
 Who really should care about wheel size, after all it is just a WHEEL. Bottom line is that Mitch is a fast man on a bicycle.. period. He knew what he needed to ride in order to do well at Fontana, regardless of whether or not Specialized is pushing 29'ners.... +1 for you Mitch for taking the gold.
  • 10 6
 its hardly him manning up and choosing to run less travel, he had a clear choice of weapon.. he wouldnt be picking to rock up on a 29er if he needed to man up and take extra stick, he would have chosen to do it because he thought there would be an advantage to it.... wait of the 29ers winning at sea otter dh this year, id be very surprised if a 26 inch bike won that event
  • 37 21
 Sorry but bigger wheels are faster on this course, and if it gives you a winning advantage why not?? Stop faulting us 29er guys for using the right tool for the job
  • 13 2
 A rider with that much skill or any pro for that matter is capable of winning races on any bike they please. If gwinn chooses to ride a stumpy at every race this year and is faster than everyone else so what? Who cares if it was meant to be a trailbike its the rider not the bike.
  • 8 1
 no one is faulting you, people are just wondering if this is really going to catch on, or if a really skilled dh rider got hold of a light weight bike on a particularly pedaly course and took the win....Ropelato is in no way a "29er guy". and trail bikes are absolutely not the "right tool" for the job on MOST dh courses, especially those of the world cup circuit
  • 14 7
 I don't think it was fair at all to credit this win to the bike at all. I was there and I watched Mitch pilot that beast of a bike in both seating runs and race run and he was faster than Gwin but not because of the bike because his riding is amazing. It was the rider in this case not the bike at all. In addition, I do not know the whole story but at the event I thought I overheard talk that his stumpy was not his choice and he would have ran a longer travel bike if he had one at the event. Don't quote me on that either. Point is this guy deserved it. If you look at pictures in the rocky section his suspension is bottomed completely out numberous times. Gwin's suspension did not bottom out in the rocky sections. Very few of even the top riders where running short travel bikes. Kevin Aiello for instance has run a short travel 650b bike for the entire winter series out at fontana and won the overall. For this race on the other hand, he was forced to run his full DH bike due to the burly course. The Videos just dont do this course justice. Both Gwin and Mitch are great riders but in this case, Mitch's riding trumped Gwin's but not because he was on a 29'er.
  • 4 2
 mitch is a beast and this course was suuuuuuper pedally. that aside, i want to say whoever organized this race was an idiot for making ONLY the 19-26 expert racers race saturday and not making sure they knew about that. serisously. dafuk guys?
  • 13 3
 One thing i know for sure is that this is the best add of Specialized . . . by far!!!!!!!!
  • 8 1
 It is as simple as this; if you're a racer, it is your personal judgement as to what races to do and with what rigs to do them with. As an event organizer, it is your personal judgement to put on the best race possible. If neither use good judgement, then the shittier ones will eventually be weeded out. I've only heard great things about Fontana so I doubt it is anything you want to race a short-travel bike down.

There are plenty of DH trails around here that are better for trail bikes than DH bikes in race situations but that doesn't mean the track is any less of a DH-specific run. Personally I believe that if you're having a race that's being promoted as a DH race, it better be on a run where the majority of riders will need and can effectively use a DH rig for. If you choose to get the advantages of faster overall pedaling, quicker sprints and more explosiveness, with the disadvantages of less travel and less handling in some spots, that's your choice. At the end of the day no matter what the race is promoted as, it is a MTB race. Take whatever the hell you want down it as long as it is classified as a MTB.
  • 25 1
 I just talked to Mitch about the win and he said he lost a bet to gwin and had to race the 29 stumpy
  • 12 4
 I gots 29 problems and Gwinn ain't won!
  • 10 4
 The idea that the modern 8-10" travel world cup DH bike as it's conceived by nearly all riders and manufacturers is the fastest possible bike for technical descending has never been subject to any real scrutiny, any real testing. And that is OK. Because pro racing exists to sell bikes. Pro DHers sell (usually) DH bikes. It's not some science of speed. Guys and gals aren't racing on full works one-offs that will never see production. Think of how similar the set-ups are across the WC season. It's a matter of tire choice, maybe a little knob modification, a few clicks of damping. And that's a good thing. Because you are only going to have one or two bikes for your whole year. And you may never even set foot (tire) to a trail as difficult as Champrey or whatever. Adaptability is more valuable than ultimate speed. The pro riders have a certain image to maintain, but it's OK to look past it and be thankful we participate in a sport w/ essentially production bikes. Ride whatever you like. ('Cause neither you nor I is fast enough for it to matter Big Grin )
  • 33 3
 I personally think that you should be able to ride any bike, with any wheel size on any course. All that matters is that you cross that line with the least amount of time.
  • 8 1
 Haven't the KHS guys been winning races here all winter on 650B trail bikes?
  • 17 5
 Disagree all you like (it's cool, I teach for a living), but consider these questions: why do pro DH women, who are on average off the top men's pace and can weigh considerably less (30-40 lbs, easily) run the same frame and fork as their male teammates? Think about the huge reduction in forces even on the same track. Another one: have you ever seen a single document of a test that shows Brand XYZ's trail bike has so much less ultimate strength than the same brand's "DH" bike that it will snap a chainstay or break at a weld in a 4 min world cup event? We take it as an article of faith that DH bikes are for DH and nothing is better for DH. But obviously Fontana, Sea Otter, the weak-ass trails near me and maybe you prove that DH varies a lot across riders, regions. Lots of different setups are going to work for different people. It's naive to think that the pros run the best and the best is one frame, one wheel size, whatever. It's business, not science.
  • 11 37
flag a-donch (Apr 2, 2013 at 18:40) (Below Threshold)
 @Snfoilhat: Wow...that wasn't sexist at all. You probably think female world cup racers can wear smaller helmets b/c their brains are smaller too.

But in reality, many female world cup racers do ride heavily (or lightly?) modified frames to make them lighter. (ie. removing weight & strength).

www.pinkbike.com/news/Tracey-Hannah-Bike-Check-Val-di-Sole-2012.html

"Tracy Hannah with her custom Makulu from Morewood. The bike uses an XC top tube instead of a DH tube set in order to save a bit of weight; plus Tracy's light enough to be able to get away with using the lighter weight tubing. April Lawyer's Intense frames used the same trick."

Beyond that...I would imagine the suspension and geometry required to survive a World Cup level track would dictate what they run.

Good try though.
  • 39 7
 It's because fontana fucking sucks. It's an XC race. End of story.
  • 10 8
 First off- I completely agree with what Matt Wragg says about the US DH scene. We need to man the f*ck up and should have more than maybe 5 WC eligible courses (in terms of technical skill) in the whole 330-million-person country.

Secondly, and this goes hand in hand with we need better courses, a real DH course should NOT be won on anything but a 26. I love 29ers for everything I can find within a 50 mile radius of where I live; I ride a 29er in XC races. But I do not live close to any DH trails and I know enough about downhill to know that a DH race should be technical enough so that the known advantages of a 29er, or a larger wheel size, do not outweigh the advantages of a smaller wheel size. If we are even considering putting anything but a 26 in a World Cup DH race then we need to stop being pussies and build harder courses.

Mitch Ropelato essentially won an enduro race, minus the climbing.
  • 1 0
 We're lucky in NZ to have a decent national series but not all the tracks are at a high level and the people who run the nationals BikeNZ have been causing a fair bit of a stir lately. It's all politics really but i think the reason so many good riders come from here is the attitude they have towards riding. Even when they turn up to nationals it's all just having fun riding with friends cos everyone really does know everyone else. A couple of years back Aari Barret raced one of the roughest tracks in New Zealand on his Scott Genius and he didn't win but his time was still unbelievably fast. He would have been faster on a DH bike but it's still possible to do well on any type of bike.
  • 14 2
 @donch PB publishes the times from every WC event. I don't see where sexism comes into it, unless you think I am out of line assuming that if we averaged weights across the top ten or twenty in men's and women's that they would be lighter. I think they would also be shorter. These are pretty well accepted sex differences in the general population that should hold within the subpopulation of pro cyclists. Kind of an absurd thing for you to contradict. But you made my larger point better than I did: an off the shelf "DH bike" isn't necessarily the best option for a particular course. They are overbuilt for some riding depending on user weight. They are over-suspended for some riding too. It's all good.
Holy shit(!), I just realized even your joke is wrong... I don't know if you are using brain size as a metaphor for intelligence, but if we just talk about brain volume, then yes, people who wear smaller helmets probably do have smaller brains. Can't remember if head size/skull diameter/brain volume is sexually dimorphic. Point is it doesn't matter. Happy to clarify any other biology questions. Keep'em coming.
  • 6 1
 shacky, DHers don't wear skinsuits because UCI rules prevent it:

