Spotted: Sam Hill's 27.5" Nukeproof Pulse DH Bike

May 14, 2014
by Mike Kazimer  
Sam and his new chief mechanic Bam.
Sam and Bam check out the new ride.

Add Sam Hill to the list of World Cup DH racers who are making the switch to 27.5” wheels. That list continues to grow, and we're already looking forward towards next year, when wheel size is no longer worth mentioning and frame designers can change their focus to more groundbreaking developments. But back to Sam Hill. Sam rode a customized Nukeproof Mega equipped with the mid-sized wheels at the first race of the season in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, but at this past weekend's BDS race in Fort William, Scotland, he rolled up to the starting line on a 27.5” version of the Pulse DH bike. Although the bike had been hinted at a few months ago, this marks its race day debut. The overall layout of the frame remains the same, save for the geometry, which will have been altered to fit the slightly larger wheels. Sam finished in seventh place on the new ride, a result that he'll no doubt be itching to improve when the World Cup returns to Fort William in a few short weeks.

Wheel size has been the fuel for countless fiery internet debates over the last year or so, but racers seem to be accepting the change and moving on. Most of the larger teams have made the switch, with the Santa Cruz Syndicate being the most notable exception. Will a 27.5" V10 debut at Fort William? We'll just have to wait and see. It's also worth noting that the first two World Cup races of the season have been won by riders on 27.5" wheeled bikes, and at Cairns three out of the five podium positions were held by riders aboard non-26" bikes. Granted, Gee Atherton and Aaron Gwin could probably win on a Schwinn Stingray, banana seat and all if they really wanted to, but it is an indication of the changing times.

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233 Comments
  • 203 52
 26 all day
  • 82 20
 ik what you mean, DH is a 26er game
  • 46 16
 Every day
  • 258 24
 Except race day
  • 80 2
 3 wheel sizes to pedal to consumers, and in the darkness bind them
  • 90 129
flag z-man FL (May 14, 2014 at 12:32) (Below Threshold)
 Have you tried a 27.5?

I have, on DH bikes and trail bikes. The difference is rather large, and makes for a waaaaaaay more forgiving ride. Mostly due to the BB drop in relation to the axles and the larger contact patch. You can corner so much harder.

Sorry to tell ya, but 26 is dead.
  • 59 10
 ^ if there are people (lots by the looks of it) who want 26" , how and why is it dead or dying?
  • 37 3
 We don't all race. But do want to ride.
  • 31 8
 As cotic bikes say 26aint dead and who gives one about making you faster mabey everyone should be looking for the most fun wheel size ie 26 so get over the other two unless you ride xc because I don't care about the lycra clad mob
  • 35 8
 26 is fine but after a couple of weeks on 27.5, its pretty damn good
  • 59 1
 people talk a lot of shit without riding a lot of shit. ignorance is bliss.
  • 60 3
 Wheel hype boring now...soo we got 3 wheel sizes...ride what YOU want
  • 5 2
 i agree triggstar.. although people will still have a pissing contest about wheel sizing.
  • 24 0
 the wheel hype thing is getting old.
  • 31 4
 RussellTinka- 26 is dying because of several reasons.

1) Aside from new colors every few years, what new stuff is there for companies to sell? Companies in any market make money by "innovating"- even if it is forced innovation. People want to buy new shit, regardless of whether they really need to or not. Basic economic strategy.
2) Bike companies also don't really give a shit what the informed, seasoned riders have to say because they know they can sell to the novices/dumbasses of the sport.
3) Some people who have tried all 3 actually prefer the bigger sizes.
4) It can also be argued that they do have some sort of an advantage.
  • 4 2
 Amen!!
  • 12 0
 "Something about wheels"
  • 46 8
 "Pick your wheel size and be a dick about it"
  • 8 7
 Sweet enduro bike!
  • 15 5
 f#ck it they aren't gettin any 27.5 money from me.... at least not for a few years when i have no choice haha
  • 8 3
 No it's fucking not fucking fuck
  • 12 1
 IM JUST GUNNA RIDE MY BIKE LOL
  • 6 2
 26" has a bad case of cancer, name me a few decent 26" hardtail rigs, £500-£1000 to go hack round the woods ? other than the on one I have found, the cotic (£2k) and a few other select frames everything seems to be 27.5 / 29. I work in a pretty big bike shop, it seems that once you hit £400/500 it goes from 26 to 27.5/29 which sucks for us who see no reason to change from 26!
  • 2 2
 after all these years watching him, I never noticed he runs moto-style brakes!
  • 8 2
 He's Aussie. Aussies run moto style brakes. makes sense to me.
  • 10 1
 mfbeast12-

