EWS Tech Focus Video: Big Wheels - Winning with 29

 Not in this case. It's not as though Cube doesn't make a 27.5 enduro bike.

 How long til they put them all on plus bikes?

 In this case, it's a wee bit closer to asking a sommelier who specializes in chocolate which their favorite is. Still extremely subjective, for a completely pedestrian audience the explanation of why will still mostly go overhead, but another good opinion, and backed up by impressive results.
Also, I totally agree that the supporting cast of parts (TIRES, forks, wheels) share as big a time in enabling big wheel bruisers as the geometry updates.

 @tehllama: Dude, that's disgusting. We don't make jokes like that around here.

 @ictus: I think you should check Noah's profile before you make silly remarks

 ...except they’re winning on them. It’d be one thing if they weren’t doing well but saying they like them better.

 Deleted due to dupe posting

 Racers are on the bleeding edge of tech. Some works out, some does not. But gold medals and podiums aren't possible without the best possible tech for the course, and the best rider aboard the machine. It's not marketing, it's not a scam. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. This applies to MTB, F1, BMX, etc etc etc.

 Great video but a look back at Nico's results the previous years and it would show that he was much more consistent and even took a win. He has actually logged his worst results this year since EWS started but also some good top 10 finishes.

 I guess they would have both wheel sizes sponsored so makes perfect sense to ask

 Genuine question: what bikes do these two guys ride when out for fun rides with friends, not when racing or training when they are getting paid to be as fast as possible?

 @eeeasy: so good :-)

 @skelldify: I doubt that will happen

 @sngltrkmnd: Mostly yes, but with some caveats. There's actually quite a bit of anachronism and often some security built into race rigs, particularly where a pragmatic approach to durability and proven parts helps with results.
In a sport so heavily dominated by athlete inputs, individual preference will play a larger part. Gold medals and podiums are totally possible without exclusively bleeding edge kit, but nobody will voluntarily handicap themselves with something that won't help them win.
Similarly, most fun bike is always relative, and for the most part comes down to whichever part of a ride is the most grin inducing, and what setup extracts the most enjoyment: for the pick-and-place riders who want to nail ideal lines, agile bikes are wonderful; for big/tall riders who live for the runaway shred-dozer sensation (me) beefy 29ers are unquestionably the ticket.

 @ictus

For the manufacturer and team, they don't really care what size of wheel is being ridden, as long as one of their rider's win. They use the technology available to win whether its Di2 or a RS Black Box fork or a 29 wheel. EWS win = publicity = revenue.

 @ictus: Similarly, you don't seem to understand the concepts of 'elite rider feedback' coupled with R&D to facilitate a win.

 @Lornholio: More importantly, what terrain are they riding? You bring the right bike for the terrain... if you can.

 @tehllama: Exactly.

 @CaptainSnappy: Yup, not many riders stick to the same bike for the whole series. Of course that could also be 'suggested' or even written into the contract. "You WILL compete on the following bikes during the course of the 2016 EWS season......" Companies gots to sell 27.5 and 29.

But if you have a fleet at your disposal why not ride your Stumpy 29 for Aspen and your forked up Enduro (or equivalent brand models) for Whistler? That's what I'd do.

 Come on now, you now the answer to that question - people drop thousands on something and they want it to be current and feel as though they’re running the current stuff. No one wants to be told their bike...or car or whatever...is obsolete or that it’s at least on its way to obsolescence. I agree with your points but we’re human, after all, working folks dumping a lot of money on these machines. I have a feeling incremental changes in bike tech and styles, not major standard changes, would be met with inspiration to upgrade down the line rather than “ho crap you’re telling me that I just bought a new bike and now it’s not even the ‘standard’ anymore!?”

I’m not saying it’s good to freak out at standard changes, I’m just explaining why some of us do.

 Wake up Waki - if you pause the video at 2:22 (which coincidentally is 1/3 of "666") and play it back at half speed and listen closely, you'll clearly hear a dark voice chanting monotonously over and over again "26 is dead, your soul belongs to 29".

A mtb-er and his money are soon parted.

 @WasatchEnduro: how dare you share the secret of the "Order of E"?! You are a dead man writing. Last year I was played Claudio Caluoris helmet cam from Val Di Sole. I heard devilish things and suddenly felt presence in my room. I asked who are yo?! And the voice said... Volok!

 ..........

 Pfff,Moseley would still win on a 90s bmx...

 The only news is it's 140 travel....

 Pro racers saying if you try an e bike you will love it...... so true.