4.3.011 All lycra-elastane based tight-fitting clothing is not permitted.
4.3.012 A full-face helmet must be worn properly both when racing and when training on the
course. The helmet must be fitted with a visor. Open-face helmets may not be worn.
  • 8 0
 Wtf is the visor rule about ^^^
  • 15 0
 what it all comes down to at the end of the day is that norbs got robbed. simple. oh and fuck what the pro's are or arent doing, i love downhill and my downhill bike, yeehaaaaa!!
  • 2 5
 ...
  • 6 8
 it's obvious from the comments that this course is not a wc class dh track, but the point is he was on a 29er.. all you 29 haters are now about to be schooled on dh tracks too... and people who say specialized was behind the party and caught with their pants down because they made a 29er and not a 27.5 need to eat their words. this bike obviously rocks.. the future of dh is becoming more interesting.. this bike will be awesome in the enduro races
  • 5 1
 A downhill race is a downhill race. Anyone that was there this weekend knows this was a downhill race. it was extremely steep technical and challenging. the wall sprint is something that has always been at fontana. like it or not its just part of the course. And for the last time its not the bike its the rider. Mitch happens to be extremely talented and yes he had a pedaling advantage on the wall but he had a clear disadvantage on the dh part. He just happens to really know how to handle a bike.
  • 5 4
 Are u serious? Should they restrict how much travel an XC or enduro racer can have too? If all u have is a dh bike you should probably join the rest of the world and pedal up some hills like a real mtbr.
  • 8 2
 Enduro may be the begining of the end of Dh as we know it. They have Dh geometry from a few years back when you could argue that people did faster times than now, they have the same damping in some cases, accelerate faster and are often ridden more by their riders, so the rider is often more comfortable on their enduro bike. The next few years will be interesting. We need harder tracks for big bikes, tracks these days are tamer with more advanced bikes.
  • 6 0
 So much about wheel size. Will you guys all go nuts when DH bikes will start to come no 650b? (Cause this is happening...Giant 2014 will be almost exclusively 650b in DH). Guys, stop being like those road bike racers with conservative mentality. Change is not necessarily bad. I'm not saying 29er are better everywhere, hell no. But C'mon give it a little credit, it's faster at some place and some people know when to use it.
  • 3 1
 emeriska, I get what you are saying. In regards to recreational riding I couldn't agree more. More options are great and let the chips fall where they may. Will 26 go away? Don't know, don't particularly care. Motorcycles have different wheel sizes for different reasons and applications, nobody cares about that..... The bottom line is, these bikes keep on getting more badass- regardless of wheelsize.

Let's go back to the motorcycle wheel size thing though..... Moto GP has regulations regarding it. 17 inch only. They also have a slew of other technical regulations just like in car racing. Should we start to concern ourselves with this as DH moves forward ? Perhaps we should... Personally I have an issue with a DH race being won on a 29 inch trail bike. I do. It's an abomination. What approach we take to curb this issue is yet to be decided but I think we need to keep DH a sport with some sort of IDENTITY.
  • 2 1
 I agree on that. Let's say in my head, UCI shouldn't allow something else than 26" for now. If in a couple time the standard is really changing, then change the rule. Just so that DH races don't look like a melting pot of 100 bike types. But please people, don't just bash other wheel size because it's new and you are scared of it.
  • 2 1
 Exactly what I mean. And I agree, the wheel size bashing is tired. Different wheel sizes are here. Get over it.
  • 3 1
 If the UCI make it so that world cup DH bikes have to be 26" then that is all that manufacturers will bother making, no one wants to buy a bike that the pros aren't riding and that they can't ride in races and manufacturers don't want to conjointly develop a race bike and a public bike, that would make no sense. The reason there are pro manufacturer teams is to sell bikes. You can bet that with the move of Gwin to Spesh the sales of Sessions will go down and the Spesh sales will go up.
  • 3 2
 Right. Which is exactly what concerns me. I have no issue with race teams existing to sell bikes. It's fundamental. What I don't want to see is a bunch of 29 inch trail bikes ripping down "DH courses" just so I feel the need to go out and buy one. F you Im turning it off at that point. When it's a blatent marketing shinanigan I loose interest. Very few people in the grand scheme of things actually buy a true DH race bike, so a mandated 26 wheel size or the like shouldn't really affect sales as much as you think it might. Im not saying to do that, Im just thinking aloud. Perhaps the best way to curb this is with REAL dh tracks, as others have stated. Whatever the answer is........ a parade of pro rider's on trail bikes down a smooth dirt path is not DH racing.
  • 3 1
 Fontana is a Super D course, not a DH course! You could never get away with that at a real DH course like in Port Angeles. Mitch is a beast though
  • 1 3
 sounds to me like a marketing stunt for specialized.. put mitch on their new 29er at a 'DH' race where he is likely to win, then say that it can take on true DH bikes.
  • 3 0
 Yeah and they packed Gwin's bottom bracket and hubs with peanut butter ... Wink
  • 3 0
 Within this last month, a Trek pro was on the podium at one of the most technical trails raced on in the United States. Windrock, TN. Guys that have raced world cups were there and were talking about how technical it is. This Trek pro was on a Trek Remedy.... I couldn't believe it as I have been riding Windrock for years.
  • 1 0
 Darkstar, that comparison to moto GP is a little off. Moto GP and DH are very different beasts in terms of how the course can dictate certain people excel wildy more than others, and on another DH course, another demographic is favored. That is with the same equipment. Letting them use whatever wheel size they want I think would be fine. For many reasons, but personally my favorite reason will be it will start to put an end to this us vs them mentality when it comes to different wheel sizes, if anything it will help unify both sides at least enough to realize both wheel sizes have advantages in different applications and there never has been, and never will be one "right" form of a bike for anything.
  • 1 0
 I agree they are different beasts. I only offered it as something to think about. Regulations in Motorsport often gave to do with keeping a level playing field for the purpose of teams and spectators alike. And I do worry about dh morphing into something different for the sake of selling bikes. Just stuff to think about. As I have stated I am not opposed to varied wheel sizes. I really would however like to see steep technical tracks that require more than a long travel Xc bike to conquer remain a part of the sport. We have enduro. It does not really upset me either way to be honest it's all about riding bikes in the end.
  • 1 0
 Ok, isn't there a rule about the amount of travel you must use at a World Cup event? For some reason I want to think that you have to have a minimum 7 inch bike. I know USAC has that rule in place for the National Champ races as a safety measure (I believe it's 6 inch or more). I believe it all depends on the rider, some guys are just better on a dh bike on some trails over an AM set up. I don't think it's unfair to run a trail bike if that's what you are better on. But the real point is the course should be so technical that you don't have the option to run a short travel bike. That a true "DH race" you would have to run your 8 inch bike.
  • 1 0
 Again, big deal. Graeme Pitts won a DH a month earlier on a 26" trail bike, 5-Spot to be exact. What does this prove?
  • 1 0
 this is so funny, so much hype just because mitch won on a 29er trail bike. i know for a fact that at that race someone used a hardtail 29er. if a bike like that can make it down mitch could easily do it on 4 inches of fsr. the bottom part is pedaly, we get it but the race title is nowhere near described as technical. "its not nearly as technical as a world cup track".......NO SHIT. is it on the schedule for world cups. NO, end of discussion. it is what it is
  • 1 0
 chriskovarik
  • 133 10
 It's just another case of people turning everything into a wheel size debate. Here's a hint: It had nothing at all to do with wheelsize. Mitch raced what he guessed (correctly) would be the fastest bike on that course, his stumpy evo. Fontana is a joke of a downhill track for a national race. It has a almost kilometre long pedal that is partially uphill. Mitch was on a 29er because that is what Specialized is pushing. You can't even buy many Specialized models in 26" anymore.

Basically what it comes down to, is that track is an abomination for a national level downhill race track. It was won on a trail bike. Wheel size is completely irrelevant.
  • 68 1
 I agree totally. This is better troll food than a hobbit.
  • 17 29
flag RLoganSx (Apr 2, 2013 at 15:14) (Below Threshold)
 @ fraserbritton
You have to be crazy what do you mean you can't buy many specialized in 26inch!!! He was on a 29er because it was faster for him and he felt comfortable on it period!!
  • 16 3
 @RloganSx He is right Specialized is pushing the 29er. You cant buy a bike with less then 140mm travel in 26'' wheel size for 2013.
  • 21 3
 looks like a good enduro race.
  • 3 0
 Thats understood, but regardless of wether specialized has some elaborate marketing scheme to get 29ers more involved in the marketplace is fine. It still goes to show you that the market is getting smaller in terms of whats considerd the best and is coming down to prefrence and effciency for the task/ride at hand.
  • 10 0
 I feel like the real issue is that Fontana and sea otter are a pro national round this year, that's pathetic. We have enduro races that are more difficult than Fontana. Add the wall, and it might as well be a 2 minute enduro. Who cares what size his wheels are can we just get some real tracks!!! There's so many out there. f*ck port Angeles right? Fontana is way better lol. Stupid USA cycling.
  • 4 0
 Were I live in Utah you think there would be more of a push from the "community"( define that however you would like) to have more serious DH races or an Enduro race scene in general.
  • 9 0
 Fontana and Sea Otter are on the series because 1) It's March/April, not too many places free of snow 2) If it's the same dude who ran the MSC series into the ground planning it, USAC wants to kill DH, and focus on enduro (that's where the money is, hence the 29er/650B push. Also, KD is a great guy, not the best at running a series) 3)They're some of the only venues willing to pony up the cash "required" to put on a UCI event. Welcome to the US race scene, it was fun while it lasted.......
  • 1 0
 Couldn't agree more about the wheel size part!
  • 10 0
 I think if you guys watch a POV cam of the course, you'll understand why he won on a 29er.
Make sure to watch the last 1/3 of the course.