Point #1, #3 you have a valid points.
#2 is really unfortunately very true.
But #4 the advantage is mostly for racers. Why "mountain bike" if you want it smoother.

I don't mind the innovation factor, I just want the 26" wheel to continue to follow the innovations. I have tried all 3. I'm a shorter guy so the 29er really felt wrong. Maybe just me but.... 27.5 was ok. cant say i really noticed a difference but I'm into steep technical trails. Smoothing it out takes away from "my" fun. I guess I just want what I want and the companies want $$$$$ by selling new shinny things.
  • 6 2
 Russell- I don't disagree with anything you said, but I will point out the selling point of the bigger sizes is that they are faster, not necessarily smoother even thought most of the bikes do end up being that as well.

I honestly don't see why all 3 can't exist in harmony; I have extensively ridden both 29 and 26 and I also own one of both. 29 is for trail riding and racing, 26 is for DJ and just generally having fun on a bike. 650b also has its place, as something that can give you a little bit more speed but not sacrificing as much agility and fun as a 26er, but I haven't really spent much time on one so I can't say for sure.
  • 22 2
 32" is the wave of the future. Step it up, you pussies.
  • 9 6
 RussellTinka - You might want to rethink your point about smoothness unless you ride your "steep technical trails" on a rigid mtb with 26x1.9 tires. No suspension fork for you. It helps smooth out the trail. Riding a full-suspension bike is no fun. It smooths out the trails. Don't even think about running high volume tires at low pressures. Smooths out the trails. Who knows? Maybe you ride your 20 inch on "steep technical trails" because anything else would be too smooth.
  • 2 1
 You pulled the words right out of my mouth "mtb-123". All this talk about bigger wheels making things easier as if suspension has no effect!
  • 13 1
 "we're already looking forward towards next year, when wheel size is no longer worth mentioning"

Thanks stinkbike, for helping to make my bikes obsolete.

"but racers seem to be accepting the change and moving on"

As you would too if it was paying the mortgage.
  • 3 1
 Well said.
  • 1 0
 Stanton, btr, pipedream, nicolai...
  • 2 0
 no idea what you're talking about
  • 9 1
 I love all this "26 for life" crap, which I get after 20 years of riding them, but how many of you 650b haters have actually tried one? If you haven't, just remember that those who have, read your comments with the knowledge you don't know what you're talking about. Conviction is based on experience and for obvious reason, its thin on the ground right now with this still being relatively new, especially in DH and especially on a comments thread, but if you really want to shout about how awful 650b is, go try one, put some time in on one and come back to the table with your thoughts…
  • 2 0
 We have demo bikes at work from whyte and orange and I have ridden both new wheels sizes, for me they just are not the same as 26", I can see why they are better for certain disciplines but I don't like the way the whole market has drowned out 26" bikes over £500 and less than £1000
  • 2 0
 maybe tech trails are dead?
  • 3 2
 Yes I've tried it. It's crap.
  • 2 0
 I swear you could copy and paste some of the wheel size comment threads into any of the wheel size articles.
  • 1 1
 How many of you have ridden a proper 27.5" (I refuse to use the term 650b) bike? I know companies and their marketing people are to blame for wheel size turning into politics but let's not keep that from judging 27.5 and 29" bikes on their own merits.
  • 1 0
 Tech trails aren't dead it's just that they aren't fashionable at the moment. All the kids want jumps and smooth trails. But I'm glad they prefer that, that way the won't ride my super steep, offcamber. tech trails, haha. As for the 584 vs 559 well go out and try one and if you still don't like em well then you've EARNED the right to moan about all this! Until then keep you wheelism to yourself!
  • 1 0
 Just last weekend I got the chance to demo an Intense 275C, I took it back to the shop and immediately took my 2013 Banshee Rune and rode the same trail. I would consider this trail the most technical along the front range by Denver, I also timed both runs up/down with Strava. My uphill times were 8 seconds different, the downhill times were 30 seconds different. I will totally attribute the coming back down being slower due to not being familiar with the bike as well as the suspension being brand new (it was SUPER stiff in the first 1/3 of travel, even set up for my weight).