 @d-man: I would not try to say e-bikes are not fun. If you ask a lot of people they'll tell you motocross is fun. It's just a different sport...

 he praised e-bikes and 29ers in one sentence - I'm just surprised pb servers haven't exploded

 @FlavienB: having ridden some e-bikes I can say, comparing an e-bike with a motocross machine does not work. On a scale from 0 (mtb) to 10 (mx) the e-bike lies like on a 1, it is nothing more than a heavyweight mtb with a little help until reaching 25km/h. I cant speak for a future with stronger motors etc coming up tho.

And just for the record, I hate e-bikes and all the marketing towards them. But that's another story.

 @daweil: Yeah I wasn't trying to compare their power / weight necessarily, just saying the fact they might be fun is independent from the fact that I think they are a different sport. Therefore need a different set of rules, trail use, etc.

 Your bike was hype at one point.

 @MikePXP: Spot on.

 @MikePXP: Spot ****ing on.

 @MikePXP: I can't upvote your comment enough

 And not to forget the fatter tires....

 @MikePXP: That's deep.

@tincancharlie: I shall upvote your comment as a surrogate upvote to @MikePXP's comment.

 It's more like challenging the heard status quo of opinions regarding 29" wheels. People are finally in the position of actually trying then and not making a uniformed decision based off bias.

 I have told some of my friends the same thing. I've ridden for 25 years and raced all the disciplines at one time and got results, wins, never out of the top ten for 5 straight seasons in the gravity stuff. I can ride my 120mm 29er hardtail just as hard as my full suspension 26er. It's actually a bit faster on the down hills then my 26er. In the tight bits, I can blow out a corner and roost it. I even have a rigid 29er that is actually faster then my old light weight 26er CC bike, all around. I do run EXO TR Maxxis (2.5/2.4/2.35/2.2) tires, tubeless on aluminum TRS+ e*thirteen rims and they are actually lighter than my bullet proof 26er wheels. I've had zero issues with the rims over 1000's of miles. My friends, on their 140mm/160mm 26 and 27.5 bikes, are always shocked I can ride their wheel on my hardtail 29er. I've also ridden and jumped the expert lines at Rays on my 29er hardtail. I want an Evil the Following, might be time for a suspended 29er. I don't think I'll ever buy a 27.5...

 Yes! I just sold my Nomad and am building a Wreckoning based just on those tires being finally available.

 @scary1: Ugh after running SG in the 26” version I can’t IMAGINE running 29”!!! SOOOO heavy. Hats off to anyone that has the fitness to run those things!

 There is also a DD version of the Maxxis Aggressor in 29".

 @scary1: I just did the same! Sold my nomad and my wreckoning came yesterday! Love it!!

 @jeremiahwas: im a retired dh and mx racer - not worried about the wheel weight. I just want a monster truck that i can get up to the top of the mtn!

 @scary1: You’re probably tougher than me. I rant he SG tires for a little while. Was able to get 20psi and under - totally bombproof. Great traction but also a kind of muted feeling. They just SUCKED the life out of me! Especially when trying to keep up with friends.

 @jeremiahwas: i usually run 24/26 ,we have alot of rocks....and i have no friends,so..

 No they don't want to talk about that!

 It almost slipped under the radar...he started the season on an E27!

 DH is gravity powered with bigger hits, enduro dh is some gravity, flat flowy parts, when under your own power bigger wheel less travel means the bike keeps it's speed better, and does not get hung up on chunky weird shit, and engery robbing parts are fun and faster.

 Trek have been running a 29 DH prototype for a while. That new Slash 29 looks like a monster. It could be a forerunner to a commercial release but nobody makes 29 forks above 160 do they? (I couldn't find any when I looked)

 @Travel66: Manitou for years has made a 29er Dorado with 175mm travel. . . . I think this thread nails it -- when 29ers come with more travel they will be viable on super rough DH courses. There's no replacement for long travel on big hits the size pro DH racers make.

 DH racing is all about control and precision over a three or four minute course the riders have memorized. Those are still important factors in Enduro of course, but the races are 8-10x longer, not to mention the extra hour or two of riding between stages most races require. Efficiency takes on an increasingly important role, and wheels that are perhaps more forgiving of less than perfect line choice would seem to be a welcome addition as well.

 @saskatoonbikeguy: cheers I guess I missed them. Are they any good?

 Finally an article that says what needs to be said.....grain of salt added.

 Almost, but not quite as large on tire diameter (after tire sag/deflection the bottom bracket ends up noticeably lower), but definitely more contact patch.
The trick will be when durable enough tires are available to handle rocky courses, and if the resultant 1200g tires are still faster (probably will be in poor weather or lots of loose offer hardpack conditions)

 It's the mtb version of those Penis enlargement pills you see on Porno sites