www.pinkbike.com/video/305359

Regarding what Matt Wragg said; our attitude here in SoCal towards mountain biking and trail access is probably the worst in the whole world.
A brotha can't even ride his bike without worrying about being fined.
  • 6 1
 What about the fact that Specialized makes both a 26 and a 29er Stumpy EVO with the same build but they put him on the 29er... obviously they are going to put him on the faster of the two bikes
  • 2 0
 Does anybody have the maths of the track...lenght, vertical descent, gradient, ect...just by looking at that, you can tell straight out how the bike will play a define roll...
  • 5 4
 @lefty29er Trust me, as a Specialized racer you will be hard pressed to get your hands on a 26" version. They are marketing 29" big time and having their athletes on them creates these exact sorts of impressions.
  • 2 0
 Would be very interesting to know what his time was compared to others after the tech section and going into the SMOOTH single track. That would say a lot!
  • 1 0
 RLoganSx- maybe you should start looking. The Enduro Cup starts up this year with 3 stops, the Big Mountain/ North American Enduro stop that's down the Whole Enchilada, possibly the most epic race in North America, multiple super-d races for a few years now and well... the DH scene kinda blows considering they used to host WC events at Deer Valley. I'll give you that one. Utah should be far ahead of where it is now in terms of its bike scene but at least work is being done... with a lot more to go hopefully. Ragging on Utah in the first place for not having a great enduro scene is ridiculous. There are only a few enduro series in North America and most popped up this year or last year.
  • 1 0
 @Scott-Townes

Im very aware of those races and have been to a few of them. I am not ragging on Utah and proabably utilize this state more than most! However as you said yourself the scene could be much further along than it is. Thanks for the enlightenment....
  • 2 2
 @fraserbritton: Right on all counts...debate over.
  • 3 2
 @fraserbritton, why does Specialized care which bike their athletes are riding? If their athletes win on 29ers, they sell more 29ers. If their athletes win on 26ers, they sell more 26ers. I don't see how it's an advantage to push a wheel size, its not necessarily going to create more sales, just shift the sales to that wheel size. You'd think they want their athletes to be on the fastest bike to get them up on the podium, which almost certainly does equal more sales.
  • 5 2
 Also...haven't the KHS guys been winning races here all winter on 650b trail bikes?

Is everyone so bent simply b/c it was a 29er?
  • 3 0
 whats surprising is that this was this particular course had the steepest part of that mountain included in the race- believe me, it was quite steep and rocky, but the whole course prior to that flowed pretty well and the last part of the course was obviously flat. that 1/10 of the course was the only dh worthy part, but the 29er kinda just rolled over the rocks better- not sure if it was faster in that section- but for the other 9/10 of the course, it was a smokeshow.
  • 1 0
 Would you want to?
  • 2 0
 This reminds me of when Stevie Smith rode a Dixon rather than Wilson for the Air DH last summer at Crankworx and won it.
  • 4 0
 I have to agree with you here; as a newly-upgraded pro category DH racer, I vetoed going to Fontana this weekend to race because I don't agree with the course and winning on it wouldn't be a testament to my DH skill... It would simply mean that I'm a great pedaler. it's simply not a DH course. When the other athletes (male AND female), as well as ex-pros, are advising you to take a trail bike to a national DH series?? There's something wrong. Fontana is NOT a DH course, nor should it be on the ProGRT circuit. However, I will be in Port Angeles this weekend as it's one of only a few race series locations in the US that are actually World Cup reminiscent. As an athlete looking to race on an international level, I should probably keep my mouth shut about Fontana and other less-than-desirable 'downhill' races. However, Wragg is right -- the US can't compete on the WC because our national series don't demand true WC-worthy riders.
  • 8 0
 29ers are not "faster" or "slower". They are different. I have raced in pro xc races on both. I choose a 29er for endurance races often, but when it comes to shorter races, I feel like 26 full suspension is fastest. That's me though. Your body type, strengths and weaknesses on a bike, etc etc will dictate what is "fastest"; often (actually almost always), what is most comfortable (by which I mean comfortable to ride fast on, not cushiest) on the given course will be the fastest. 29ers roll over stuff better and are better if the course keeps you glued to the ground, 26ers handle better and are better in the air, imo. In reality, we should be pushing for science based bikes. The roadies more or less have that going for them.

Also, enduro is where the money is not because the industry is pushing trail bikes; your average joe, who wants to ride a bit of everything and do so comfortably, and doesn't train hours and hours to go harder and faster, are the ones who buy those bikes. It only makes sense for the industry to promote a racing scene for them. Trust me, I used to live and breath elite racing, and one day a teammate told me "well, we really are only useful to sell bikes. [various older, wealthier recreational riders] are buying those bikes, and spending 7,8,9 or 10 thousand bucks on them because we win races on them. You do realize that a bunch of poor race bums who make sure they buy everything for cost don't drive the industry, right?" I thought about that when I saw the advent of enduro racing series across the country, and realized that they are having a hard time selling 19lb, $13k weight weenie xc bikes and elite downhill race machines to the average rider. Most people want to ride fun trails on 5-7 inch travel bikes; the industry is not pushing those bikes, but pushing the racers to sell what is in fact what most people want
  • 3 3
 Here's the thing. Could that race have been won on a 5" 26"...?

I doubt it.
  • 1 0
 I say yes, but the margins might have been different.
  • 2 0
 There is no wheel size argument that needs to be discussed here. Instead we should be insulted that our national race series includes a track like this as a DH venue. There are likely hundreds of tracks across the US that are burly enough for a WC level event. We have several large mountain ranges after all.
  • 2 0
 I can't believe that is a national level track , wheel size is irrelevant , you will make up so much time on that long assed sprint on a XC/AM/trail/ThisWeeksBuzzWord .

Anyone got any split times for this race ? that will reveal a lot.
  • 3 0
 cougar797 - I think you make a great point about how the US has several large mountain ranges. When you think of mountains in the US where do you immediately think? Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Lake Tahoe, Pacific NW, etc. Those are the places where all the best mountains and ski resorts are. Yet you look at the ProGRT schedule and none of the races are in those areas. No races in what most would consider he best mountain terrain in the US.
  • 1 0
 cougar- there's a lot more to putting on a WC-level event than just picking a spot and holding it there. The resort that hosts the WC stop is putting up an insane amount of money with very little chance of return. Just to line up sponsors to help host the event or finding a resort that is suitable for the venue is a feat in itself. That's just one of many variables that dictates where WC stops are held. BTW they're called trails, not friggen tracks. They're mountains with trails, not racing venues with tracks, unless you look at every ride as a race. Wink

To all those who feel really strongly and are complaining about the state of riding/racing where they live, start networking and do something about it. Sitting online and posting about how you hate something isn't going to do a thing to change it.
  • 2 0
 never heard of a dusty mountain track? The term referred to trails before it reffered to trains and race tracks. "the trackless woods" by richard wilbur illustrates my point I think.
  • 1 1
 No, I've heard of it but only from Euros and people that are talking about racing... it's a small pet peeve, haha.
  • 3 0
 track/trail what ever ! I tend to use the word line/track to describe a single ' track ' alone , where as I use the word trails to describe an area with many trails , tomato/tomato.
  • 1 0
 Super hilarious! But seriously, if the bike has little to do with it then from now on I'm renting a DH rig to race XC with. It might slow me down a little, but not enough to make a big difference right?
  • 1 0
 Fraserbritton, I would say that you won't be on Specialized for much longer after selling out your brand on Pinkbike. Nothing wrong with your thoughts obviously, but be very careful so you aren't chewing on your foot.
  • 1 0
 @dualsuspensiondave: no one is selling out anyone, it's just how it is. They are pushing 29ers as that is now their target market. It's fairly obvious when you look at their product line. No 650b, quickly diminishing numbers of 26" even with products that were available in that wheel size the previous year. They simply believe in 29ers. Their reps will even tell you point blank that they believe that 29ers are the future of MTB and they are willing to stand by that.
  • 1 0
 Frasier is right. The speccy guys are just pushing what they think is fastest for its intended purpose. Its about performance. And yes, when you hold a race on a trail, it becomes a race track. Not a race trail.
  • 1 0
 More than half the Pro GRT DH schedule takes place in or before May.
Most "true" (whatever that means) mountain ranges are barely free of snow by May (this year is an exception).