I will say that climbing I didn't notice a difference in wheel size. I noticed a difference in my Rune being Al/1x10 and the Intense being carbon/2x10. At this point, I'm not for or against 27.5....I won't, however, being selling my 26 Rune tomorrow to pick up a 27.5.
  • 1 1
 yup, pick your wheel size...then be a total ass about ALL others. why? just ride and keep your opinions on wheel size to yourself
  • 7 0
 If an opinion drops in the woods and nobody is around to hear it, would it make any noise?
  • 2 3
 It's called evolution! Our frames have evolved over the years gaining slacker angles, more travel, lighter,stiffer,stronger, all of which allows us to ride harder and faster. It could be argued that 26" wheels for certain disciplines is an evolutionary dead end and that 650b is the natural partner to modern high performance frames. By the way i still ride a 26" hardtail and wouldn't be caught dead on a wagon wheeler!
  • 3 0
 650b are flexier. so that means you need a stifffer wheel to feel the same plus more actual material that means more money for something less fun... If I was a racer I would be swapping between 29" and 650b depending on how twisty the trails are. bigger wheels logically go faster, but as i'm not a racer I won't ever buy 650b because 26" is more fun.
  • 3 1
 I HAVE ridden a tracer 275 (aluminum) and a 951 evo a considerable amount, enough to form my own, well based opinion. I understand it more on the trail bike and I felt the advantages. I liked it more on the tracer than the evo. Coming from a moto and bmx background, I like to move in the air and be nimble off the jumps. It didn't whip like my 26 951, just didn't feel the same, even after lots of hits. Maybe for larger riders, as said many times.
My "dick about it choice" is 26 bonerific inches Wink
  • 1 2
 my Xprezo Adhoc 27.5" is the most fun and most playful bike I have owned or ridden. I must be doing something wrong.
  • 10 2
 ALL WHEELS THAT ARENT 26 ARE MANIFACTURED BY THE ILLUMINATI
  • 1 0
 yes to that
  • 5 1
 I love the "I come from moto" arguments...where bikes weigh 200 pounds and you have an engine to provide the acceleration and momentum...and where tire sizes have been all over the map for the past 30 years... yeah that's a comparison to make to bicycles.
  • 3 1
 Sorry to blast newbies here, but I've been riding for 20 years and can't stand the way new trails are being built for "anyone". Example, Porcupine Rim in Moab has been so "sanitized" for newbies that it is no longer any fun. I remember when it took skills to ride an mountain bike and effort was required to progress into the newer, tougher trails. Now all you need is larger wheels and a shit ton of suspension to go out and kill yourself. I've ridden all 3 wheel sizes and see a place for them, but i feel the larger wheels handicap people from actually learning how to ride a mountain bike and actually put newer riders in over their heads. IMHO..
  • 3 4
 Fuck 27.5! 26 for dh is the only way to go.
  • 3 0
 @huckthat69: Reading back through these comments three years later is amusing.
  • 1 0
 @jaame: No joke! I've had a 27.5 Devinci Spartan for 3 years now, love it! I still can't say it's faster/slower, but it is fun...so that's what counts!
  • 41 7
 Gwin could win aboard a Schwinn Stingray?
What about a Demo? Fort Bill world cup should be interesting, we'll finally have an answer to the question everyone is askin themselves: "is it the Demo or was Gwin having a bad year?"
  • 15 6
 "What about a demo?" HAHAHAHAHA!
  • 5 23
flag wuzupjosh (May 14, 2014 at 12:13) (Below Threshold)
 demo for suure ive riden a few different pivot systems from demos to bighits to new and old dw link turners and an intense . the demo was old but it feels very slugish and unresponive like it dosnt wanna turn or go off the ground what so ever . which is kind of good in a dh more scrubs the btter but i would not ride another
  • 27 7
 The Demo 8 is an amazing bike. Other riders do fine on it
  • 22 0
 If there was an issue with that bike, I'm not sure it would be due to handling, but rather its pedalling efficiency and how it reacts at extremely high speeds. And let's be honest, we don't know shit about it and have never ridden those absurdly fast tracks.
  • 10 5
 Demo feels uggish?! Aaand 10" of rear travel on V10 doesn't?
  • 4 6
 stupid bikes.
  • 32 1
 Everyone seems to forget that Sam Hill has won a World Cup Overall and a World Champs on a Demo. Troy Brosnan won 2 Junior World Champs on a Demo. It's not a BAD bike... Most bikes have their unique geo or suspension designs that lend themselves to certain riders' styles. What woks for one rider may not work for another. End of story.
  • 4 1
 Did Hill win on the newer demo, or the 2010 and earlier version?
  • 4 0
 2009 world cup overall on the old, 2010 worlds on the new
  • 5 0
 i bet we'll see a 27.5 Demo in the very near future
  • 4 0
 Waki,10 inches on 30 lbs feels just fine... yikes. I just realized how queer that sounds
  • 2 0
 Wanna try sluggish--- ride an '01 RM9
  • 2 0
 Was like pedaling a pogo stick. Lol. And good luck manualing
  • 2 0
 i havnt tried a v1o
  • 1 4
 @ SD-Enduro
You seem to forget that Sam Hill won ONE world cup series race on a Demo. I'll say that again... The Demo has won ONE race on the world cup DH series.
  • 3 0
 @alexisfire
Sam HIll won the overall in 2009 aboard the Demo, taking 1st at Mt Sainte Anne AND Schladming in the process. TWO wins and the overall in 2009.