They're damned by the calendar and the weather.
  • 36 0
 Fontana is frequently raced and won on trailbikes... nothing to see here folks!
  • 5 2
 Often raced on trail bikes. Almost never won on trailbikes - speaking from being there the last four years and paying close attention to who is winning and on what equipment.
  • 3 0
 Seaotter was continuously won on trailbikes. I t depends on the track.
  • 36 4
 Mitch won because he is freakishly fast! We've all ridden with Mitch and when he's on......he's a mutant! Pump track world champ skills! We're rooting for ya this year mitchy!
  • 2 1
 Mitch for World Champ!
  • 28 1
 This article is a bastard to read on a phone haha
  • 1 0
 It sure was wtf
  • 17 2
 calling that a DH course is nuts. as i heard steve par say if 29ers start winning the uk gravity enduro, he is going to make the course more tech so they can't win. i'm hoping race organisers do the same with DH and fuck pietermaritzburg out of the calendar for good. if a 29er can win the race its not DH and should be made more difficult. bring back maribor, champery and schladming and all the good actual DH tracks
  • 26 9
 That does not proof 29 is better. This just shows that a good rider can win on any bike
  • 14 1
 even a beach cruiser?
  • 2 0
 Nobody can ride with a broken butt!
  • 2 0
 29 wheels are faster because they carry more momentum and roll over rocks easier, though they are not as agile. There is a trade-off, but more racers are going to be tempted to use them, especially on the more wide-open World Cup tracks. I used to think 650 was the future of DH, but maybe 29 will take over everything...this is gonna be an interesting year! Once fans see their favorite racers on big wheels they will come around and want them too, that's what dictates the sales in this sport.
  • 14 0
 It's all in the course. It's Fontana people, most of the podium guys are on single crowns during the whole series. It was a knife fight and Mitch brought the right knife.
1/2 that course is pedaling....no big travel needed...only lungs and some "flow skills".
Gwinny chose the wrong weapon....I think if Gwin was on an Enduro he would have done just as well if not better.
  • 12 3
 Mitch isn't faster than Gwinny. He just chose a better bike for the course. Ask anyone who has raced there and they will tell you(myself included) "The Wall" is a mother fhcker and Mitch made a good decision and chose the right bike for the race. Couldn't the same be said about Sea otter? Don't they race single crown Trail bikes there as well? The US is not scant in the way of killer dh mountains and yes that bike may or may not have been in pieces at the end of Angelfire's WC course. But that is irrelevant, the race was at Fontana and Mitch played his cards right. Is Fontana the most technical race course? NO Is it an ass kicker to pedal? Ask Mitch and I bet he'll say yes. Thank you Captain Obvious( Matt Wragg) for pointing out what people "in the know" already know.
  • 4 3
 gwin clearly either wasnt after the win or isnt very smart, if mitch could identify that the trail 29er was a better weapon and gwin couldnt then he mustnt be using his head very much when he plans his race weekend out, you wouldnt think that a 2 time wc champion would miss that and his stablemate catch on to it
  • 7 1
 Or maybe Gwin is more interested in getting his Demo dialled in logging time on it before world cups than he is in winning small(er) races which aren't relevant to his career. I would imagine World Cups are what his year is 100% focused on, as they are what pay the bills and these races are essentially just testing for him. He's not going push hard and risk an injury which might ruin his real season and he's not going to tweak bikes to win, because again, that's not helping come WC race season.
  • 2 4
 I firmly believe that Gwin is an idiot. While he may not have stepped over any legal boundaries he has been in serious need of a surgical extraction of his head from his butt for the last year. since he has been so on fire the last two years all the other guys have stepped up in his arrogance and made it happen. Mitch wants to win and so does a whole field of talented riders. I don't see Gwin going anywhere special this year. if he cant even win a US series that the best ranking competition is not even in the top 20, then where is he internationally? By rankings he should have beaten Mitch with his eyes closed. Good ride Mitch. I expect big things from you this year.
  • 1 0
 DragontalesDH, I could not agree with you more. Not just with needing a head from ass extration tool, but also the type for year he has to have to call it special must have rainbow stripes and contain World Champion in the title.
  • 1 0
 americans.. always crapping on each other when they are at all successfull! cheer your homeboys on!! sheesh! i'm not a gwin fan, but he's got skills and talent for sure!
  • 1 0
 I used to be a hardcore gwin fan because of his style and personality when he was with yeti. I was thrilled when he started winning under trek. But unfortunately I got to watch my hero's personality take a dip only to be topped off by him being a complete dick to the world. I want Mitch and troy to kill it this year. Either could be title contenders. Gwin is no longer on my radar. Yes sure he is an extremely talented rider and may yet win more races. I hope he doesn't.
  • 1 1
 good for you!
  • 13 1
 Its not the bike, its the rider. Congrats on the win, I wager a 29er was sweet on the kilometer flat section.
  • 4 0
 Its the course. And the rider.
  • 2 0
 you could put micth on any bike you want and me on my weapon of choice, any trail with any sense of mtb esssence and id be made to look like a complete novice, sure the bike makes a difference but even a well polished bike setup would make a difference of a few seconds over a 4 minute race run against a very poor one, basically its riders that win races not bikes ignore the marketing hype from santa cruz and such companies, yes the v10 has won a hell of alot of races but put minnaar and steve peat on another bike of their choosing and so would that!!!! ps steve peat also rode his tallboy ltc at last years steel city race, mitch isnt the first pro rider to use a 29er in a loosely related downhill race and he certainly wont be the last
  • 5 5
 Damnit, I have been working on a 42' wheel because I thought I would be able to rip like Peat ...Plans now scrapped/ Wink Salute
  • 13 1
 Super pedally. It was the course. Looks like it will billed as an enduro next year.
  • 10 3
 it all bubbles down to the one question what is the best bike in the world..........
simple answer:

giant trance x (26er)

because when i wake up tomorrow & suit up into my riding kit, go downstairs and don the helmet, that's the one i can actually go and ride!!!!!!!!!!
obviously the answer will change for different people but the reason will be the same for any real mountain biker

its not the bike, its not the trail its not even the rider it is simply the ride itself Smile
  • 6 0
 As far as the track goes, I think Ropo was able to win because of the wall. Most riders out there are on high travel bikes, the 29 helped Ropo because it keeps it speed and the bike is light as balls so on the wall which is like half the course, he was able to win
  • 10 0
 Its Fontana. End of story.
  • 6 1
 What's more amazing is that gwin was within 2 secs of a comparable rider riding a trail bike (especially a 29er) which is inarguably faster than a dh sled on the several long flat straight sections of the course. There's no arguing, a 29er rolls and accelerates super quick in a straight line, much more so than a slack squishy bike- pro rider leg power + fast rolling bike + flat trail = braaaap
  • 2 0
 I rather like that look at it, good call.
  • 8 0
 and ontario riders think they need DH bikes for downhill races in Ontario...
  • 2 0
 I reckon my SB66 is more than enough bike for most of Ontario.
  • 3 1
 My best years of racing in Masters 30+ was on a Banshee Wildcard with a 6" singlecrown fork.Finished the season winning two races and finishing 2nd overall by 2 points.2009!
  • 3 1
 That's ok, most southern Ontario XC racers typically panic the first time they attend a Canada cup or Q-cup or O-cup race at camp fortune (for the life of me, I still don't understand how a ski hill in quebec counts as a valid site for an O-cup other than its owned by the national capital commission). Our "cadet" XC course is more technically advanced than what most pro-courses are elsewhere in Ontario, and the senior sport/Expert course is equal to the best world cup courses in the world.
  • 1 0
 Ironically, Fontana is very close to Ontario - the other Ontario, CA, USA. In fact, planes on final to Ontario International are hanging low over the Fontana race course.
  • 2 0
 @dvp8 @deeeight: I lived in Ontario for a while, and I can confirm they speak the truth. Looking back now, I can't believe there are people in Ontario that actually buy a DH bike. There isn't a elevation change in 99% of the province that you can't get to the bottom off in less than 2 minutes, even if it is fastest fall line.

By BC standards, you don't need anything more than a 4" travel for any of the Ontario trails. No wonder you show up to a XC race, and everyone is on a 19-pound 29er.
  • 2 1
 Most of the big "mountains" in the laurentians of west quebec / eastern Ontario only amount to a few hundred meters above sea level (one of the highest lookout spots in the Gatineau park along is a mere 383 meters above sea level). The former Ryan Tower at the top of the camp fortune ski hill mountain, was only 580 meters above sea level at its very top. But what we lack in sheer downhill times, we make up for in sketchy skinny singletrack following the sides of ridges and ravines (whether on the DH courses or as frightens the shit outta the visiting XC riders, our regular cross country race courses). Nothing like racing along in a forest on a track that's barely wider than 25 inches, with a sheer drop into a ravine to wake you up, lap after lap. Or the dealing with the wildlife as we have timber wolves, coyotes, moose, fishers, black bears and mountain lions among the more troublesome wildlife you can encounter during a race.
  • 1 0
 Why bag on Ontario?

Somehow Rob, Sid, Kyle, Matt Z and a host of others have managed to find their way onto top level DH competition. There is a logical progression from O-Cup courses to Canada Cups, weekends at Bromont, Plattekill, Mountain Creek and more. There were regular convoys to the US Open and will be plenty of attendance at the ProGRTs and Gravity East races.

It makes no sense and most people can't afford to have two bikes. I'd love to have a competitive enduro bike along with my DH bike but that's tough to carry (along with an XC and dirt jumper). Camp Fortune is a god send for the Ontario scene and we are all thankful that it can be used. Beyond that yeah, it's 90 second tracks but that doesn't invalidate the racing in Ontario.
  • 1 0
 @brianmac8500 Not bagging Ontario. I actually miss riding out there, where every trail ride was not a flirt with broken bones unlike the North Shore. It had its own charm for sure, and the forests are beautiful in summer and fall. But it is strange seeing people on 140mm travel bikes on the tame XC trails and still hear them complain they wish they had a downhill bike... why? Even if the trail gets super gnarly (which it doesn't), a big part of the need for travel is to avoid the massive fatigue from extended downhill runs (think 20 minutes plus), which don't exist in Ontario. The big bikes are just overkill, in my opinion. That is why I recommend all my friends to visit BC for some weeks, and try the "XC" trails here, watch the kind of stuff people ride here on their hardtails. It really puts things in perspective for them. They will go back with a new found appreciation of just how much they have been underestimating the ability of their bikes.