In 2010 he won World Champs on the Demo at Mt Sainte Anne coming off injury. Technically not a "world cup DH series" race, but against essentially the same competition.
  • 2 0
 Okay, so the Demo has 2 World cup wins...
  • 5 0
 @alexisfire, other "awesome" bikes have less or no World Cup Elite Men wins compared to the Demo 8: Evil Undead, Intense 951 EVO, Intense M9, Lapierre DH 722, Nukeproof Pulse, Saracen Myst, Scott Gambler. Does anyone shit on these bikes for not winning World Cup Elite Men races? No because they'd be fools for doing so. All of these bikes, including the Demo, are fantastic World Cup bikes that prove that while the bike is important it is the racer piloting it who is more important.
  • 3 0
 It amazes me how many people seek fulfillment by being proven right for saying that something is crappy. Get over Demo people, please... it's a freaking bike. Nobody makes you buy one, you may even turn off live send when one is on the track. WHen you see one in the lift queue, turn your eyes away. You may as well look at it and just let it go. Breathe through it.
  • 3 0
 Depends massively on the spring rate on the shock as well..
  • 1 0
 * as in the demo feeling sluggish compared to a 10" v10
  • 2 0
 no freerideglory - V10 is flexy. Let's start argument about it, whatever happens you win.
  • 1 0
 What do yob mean the v10 is flexy?
  • 8 0
 Because I am mess-provoking gobshyte
  • 1 5
flag alexisfire (May 15, 2014 at 12:09) (Below Threshold)
 @ka-brap
100% wrong. Sorry though. You take winners, and put them on the Demo and they can't win. That proves that the while the racer is still more important, the bike underneath the racer piloting it, has to be able to keep up with the other bikes. And the demo can't.
  • 1 1
 fantastic is a bit of an over statement bud
  • 1 0
 I'd just like to say that Brosnan was on a 27.5 demo at Fort Bill BDS...
  • 3 1
 Plus the 2009 stuff was on the old Demo. The newo Demo doesn't have a single world cup to its name
  • 3 0
 @alexisfire correlation does not imply causation dude
  • 2 0
 @fabdemaere, except that chainstays stayed the same Wink bottom bracket got lower, top tube length (and more importantly reach, which is what many pinkbikers overlook) got longer. Hardly what I would call problematic and causing it to lose.