@deeeight Yeah, I have seen the ridges of Ontario ravines. A lot of them are poorly made off-camber single track that get washed off with just a hint of rain, and accelerate the erosion of the ravine sides. Can't blame them trail builder's though; perhaps they could have just made the single track 30 meters below and avoid the issue, but then all the trails in Ontario would be a flat run with the occasional burst to climb 50 meters at most. Anyways, used to think they are scary... until I saw the rock cliff ledges out here that make the blood go cold as you get anywhere close to the edge.
  • 1 0
 ^ your top paragraph exactly what i was thinking. couldnt have said it better myself. its great riding
  • 8 1
 Some people are so quick they could race on a shopping trolley and still win.
  • 4 0
 It makes sense, there is very little in southern California that requires a DH bike unless you are at least an hour into the mountains. Even at Crankworx, the air DH has been won on trail bikes. As for wheel size, larger wheels fit socal perfectly. the trails are wide open, even the DH ones, the only reason one would run smaller wheels would be for extra travel if you're trying to huck everything. I don't think I know anyone at my LBS that runs a 26 in bike for anything other than bikepark runs and DJs.
  • 8 0
 I was there, Mitch pedaled like a mother fuker
  • 4 0
 I love this. People crying about what other people are riding or in this case winning on. If the bike industry wasn't constantly testing new products we would all still be riding road bikes and I don't think anyone here on pinkbike wants that. If we aren't gonna try different wheel sizes we should probably go back to rim brakes and elastomer forks too. It's called progression people deal with it.
  • 1 1
 I love it too. There's some psychological phenomenon about why people defend what they own, or know. Happens everywhere, especially in Wall Street - because you bought a certain amount of shares in a certain company it HAS to be the right idea. Its cognitive dissonance to buy something and its not 'right'.

Bottom line, myself and I bet everyone else on this damn comment thread would not have winning times at this race regardless of bike, shock, helmet, or shiny pants. And if they can't see through marketing (PB or Special-Ed) its their own fault.
  • 8 0
 uhh ohh sh*t just got real
  • 4 0
 Man, this kinda sucks how it's taking away from Mitch's win. It might not have been the hardest DH track around, but he did beat some of the fastest guys in the nation, and one of the fastest in the world. Props to the local Utah boy for killin it! Go Mitch! I see it like this. Mitch won, on a bike, everybody else was slower than him that day. He made the best choice, and he rode to his potential. Last time I checked, the winner in a competition usually won because he did better than the rest. That 29er didn't have a motor or auto pilot that let Mitch drink a cup of tea while it won the race for him. He threw down and killed it. Mad props to a humble kid that's sick as hell on a bike.
  • 7 0
 Put him and his bike on Mont Saint Anne and see how well he does.
  • 4 2
 so a 6" trail bike would not live at Saint Anne ?? really i find that hard to belief go back and watch some of the races from that 90,s and you,ll racers with 4" to 6" of travel racing down that course and winning . and kudos to the guy for making the right bike choice for the given course , not every course or racer needs 8" to 10" of travel on their bike to be fast .
  • 4 2
 It's 2013 bro.
  • 4 0
 I guess that guy is comfortable riding that bike. and hey if it is comfortable for you , then ride whatever is comfortable to you. That is also pretty sick, how do you do DH on a 29er
  • 7 3
 29"ers are ugly as f*ck though.

I don't care how fast the 'new wheel sizes' are, they still need to look good when I sit down for a coffee after a ride.

And 26 inch wheels have the best proportion.
  • 2 2
 amen to that. these days there are just so many bikes that ride great AND look good. 29ers look goofy imho, especially the smaller sized frames which would fit me... looking forward to seeing a 650b bike (SCB Bronson) in person before I pass aesthetic judgement on that wheel size...
  • 1 0
 maybe Im a bit too competitive for my own good... but id rather have the perfect bike that climbed like a ht 29er and decended like a v10 if it were the ugliest bike out there than a pretty one that rode like crap. Im more interested in getting an edge than looking good. Anyone besides me feel this way?
  • 2 0
 The thing is the 26 inch wheel bikes that we have had never really rode like crap. That's what the Pinkbike corporate article want you to think. I want to be able to see myself in riding footages and be satisfied with how I look on the bike.
  • 1 0
 "these days there are just so many bikes that ride great AND look good."
  • 2 0
 too true. i didnt mean to be calling any modern bike inadequate. just speaking in theory. shred on
  • 3 0
 If he is smooth an skillful enough to handle the track on a short travel 29er bike, then he deserves the win. You could ride some of the worlds steepest, ugliest tracks, and if you are capable of taking them smoothly and cleanly on a short travel bike you are going to fly past the competition. And don't start about the track having "too much pedalling" almost every WC track has a long almost flat pedalling section. All in all he used the right tool for the job, and he did it well. He won on skill, if a 29er is so much superior then maybe next time YOU should race it on one, and according to your logic you will win because it is a faster bike.
  • 3 0
 "When racing is your job, equipment selection becomes more crucial, and can mean choosing to race on a wheel size that wouldn't be your first choice if winning wasn't the ultimate goal. With the difference between standing atop the podium and watching from the crowd coming down to a matter of seconds, or even milliseconds, it's worth trying any bit of bike technology that might add that extra blast of speed"

Exactly.... Whatever rolls fastest....
  • 3 0
 Just watched the helmet cam footage I'm not surprised Mitch won on this course, other than a couple of pretty gnarly rock gardens it is very much like a the sort of track that would be used on a european enduro. Although it looks like a pretty fun course I wouldn't say national series standard. By the way Matt, Florain Pugin is French.
  • 2 0
 Thats so epic! I just started to really push the limits of my stumpy 29er and I can totally see how this is possible. You can gain speed in sections you never thought you could and drifting this bike is sooooooo stable. Just to name a few of my fav's lol cheers and happy
  • 2 0
 Garbo DH in whistler has TWO UPHILL SECTIONS! Nobody complains that it's therefore no longer a "dh" track. They just man up and get on with what the course is. Most people run up the first up hill and pedal their faces off 10-15 minutes later on their dh bike. I wouldn't be surprised if Mitch had a go on his short travel bike there at crankworx this year. But not many other people would have the balls or the skill for that either, and no one in their right mind would criticise. Just accept that ropo is a beast!
  • 2 0
 I can imagine a 29er trail bike is fast there with a Mitch R. on it. Congrats to him.

Split times would be great to have at this track. Better analysys then.

Dont understand they dont cut the track...

Last tech section and finish, ready, that is what I would do. So still a big Wall section in in for the classic feeling, haha.
But much nicer to watch the race at the finish area then. A bit more DH feeling ;-).

Is it a DH track, if a trail bike can pushed to a win there? Dont know. But at some MX tracks riders on MX2/lites are as fast as MX1 riders. Is it a MX track then?
Or MotoGP at Sachsenring is close to Moto2 times because its much corners.
A DH Track can be to very specific to one theme if this is typical to the area. Short track like Willingen Germany or Pietermaritzburg/RSA or the AUS Worlds Track. In a series of six or better 8 races no problem. But for a World Champs race it is difficult. But at the end, the best rider will win. Finding the best tech set up and bike is part of the game.

Had the 29" size a influence? I think it helps also a bit in the tech sections, because they are a lot about keep the speed in them or carry velocity through. This is what a bigger wheel is good at. The hole track seems to me like its build to flow. But not to find the difference in proper braking or narrow corners or go into any extreme lines.
Bigger wheels are also good over such nobby terrain. Many rocks there seem to me very much like track nobbs. Not rocks. Bumps to roll over. Not tyre killers.

I hope DH will stay free of tech regulations and will stay open to new influences. Only this way the bikes become better. Also course design should not be to strict. Many locals and many areas love to support and live the DH Sport, but have no mountains.

At the end Mitch R. won. Congrats again. Best combination of rider, skill, choise of bike.
  • 1 0
 I see what you're saying but...

Don't you think that equipment choices should be limited by organizers in order to keep the competitive field even? I mean, at the pro level the technical skills are so high that sometimes equipment choice can make such a huge impact, at what point does it become about who had the best equipment choice vs who had the best skills.

As a side note, I don't get why people are taking this discussion so personally, it's interesting stuff and shouldn't be taken as a personal insult because someone is discussing their wheel size.
  • 5 0
 I'm not surprised mitch won the race on a trail bike, 50% of the track is a flat out pedal-fest!
  • 4 2
 really don't understand why anyone is bent out of shape about this. not even vaguely interested. hype and a total non-story

next up: someone went faster through steep sections using a different set of brakes than the race winner
  • 3 3
 Because Spec is going to shove this shit down our throats telling us how great 29ers are. And this is coming from someone who rides a 29er. Bring the right tool for the right job right?
  • 1 1
 Specialized doesn't have to say anything. Race results speak for themselves.
  • 2 0
 Jaysus, lots of talk over 3 inches extra of wheel. The two "new" wheel sizes are proven to work in certain circumstances, in this case it worked perfect. Everyone so concerned about how it looks, instead of how it is....mental.
  • 2 0
 Doesn't this remind anyone of the articles a couple months back where it was debated if people really need as much suspension as they think they need? Remember a 140mm 29er will respond like a 170 or more 26er, and 68HTA on a 29er is more like a 65-66 HTA on a 26er. Its just a different way to get to the same place.
  • 8 5
 This is akin to XC races in the U.S. where the participants usually ride hardtails and often have semi-slick tires. Sorry, but that ain't mountain biking..
  • 1 0
 sure it's mountain biking. maybe not how you or I would choose to roll. but pro xc racers are all actually pretty badass bike handlers so they put their money on the climbs and endurance parts of the race. a lot of xc races have pretty tough downhill sections too. just cause they do it on lighter bikes that favor uphill doesn't mean it's not mountain biking.
  • 1 0
 Have you seen the olympic XC? The downhill-section was a joke. I would have been faster down that slope than most of the guys. Let's not talk about the uphill-parts, because I suuuuck at endurance.
But I think, they could definitely have a better technique. There was a portrait about a German XC-racer, in the bike Magazin here in Germany recently, where he trained his bike handling and he was like, damn, I'm so much faster round the corners and through root-sections. Big surprise, not.
  • 1 0
 mrgonzo, I'm not debating whether guys like Geoff Kabush, Adam Craig, Barry Wicks are badass bike handlers. No doubt about it...top level guys are amazing. What I'm saying is when someone can win a race using semi-slicks, it begs the question: Is this even mt. biking? To prove a point, some racers have actually raced some tame xc races on cyclocross bikes or bikes with dropbars and won. When you see how the Europeans kick our asses in XC (and in most disciplines these days), we have to ask ourselves: "Are our courses technical enough to reward/promote the very fit and super talented riders?". I'm sure USAC could give a rat's ass....sadly.
  • 5 0
 My brain just exploded into 29 pieces.
  • 1 0
 People win the Fontana races on trail bikes all the time - Logan and Kevin won earlier this year on 650b and 26" rides. I don't know why people are butt-hurt that it's a TWENTY NINER trail bike this time. Same could be said for a lot of Bootleg Canyon races - you don't necessarily NEED a DH bike for some of the races run there.
  • 3 2
 Awesome that before publishing a race recap, OR EVEN THE RESULTS, Pinkbike publishes this BS commentary kicking off another long night of wheelsize debate between internet tough guys and cyber mensa members.