@alexisfire, take a lesson from six66. the logic in your argument was disproven by thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece.
  • 4 0
 "correlation does not imply causation dude"
"the logic in your argument was disproven by thousands of years ago in Ancient Greece".

I like how PB comment board evolves... :slow clap:
  • 2 2
 ka-brap thats why im the only person who probly dosnt like sessions . they look sweet but theyre soo damn short . the 650b one looks a little longer tho which is cool haha
  • 2 0
 Sessions are SHORT??!!
You do realize that the large Session has a longer wheelbase than the large Demo?
And I didn't even take in consideration the fact that there is a XL Session available but not an XL Demo.
  • 2 2
 my buddy has one and it feels like akids bike it medium
  • 1 0
 @wazup, how tall are you? And how long is the stem on your buds sesh?
  • 1 0
 5,11 adn its an atlas in the long positioni have a large turner which feels like way better
  • 2 0
 Ahahaha well no shit the trek felt short. The large session has very near identical reach, stack and wheelbase measurements as your DHR, can't be basing judgements on bikes with such deviance in basic variables as sizing! Fuckin pinkbike, always good for a laugh!
  • 1 1
 huh
  • 32 3
 Hey Pinkbike, there is a difference between "the times are changing" and "well I need a new frame and its the only choice I have"
  • 1 0
 I can feel his kid feeling like "dad, why....."
  • 2 0
 You should try living in Australia and buying decent 26" tyre in a hurry.... "All I got is a racing ralph in 26... "
  • 23 1
 I'm a small build, I don't need 650b to make me look even scrawnier on the bike
  • 51 0
 i think rider size is actually one of the best arguments for each wheel size
  • 8 3
 I'm 6 ft and even though I was quite skeptical in the beginning, when I tested Santa Cruz Bronson last summer, I immediately felt that it was better for me (although my medium size 26" Rocky Mountain Slayer is a bit more playful, which I sometimes like).
  • 14 3
 exactly. I'm 6'5" and a 29er feels natural
  • 6 0
 Ya, mid size wheels def help 6ft plus.
Now we need more bikes w/forward geo ala kona, gt, yeti, mondraker,...
Large tt should be 24.5ish/reach @18/chainstays 17 or less. Thanks
  • 15 15
 body size is irrelevant. Geometery on a 650 is superior. BB drop in relation to the axle makes you feel way more stable. To get the same drop on a 26, clearance will become an issue. Not with 650B though. It's superior and I'm glad to see that companies are doing what ever it takes to give us the best ride possible. Change is necessary if you want improvement. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
  • 5 0
 JimmyO - thank you! Bigger dudes can really benefit from bigger wheels.
  • 10 0
 I'm 5'8" and my ass hits the tire sometimes on my 26" trail bike when I'm descending a super steep technical section, or boosting a tuck air over a rough bit. WTB has two new tires that I would like to try, but they aren't available in 26", so I can't.

Some of us are not content with merely being a passenger on the bike, we like to get after it, and with shorter legs, bigger wheels get in the way.
  • 13 0
 True, but what if your 5foot 6inches like me. I like the 26" wheels. I've tried the bigger wheels and just "like" the 26" wheel better.
  • 9 0
 by Z-man's theory, 29er should be even better than 650b. There is more to a bike geo than just BB drop. A 26" bike is going to accelerate faster than 650b. Always give and take. Graves and the Syndicate have been doing just fine on 26". People that are praising 650b are the ones that have been on 6 year old bikes and just got new bikes. 26" is going to be more playful and fun and I'm not convinced on real world results yet that they are faster.
  • 3 3
 Not sure Bb drop is even a factor, Bb height above the ground is important although its fairly similar across the range of wheel sizes, simple clearance issues regulate that. Bb drop below the axles seems fairly irrelevant, the wheels (and bike) don't pivot around the axle when you lean, they pivot around their instant centre... which is on the ground. I think you may be mistaking 'stability' for an actual lack of maneuverability due to more gyroscopic force and a taller bike. The bike may well be just as twitchy at speed as wheel base and head angle affect that more.

Theres no arguing bigger wheels grip better though!
  • 3 4
 I'm not sure how bigger wheels grip better as the contact patch has the same amount of area throughout the wheelsizes. The only thing that is different is the contact shape.
  • 2 9
flag z-man FL (May 14, 2014 at 16:47) (Below Threshold)
 There's many more advantages. Also, no, the people on 650B are the people who buy a new bike every season (like me).
I've had the same frames for 3 years straight with every years big new improvement on it. This years 650B is absolutely killing it.

650B > 559

Ride one and you will agree, i will grantee it.
  • 1 0
 they use bb drop because it removes and bias from tyre size
  • 2 0
 i highly agree with the original statement
  • 7 0
 @z-man I actually rode one and to be honest, I was a little disappointed. Not because the bike didn't perform well but seeing the intense media/industry circlejerk about how revolutionary this was... I was expecting something better. I thought the feeling was so close to a 26" that it doesn't warrant switching over. I don't hate 650b and if that's all that's available when the time comes to buy a new bike I won't really care... But calling this a game changer is bullshit as far as I'm concerned.
  • 4 0
 so z-man, if I have ridden a 650b and did not like it, what now will you do with your "grantee"?
  • 1 0
 I know a couple of people who have switched from 650b back to 26". They prefer the feel of the smaller wheel especially when "shralping". 650b is just hype / "planned obsolescence".
  • 1 0
 Jaydawg - I don't know about - went from a 26" Uzzi to a Tracer 275. It's a huge difference for me - and I loved the Uzzi. Where I ride is a lot of rocks and roots. I ride the same trail alot and I can see improved lap times and better times on sections. Nothing wrong with 26! If my Uzzi frame didn't crack, I would still be riding it happier than ever.
  • 2 1
 damn... that makes so much sense... I'm supprised I never thought of that argument. I suppose its like frame size. you don't get a miget riding a XL frame size. so why should tall people ride 26". it all depends on your size. but really I suppose it comes down to what feels nice and what you prefer. none of this "ooohh the extra 0.75" radius reduces rolling resistance by 2% turning into, on the average course, 0.02 seconds faster" I guess the main difference in who wins is who is abord the bike. I could be on a the best bike ever and cam zink will destroy me even on an apollo. but what I think is, if you don't get payed to ride they you only do it for fun so get the most fun stuff possible
  • 1 0
 @orastreet1 - what year was your Uzzi and what year is your Tracer? The only way to properly compare is have 2 bikes that are the same except wheelsize. Pinkbike did it. www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html
  • 1 0
 Jaydawg - agreed, it's not scientific - but the bikes are similar in that they have 6-7 inches of travel, the Tracer is lighter with an air shock. I moved my parts over to the Tracer and lowered the front shock to 160mm from 180. When I put my 26 inch wheel from my Uzzi to my 27.5 on the Tracer, and with the higher volume Maxxis Hi-Roller, tire size difference is significant. 2010 Uzzi, 2014 Tracer 275.
  • 17 0
 We probably shouldn't be surprised that winners are taking the podium on 27.5-inch bikes - according to this piece, practically everyone's switched over to them already. That's kind of a statistical certainty, not a looming portent...
  • 2 0
 Thankyou!!!
  • 4 0
 This has been observed before, but I may suggest that these comment boards are rarely a breeding ground for this kind of straightforward, accurate logic.
  • 13 0
 Brian Lopes was the only racer brave enough to tell the truth about why a racer picks a bike: He is on record as saying
"I am riding the 29" Ripley because it's our newest bike and we want it to get exposure."