Who exactly is pushing an agenda here?
  • 2 1
 pull your head out of your ass. its called bike RIDING, or RACING, in this case. its not called, LETS TEAR EVERYTHING EVERYONE DOES TO PIECES WITH STUPID DETAILS. But since we are. if its the right course you can win on a 29er. big deal. i won't be impressed until i see someone on 24 inch wheels with 3" gazzaloddis
  • 1 0
 I've seen DH bikes with 24 inch rear wheels (not on racetracks, but generally). But I guess it didn't stick to or come into racing, because the cage, even the short ones, would catch every rock and root. But with the new 650B and 29 inch wheels, you can have the rolling over stuff in the front with the big wheel, and the stiffness, with the same floor clearance at the rear with the 26 inch wheel. Perfection!
  • 1 0
 There are also DH-Bikes with 24" front wheels and 24" rear Wheels.
But you can be faster with bigger wheels
  • 1 0
 Many people are placing too much emphasis on a wheel diameter and ignoring many other factors that are at least just as important or even more so. It's fair to say the long sections of relatively non-technical smoothish fireroad-like trail could be done faster on a lighter, more efficient, trail bike than on a burly DH bike. I'm curious what the splits were like for different segments of the course since the upper part is way gnarlier than the bottom segment. The race could have very well been won in that last section. Mitch deserves all the credit for doing it with the bike he found most suitable for the race, so props buddy!
  • 1 0
 anyone who watched this video should know that this is not a full out dh course. yes, it has gnar sections and looks very technical in some spots, but my buddies in new mexicio send me clips like this all the time on their "trail rides". anyway, congrats to mitch!
  • 1 0
 I would be far more impressed if someone won a real DH race on 29er trail bike. This track is so pedaly of course the bigger wheels had the advantage. Now if someone came and won Reaper Madness in Bootleg Canyon on a Stumpy, that would be epic.
  • 1 0
 I have this bike in the 26" model. I posted faster times on the Stumpjumper in practice than on my Demo 8 at Stevens Pass. It's a pretty rough track, but if you can nail your lines the benefits of the lighter bike are incredible. I didn't end up racing the SJ because I was afraid of damaging it (and I was in a position to afford the extra several seconds). In hind sight, I should have. The bike has survived far worse over 16 months! I don't even ride my DH bike anymore except at the races. Trail bikes are just getting that good and I can't wait to see how that feeds back into DH bike technology over the next couple years. It's going to be nuts!
  • 1 0
 I think this was a bit of 29" marketing push from specialized and a forgiving track that allowed that. If i'm not mistaken Graves raced sea other dh with 3.x'' travel Yeti and won and I don't see him doing that on a real dh track
  • 1 0
 ok, i give mitch full props for the win, but if you take things to car racing, you cant race an F1 in a touring car race.. of course it would faster but its the rules to keep things fair, and i believe downhill should be the same.. because if you are a good rider you will do well, if moneys the only thing that is keeping you racing up front eventually that will dry up. Downhill should be about rider ability. ( so should all sports) Smile
  • 1 0
 Just watched the helmet cam of Fontana. Wheel size is not the issue at all. That course is awfull. It looked pretty much flat for the whole track and the rock gardens had a lot of very large rocks that were more like trials obstacles where you need to pull a light bike over them.
  • 1 0
 The 29er might very well have been the faster bike for that track with it's pedally bits and everything but I think that they need to keep things like wheel size standards the same so that there is a level playing field for all racers across the board.
  • 2 1
 Fontana WAS a downhill course in the 90's, but now trail bikes are more capable than the DH bikes from that day. We have to accept that bikes have changed. Courses like Fontana and South Africa are still downhill courses, but they may not require 8" of travel anymore now that 5-6" is such high quality. I mean there is a reason we don't use 12" of travel right. So just because the weapon of choice changes, doesn't mean the course isn't DH worthy. It doesn't have to be rampage worthy to be a DH race.
  • 2 0
 manitou sells a dorado 29er dh fork, i bet we will see old specialized big hit style bikes with a 29er in front and a 26 in the rear to keep the strength up in the rear. just sayin..
  • 1 0
 I'm getting tired of people moaning about 26" 650b 29ers if you don't like one or the other don't buy one. No one has a gun to you head. If you don't like the forward movement of the sport find another one. You don't find the guys in Moto-GP saying I'm not riding a four stroke I'm only riding the old two-stroke. Surely if you have the love for riding bikes you would like all three but have your preferred one.
  • 1 0
 right im new to this but here is my opinion the thing that got me into mountain biking was a few of my mates bought nice mountain bikes i thought ooo nice but then one of them bought second hand dh bike {a kona stinky 07 with bombers up front lol }and as soon as i layed my eyes on it i was interested so started looking for bikes and i was hooked as soon as i saw those huge forks and slack angles of the bikes i wanted one they just look amazing where as 29ers look SHITE i know it not all about looks but they just look stupid where as dh bikes look SWEET my point being i didnt look at a 29er and think i want it , also more to the point there should be restrictions to make it fair like in all other sports you dont see someone turn up to a touring car race in a freeking formula one car because its faster and more suitable for that track and try to say well im aloud to use it because its a car NO there should be dh specific races ect ect so specific disciplines and restriction else how is it fair. basically if its a dh race there should be only dh race bikes or am i missing something
  • 1 0
 I race off road jeeps and there are 5 different classes in our association
There shouldn't be any debate here
Different sports have different classes for a reason.
If this is such a big question then make a different class for 29ers
The field is supposed to be level , with no advantages (to a point)
This goes for both 26" and 29" in. Bikes
  • 1 0
 Mitch was fast in the rocks but I'd say mid pack fast. Once he hit the pedal it looked like turbo mode on the road. 29er wheel rolling ratio destroyed everyone else's pace when paired with a great rider. It was lireraly 1/2 downhill but the race is won at the bottom everyone knows that. It's not the first 29er I've seen rave here
  • 1 0
 Would this be a big deal if he was riding a 26" all mountain bike? Watch the helmet cam video, That course has several long pedally sections, i can guarantee you he made his time up on the long pedally sections. DH races have been some before on short travel bikes and it will happen again
  • 1 0
 i used to race in fontana and i wasnt winning on the sport class with my DH rig, but as soon as i switch to my reign x1, i won 3 in a row 1st place and the 2nd place was atleast 8secs behind me..that wall section at fontana where racers gotta pedal hard is sandy and trail bikes got a huge advantage. i stop racing fontana for this reason, too much pedaling for a DH race
  • 1 0
 Well this might piss some people off but its the truth!!!!! I say it was the DH course designers fault. Race courses (dh or cc) are being built way to smooth and easy now days.
A couple years back a guy won the cross country short track event on a road bike.
The track designers need to go back to school and the root of mtn. biking.
DH is all about a nasty, fast, kiss your butt goodbye course, with a pedal at the start not the end.
Maybe we need new designers or some of the old DH race course designers to step up and show these people how to build an actual race course. Be it Cross Country or DH.
The situation is kinda funny in a way. Just think with the course designers we have now, DH will be raced with 4" travel bikes next. Maybe even DH hardtails will make a come back.
  • 1 0
 Why is Mitch winning a "not too knarly" DH race on a 140mm bike such a big deal when Stevie Smith won the Air DH on a 145mm bike? The Air DH is also a "not too knarly" DH race. The wheel size thing should just be like politics and what oil you run in your car; to each their own. You have your reasons and you stand by them. If its a milder DH course why not run a bike that is going to perform the best? And just because the course doesn't require a DH bike doesn't mean its not a DH race. Nobody calls the Mammoth Kamikaze races "non DH races" because they are on gravel roads going down a mountain. Its still a DH race. A short sprint from the top to the bottom of a hill. If it was longer they might have called it a SuperD.
  • 1 0
 As a rider who is 6'7" and 200lbs, I ride my long-travel trail bikes on DH and freeride runs because 26" wheels feel like a bmx bike. Even with my Firebird I converted it to 650b to make it more rideable at my size. I get worked the fu*k over on my 6.5in bike while other dudes float on 8+ inches. If the dude can shred Fontana on a 29er and win it then he should be praised not criticized. It is a lot of friggin work
  • 2 1
 Anyone who "boycotted" Fontana because they objected to the course should probably pass on Sea Otter as well. People who didn't ride there can talk shit about the course not being technical enough and too pedally, but guess what...?? If you want to win ANY DH race you better be able to pedal. Especially World Cup events. Don't like to pedal? Don't expect to qualify. I would also like to point out that pretty much all of the Pro Women and a lot of the dudes crashed on the technical portion of the course, including some hospital trips...sooooo... Apparently it was technical enough for them? If you didn't race at Fontana, then you can't talk shit.
  • 1 0
 I do not care what pros ride. Next time I buy a bike I will get what I like. Wheel size will be only a part of consideration.