Racers Only accept "change" that they can deposit in their bank account.
  • 1 0
 That was also shortly before he switched bike brands...
  • 14 0
 Josh Bryceland for the win! He is proving that 26" can still rule!
  • 9 1
 "That list continues to grow, and we're already looking forward towards next year, when wheel size is no longer worth mentioning and frame designers can change their focus to more groundbreaking developments"
Am I really reading it?! 14th may is now sacred.
  • 10 1
 Wheel size already isnt worth mentioning yet they continue to mention it...
  • 9 2
 I'd like to know how much input racers actually get have over what the factory gives them to ride. If a company wants to make more $ and jump on a new wheelsize bandwagon then does the race team have any say? In the end you as a pro racer are being sponsored to run the kit you've been given. I may commit hari kari if Santa Cruz goes 27.5 on the V10.
  • 10 1
 Better start sharpening that sword...
  • 2 0
 exactly right. 'racers making the switch'? racers are told to ride whatever the sponsor wants them to - simple. celebrity endorsement is so easy to see through, yet still seemingly so effective.
  • 15 5
 Peace-out 26". Planned obsolescence is a bitch.
  • 8 1
 If three out of the five podium positions were held by riders aboard non-26" bikes, two out of five podium positions were held by riders on 26" bikes. That's not bad. 26! 26! 26!
  • 10 3
 who gives a fuck about what size wheels ya got, as long as ya get to the bottom with a grin from ear to fucking ear then thats all that matters so stop arguing about a inch and a half, pack of cunts!!
  • 1 0
 Although I agree with your comment @bazegg, I feel the language is a little unnecessary Wink
  • 1 0
 ok, maybe i gotta learn to tone it down a tad, sorry!!
  • 1 0
 Ok, you're forgiven Smile it's just the c word really, but that's just me!
  • 2 0
 thats fair enough!!
  • 7 1
 Cool Bike,26,27.5, or wagon wheels. Soon it won't matter, Sam will be doing Enduro races, Gwin will be coaching,Gee will be running GT and be designed bikes. The rest of us will be riding whatever is between our legs and smiling, dreaming of our new need. Here is to the BEST sport.
  • 6 0
 What I want to know is now that you got a 27.5 are you going to try that jump that you were scared to hit on your 26. Are you going to blast through a rock garden now that you got bigger wheels. Is that bike really going to make you a better rider. For what I'd have to pay for a new 27.5 dh bike I could get a dirtbike with a 21" up front and 18" on the back and twist a throttle go 5x as fast and jump tripple the distance. It's a bicycle. How fast you really think you're going to go. You want to go fast throw a leg over a honda crf 450 hit a motocross track. I think I'll stick to my 26" bike and when I need to go faster ride my 450.
  • 12 7
 Riveting news, a professional racer switches to slightly bigger wheels because they're faster and maybe because he likes them? At this point 650b is hardly interesting... 26" with a large tire can have a bigger diameter than 27.5" and bigger wheels roll faster. Who the hell cares... 26" isn't going to go extinct any time soon, there will always be brands to cater to each interest. Have fun arguing this for the millionth time PB.