I do not notice much difference for full suspension bikes. I do not like how long travel 29rs fit me (I am about average height). On a hardtail, I do like larger wheels.
  • 2 1
 "If one of your top national race series is being won on trail bikes, you can't help but wonder if some people are missing the point..."

There are a lot of people in the US racing arena missing this point, it happens all over the place. they should call it All mountain or Enduro or something else; but leave DH to true DH tracks.
  • 4 0
 for a segment of society that enjoys the privilege of riding recreationally we sure do complain a lot
  • 1 0
 Its funny,we in germany alway wine about our way too easy DH tracks. Our national series, the ixs german downhill cup suffers from the fact that tracks like Winterberg or Thale are mere highways. But when I saw that GoPro footage of the Fontana track I actually where quite a little shocked. We have rougher tracks on our 70 meter high hills in the middle of my hometown. Get your shit together US of A, you are the cradle of our sport and a national pro series should not be held at tracks like that! No wonder someone came up with the idea to compete on a 29er rig. I dont see 29ers in WC, but I recon we will see some of 650b rides, which is a wheel size I really can appreciate. I consider racing those in 2014 myself.
  • 1 0
 "But, if you look at each of the strong downhill countries, you'll see a strong national series. It's fair to say that if you show up to a national race in Britain, France, Australia or New Zealand on a 29er trail bike, you're going to end the weekend at the lower end of the timesheet with a bag of bits that used to be your bicycle. " no sure about this statement time will tell.
  • 1 0
 P.S. If a 29er rig takes you to the top of the podium, why wouldn't that be the bike you would WANT to be on? What is the ultimate goal of racing, not winning?This statement is weird: "When racing is your job, equipment selection becomes more crucial, and can mean choosing to race on a wheel size that wouldn't be your first choice if winning wasn't the ultimate goal."
  • 1 0
 The time made up pedaling "the wall" with a pro-pedal bike will far exceed the time lossed on the dh portions with said bike.
Now if lopes does a certain laguna trail on a certain day next month under 2 minutes on his new 29r..ill be impressed!
.fast and steep sans major rock gardens.
  • 1 0
 Biiiiiiiig F'n deal. I guess you all missed the fact that Graeme Pitts won a DH month earlier on a 26" Trailbike. More marketing hype from Big S since they plan on sticking with 29" while the rest of the industry flocks to 650B like little girls chasing Beeber tickets.
  • 1 0
 Its happening, big wheels ar the future u have to see this, it also depends on the trail, but ultimately bigger wheel = more speed.
maybe best solution is to brake it up into categories? like they some times do with hard tails.
  • 4 0
 I honestly thought this was an april fools joke
  • 5 0
 mairy hinge
  • 4 0
 Nice title. Is it an opinion that he won?
  • 5 1
 It's really not the bike, it's the rider!
  • 6 3
 One things for certain though you are never going to impress the birds on a 29ner.
  • 2 0
 If you think ANY girl cares about the wheels on your bicycle you are delusional.
  • 1 0
 Chicks dig surfers - not cyclists of any kind.
  • 1 0
 guy rides past hot girl. Girl says "what big wheels you have." They make rough rides a little easier to handle. he replies.
  • 4 3
 Ive ridden a 29er, couldnt say I liked it. I found it tough to get going and terrible in the corners. That my opinion. 650B is something I'm willing to try but I recon 26inch for Downhill is and always will be the best.
  • 3 7
flag tylaloftus (Apr 2, 2013 at 15:36) (Below Threshold)
 Hes right a 29er dh bike would be to long and 29ers are crap enny way
  • 2 0
 ill be amazed if we dont see 650b in downhill, even if they are mostly prototypes they will be in there somewhere i know khs have already done it but im talking about larger and more mainstream brands
  • 4 0
 fucking good cunt who needs a dh bike
  • 2 0
 I saw ropelato come through the gnarly section on his trail bike and he looked faster and smoother than Gwin on his DH bike the wall is just part of Fontana to
  • 4 0
 Only a matter of time when 650b becomes a DH go-to on certain tracks.
  • 4 1
 Fontana is half pedaling on the flat anyway. Put that bike on at leogang and its a different story!
  • 2 0
 obviously our dh races here in the states are not gnar/steep enough..race courses need to be easier to ride down than to walk down...
  • 8 3
 29ers are gay!
  • 1 0
 Thanks.
  • 2 1
 first of all, tons of credit to Mitch!
But definetely if the race was won on a 29er trail bike it was not a real gravity race at all!

thanks ! and sorry if I am hearting somebody(metrosexual) feelings!
  • 2 0
 wow... I never knew there was soo much hatred towards 29ers... Its racing, you start, you finish, and the fastest time wins... The bike its won on is a non issue...
  • 2 2
 are people blind? the only reason a 29er won that race was because THERE WEREN'T ANY SWITCHBACKS! turning radius is the only real downfall of a 29 inch wheel compared to a 26 inch (provided it doesn't break). the trail was tech as hell but it was exactly what 29ers EXCEL on - big rocks and wide open flat corners. not to mention the HUGE pedaling section at the bottom (which imo is the only reason this trail shouldn't be considered DH). on any trail where there aren't tight switchbacks you should always expect wheel size to trump travel.
Personally, i'm excited to see how the 29er enduros do this year, big rock-clearing wheels and the travel and burliness to take a drop to flat or two seems like a killer combo
  • 4 0
 a 29er trail bike will corner around a switchback faster than almost any DH bike, especially with the super slack (64deg and slacker geo) geometry. Silly argument.
  • 1 1
 A typical Fontana pro course has some very steep, very chunky, slow, gnarly and challenging sections connected by loooooooong flats. Any wonder that someone as good as Ropelato managed to swallow his pride and ride the right equipment for the job? Aaron Gwin is not focused on winning at Fontana, so this is not a huge surprise in any way. JD Swanguen tried the Intense 2951 there a few years ago when he was out of shape and unmotivated. He sat down on the upper flat section and still ended up fifth. To those of you from elsewhere - Fontana is not easy, it's just very different, and does not emulate WC DH tracks. It would eat you for lunch if you came here thinking it must be easy.
  • 2 0
 This is the picture i got of mitch racing his 29er in fontana last weekend. Check out the compression down the rocky shoot www.pinkbike.com/photo/9382601
  • 3 0
 Damn home boy smoked the Dh class on a stumpy evo 29er that's just mad skill haha
  • 1 0
 I wouldn't take my trail bike down that course, the top section was very gnarly but the last bit looked like the way to the shops. Dry trails ahhhh, can't remember what they are like.
  • 1 0
 The bigger wheel bikes are going to prove themselves superior this year. Been riding a 29er all fall and winter and the definately roll faster easily. Big jumps are what wins, it's faster speeds that win.
  • 1 0
 29ers were gay because they were originally designed to be road bikes with big tires. Now that people have the geometry right there is no reason to keep bigger wheels out of DH.
  • 1 0
 Just watched a chest cam of the "course". Some taped off rock slabs with no flow or speed carry and then a butt load of smooth pedaling doesn't really make a dh track these days does it?
  • 3 0
 OMG!!!!!

[Tears hair out, slaps self in face, shrugs shoulders, then gets on with life...]
  • 2 2
 i think both matt and mike are right, matt i must say got it soooo right, that is not a downhill track and the usa need to step up their game especially as that where all the brand are based , i dont think it was the fact it was a 29er, any trail bike would of been better then a downhill. i think even enduro rider would say that looks easy but look out downhill different size wheel are coming. i have a 26 stumpy evo and i have riden a 29 stumpy evo both are amazing bike and you have to try really hard to find a different in ride but mitch got it right jumping is weird on a 29er.
  • 7 3
 its fontana, i can race a hardtail and maybe win
  • 5 1
 Is it a real BMX race if it gets won by a guy on a road bike? Nope.
  • 1 0
 better comparison: A new 22" wheel BMX (they actually exist) top 10 rider beats the champ. Are the wheels the tipping point?
  • 2 0
 After watching the vid of the course I can understand why the 29er won. There was more smooth uphill/flat sections than there were rough "DH" sections.
  • 1 1
 I have to call marketing on this otherwise why would they even have a 29er with them. How soon will we see the new ads for the stumpy saying DH race winner! If spec thought the stumpy was better suited then Gwynn would have been riding one too. They saw this as an opportunity to sell some more bikes and give Mitch a win against Aaron which will probably be the last for the year. Yes I am cynical but bike companies purpose is to sell bikes not win races this time they did both. If it wasnt a risk they would have given Gwynn the bike to ride but if he lost then people would think if the champ cant win on a 29er on the easy course or at least do well it would look bad for 29ers
  • 1 1
 I agree with allot of commands here .It's certainly a action to wards to targeted market .Riders like Mitch doing what they are asked to do by their employer of course they are talented hard working people but they can say only so much. Identifying the track to set your bike up is usual but choosing a different bike has been done but not happening that often also you are tied up with rules because we have more selection within the mtb family new designs fits in the rulebook
Questions are : Are they going to play with rules to sort this out ? If yes can they afford to do that?
or Is it going to be ok for the riders to choose different bikes for each race ?
  • 1 1
 I'm really curious where your getting the idea that Spesh told him to ride that bike? Marketers are not race technicians. Mitch would have decided what he thought he could win on. Now if Spesh decides to use this later for their adds, Who's gonna blame them? they would be stupid not to.
  • 1 1
 Shame on you, Fontana! Step it up and bring the pain. I ride DH and watch DH riding because of the gnar and the challenge. I don't want to see the most talented riders on non-DH bike, don't take the down out of down hill riding.
  • 1 0
 how exactly should fontana "step it up?" the course starts at the top and ends at the bottom. they make the most of the layout of the hill. this isn't big bear or mammoth or anywhere else, it's just a rocky hill in the suburbs.
  • 1 0
 what a load of hoo haa about nothing if you watch the video of the track any top end rider would of had the advantage on any half decent trail/am bike 26 or 29 cos of the bloody great long pedally bits in between sections.
  • 3 1
 "Ropelato's win is a splash of gasoline on the already blazing fire of wheel size debate"
amazing
  • 3 1
 It's a splash of marketing by the big s! Hahah the fact that everyone is going on about is hilarious! Who really wins? Specialized!!
  • 3 2
 29ers are witchcraft... Sticking with 26" and ignoring the hype.
  • 3 1
 \m/ Horns Up Mitch! \m/...f*ck Yeah!
  • 1 1
 @makripper last i checked... Mitch won the race. Not spesh. He just happens to be under contract to them so they can spin it any way they like. Mitch is the true baller here. He won, he beat Gwin, he was on a trail bike. What i get from this? Mitch is smart and wants to win races. Not "SPECIALIZED WANTS ME TO RIDE A 29ER!!"

Rant Over.
  • 1 0
 i'm not taking anything away form Mitch! I've been following him ever since crankworx 2010 when i got to see him kill it! He's an awesome rider and he deserves the win! You missed my point. REGARDLESS of what is said specialized did good!! look at all these kids pouring over this advertisement!!!
  • 5 6
 if you think this proves 29er, do you also think it proves steep head angels, 142 axle spacing, blah blah blah..... here comes the assumptions, fueling the fire by 29 advocates who say bigger wheel is ideal where at the end of the day most of the 29 riders have never hit the dh or the fr.
  • 10 0
 I personally get non of that out of this article. What i get out of it is that the course is a joke if you can win on a trail bike regardless of if it is 26" or 29" like Matt Wragg said if you tried that in a world cup race you would be in the bottom of the field and have a busted a$$ bike.
  • 6 1
 @Summit800...you clearly did not understand or did not actually read either of the short opinions written above.

If you really sit down and think about it, the adjustments of technique and skill required to make a 29er go fast are more conducive to a DH racer than anyone else.

Being comfortable at ridiculous speeds, setting yourself up earlier for turns, being able to work a bike underneath them to wring the most out of it, the ability to lean a bike over to it's absolute limit are all things necessary for making the adjustment to riding a 29er effectively if you are coming off of a similarly purposed 26" wheeled bike.

Seems far more likely that someone with a DH racers skill set would be more likely to ride a 29er than anyone else. (Yes, I speak from personal experience.)
  • 2 0
 Donch gets it! Slack DH geometry is one way to get a stable bike. Larger wheels allow you to do it with less extreme geometry.
  • 1 0
 Not more likely... just more able. Hence what summit800 said the bulk of the public on 29ers an't up for DH/FR
  • 2 0
 Mitch is a freak. Plain in simple. That dude could pilot a unicycle to a win.
  • 2 1
 Fontucky 4 life! Deal with it. Scotland has Fort William and SoCal has Fontana. Donny Jackson is a hero and good friend to the sport.
  • 2 0
 Mitch Ropelato Wins Fontana DH On a 29er Trail Bike i said it many years ago this was going to happen_____O^O_____
  • 1 0
 The track was 40% downhill and 60% XC. The wall is a mile of just flat pedaling. What do you think will win? Props to Mitch Win is Win.
  • 1 0
 On the top of the hill it's for DH bikes even less,
a 160 mm would be enough for this current track,He were right with the choise of the bike Smile
  • 3 0
 Just wait until you see my 650b unicycle!
  • 1 2
 It is called Fontana DH not Fontana Trail Riding!
On a 29er you can have more speed if the trail is not so difficult to ride and the huge wheels help you to ride over rocks and roots.

It not the idea behind Downhill that you use other Bikes to win.
Or do you ride to the next DH-cup with a E-Bike or a MX-machine?
  • 2 0
 It isn't the bike. It is the man on the bike and Mitch is the man! Watch out for more upsets from him this year...
  • 1 0
 Hilarious. Best thing I've heard in a while. Mr. Ropelato: Not sure if you were trying to be funny or fast or both, but congrats on your win and thanks for the entertainment.
  • 2 0
 ....even if he win all dh tracks with a 29er
it does look like sh#t

bla bla form follows function i know
  • 2 0
 What's this 2007 Champery Sam Hill run you speak of? Does that beat his World Champ VdS run?
  • 3 0
 Did it have a dropper post?
  • 1 0
 Dropper post FTW! Literally!
  • 2 1
 I ride my bike because it's fun, not because of how big its wheels are. That being said, I have little to no interest in riding a 29er my self
  • 1 0
 Wow.... Just what a great discussion..... Finally something not filled with a bunch of 29er hating trolls. Just good relevant discussion. Just thought I'd say that aloud
  • 1 1
 "It is the biggest bike market in the world"
It is not. Maybe the biggest MTB market (maybe, proper data needed), but it should have been specified if the author had meant that.
  • 2 0
 yeah when did matt ever know what he was talking about
  • 1 0
 My opinion is that Floriane Pugin is french (like Gracia btw). But Emilie Siegentaler (spelling) is swiss. Sorry for the slightly off topic Wink
  • 2 0
 Cool... things getting stirred up a bit.
  • 2 1
 It not the bike its how hard the rider is willing push his bike, Gwin was probably just off his game.
  • 2 0
 Any video footage of Mitch's run?
  • 2 0
 Y'all got more excuses than a desert has sand.
  • 1 0
 Take what you got and roll with it! Smart choice for the win. I love DH and will ride my Banshee Prime 29er down everything.
  • 3 3
 To all the people that say that Fontana course was easy- you should race it next year, that way you can beat everyone and start getting free shit!
  • 1 0
 And next up in DH racing.........Liberace riding a unicorn over a rainbow!!!!!
  • 4 3
 29ers are still Hot Stuff! I bet someone wishes they still has their Session right about now! Haha.
  • 1 0
 Bikes are becoming more capable and riders are becoming more comfortable at taking advantage of that capability...
  • 4 1
 April fools!!
  • 2 1
 Is this a late April fools ?
  • 2 0
 Blame usac!
  • 2 2
 I support anything but in my opinion at least with dh bikes they should stay 26
  • 1 0
 just ride whats best for the race course and rider
  • 2 0
 stupid bs
  • 3 1
 Fontana ain't DH
  • 1 0
 The Wall, and that is all.
  • 1 0
 Oh c'mon! We'll never forget Sam Hills insane run in Champery!
  • 2 0
 Great job Mitch!
  • 1 0
 29ers get out of gravity, unless your riding 29er for xc
  • 1 0
 Enduro shouldn't take out dh
  • 1 0
 Some men just want to watch the world burn.
  • 3 1
 april fool for sure
  • 5 5
 Perhaps it's proof that the demo is less suited to Gwin's style than the session? Flame away haters.
  • 4 1
 Nooooooo, there was a 1 km flat, that's why gwin didn't win, wait till wc races to see if the demo suits his style
  • 2 0
 That's no dh race !!
  • 4 4
 so many 29 inch haters here. "If it can be won on 29, its not a proper DH track" - this statement is ridiculous
  • 1 0
 well if it is rocky and technical than a 29er makes a hell of a difference
  • 3 3
 Enduro racing is going to take over anyway. Let DH fade away into the darkness of non-relevance.
  • 1 0
 come back to me when stumjumper 29 wins in CHAMPERY
  • 1 0
 good riding and good choice of tool to get the job done. props
  • 2 2
 I found this so funny a pro rider getting beat by a 29er
  • 1 0
 why is mitch not a pro.... hes fast as hell
  • 1 0
 Sry I think I've miss read this article
  • 1 0
 Ahh, shit Aaron.
  • 1 1
 Awh yeah! so beast!
  • 1 1
 uci im pretty sure has rules for this
  • 3 5
 Mike Kazimer.... here's $50 bucks - cheers Specialized!
  • 5 1
 Except that Specialized doesn't have a 650B bike available, which is what the third and fourth place finishers were on. My point is that alternate wheel sizes, be it 650B or 29" may be on the cusp of getting a Word Cup podium. I'm not opposed to any wheel size - as long as they roll I'll figure out how to have a good time.
  • 2 2
 I guess my point is many of the bigger bike manufactures are slowly taking away the 26" option,
I have had an MTB since 1990, yes showing my age now Wink 26 works well WHY change a good thing???
  • 6 2
 manufacturers are not taking away the 26ers. Better options are being adopted by people who don't need to make their old components fit their new bikes. People said the same crap about front suspension, disc brakes, rear suspension, air suspension, hydraulic brakes. Each new advancement results in people saying: Its too expensive!! don't take away my old shit!!! Your new stuff is just marketing!!!!
  • 2 0
 Good point, Willie
  • 3 0
 "For the internet mountain bikers, the message board trolling experts of everything,"
What makes you any different Mike? You're on the internet...giving an opinion....about mountain biking. Just because you have a platform to do it from, it doesn't make it any more valid. I suggest in future you don't insult your readers, and come up with something more novel than "we're on the cusp of different wheel sizes dominating in WCs" which has been regurgitated for the last 3 years, especially in light of this interesting Ropelato story.
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