Anyways, cool looking bike.
  • 5 4
 When the entire cat 1 class at my local series has changed over to 27.5 ill accept that the times have changed.
  • 6 0
 If we bought back some proper steep tech Tracks we wouldn't see this trend happen so quickly stop grooming our tracks to cater for wheel size your killing the sport where not evolving it where fucking it.
  • 9 1
 So, Ratboy is going to win on a 26" with lots of 27.5" behind him.
  • 8 3
 got a 650b santa cruz 5010 on the way and if they make a 650b production v10 i will have mine up for sale straight away. 27.5 all the way swear by it
  • 10 8
 This seems to be the general consensus once people ACTUALLY TRY 650B. It's better in every way, everyone else is just holding progression back.
  • 5 4
 why did you not have fun on 26? of course you did just like everyone else, unless you race and wanna shave off a second or 2 then its just the f*cking same.
  • 3 3
 your just jealous of 650b lol
  • 5 1
 i got the inches where it counts boyo!
  • 2 1
 26" bike was fun. 27.5" bike is funner. Its simple. You get the stability of a slacked out 26er, and with the geometry pulled back in a bit, the cornering improves. So basically, it rides like a slacked out 26er, which people like, but there is less tradeoff as the cornering isn't compromized.
  • 1 0
 well if you put it like that!!
  • 10 7
 "Gee Atherton and Aaron Gwin could probably win on a Schwinn Stingray, banana seat and all if they really wanted to,"

no, they couldn't. this type of statement is old, tired and stupid no matter which names you throw in there.
  • 9 1
 I agree. It actually seems to be the exact opposite. World Cup riders are so highly skilled, trained, and in-tune with their machinery that even the smallest change to geometry, suspension, tires, etc. seems to throw them off the top of their game. They feel changes so small the average rider wouldn't even know they existed. It would be interesting to see a race where every rider is forced to swap bikes with another rider at the start gate. Steve Peat on a Devinci, Gee on a Trek, Gwin on a V10, Steve Smith on a GT, etc, etc.
  • 5 1
 If you don't speak literally this guy will be pissed. (Sorry with that name and comment I had to)
  • 2 3
 Its called sarcasm he didn't mean it 'literally'
  • 3 3
 drfunsocks - i understand that, but sarcasm is meant to be funny and/or clever. this type of statement has been neither for years.
  • 3 0
 Cry me a river, it's a figure of speech.
  • 5 0
 But don't actually cry a river, that's an absurd amount of tears that no human could produce
  • 3 0
 I cant deal with all this f@#king bigger wheel debate. Its the industry squeezing more cash out of the consumer. We are talking 100th of seconds between these riders and we are not pro riders so who gives a shit about wheel size. The only issue i have now is when i come to sell my old school 26" bike, to try and keep up with the times.....it will be worth alot less now everything is going 27.5. Cheers!
  • 4 1
 "..but racers seem to be accepting the change and moving on." - said like they had any choice. Races race, but sponsors think that racers are only to promote. Sam Hill is just checking out if the magical wheel will at least roll.
  • 6 3
 Sorry to say, but it looks to me like all of you at PinkBike love the idea of the 27.5's. Just like you say on your report:

"Add Sam Hill to the list of World Cup DH racers who are making the switch to 27.5” wheels. That list continues to grow, and we're already looking forward towards next year, when wheel size is no longer worth mentioning and frame designers can change their focus to more groundbreaking developments."

Really!?!? Well of course he is switching, he gets paid to do that!!!! All these racers represent bike brands PEOPLE!!! What do you think they are going to do, say NO???

Groundbreaking developments??? You guys make me laugh! Who is paying you guys for all these reports on how good 27.5's are?? Mom let me see.....

Be real people, they tried 29's for Downhill saying all this great stuff about it, but now they are like, no we were wrong. Groundbreaking developments!!! PLEASE.
  • 3 0
 26" wheels and flats for me. You like 29" ? Ride it, you like 27.5? Ride it. The market will only pretend that 26"is dying so people rush out and buy mid wheels........then in a few years they can bring 26" back and hype it all up. Market strategy
  • 5 0
 26,27.5,29 is just bullshit, those guys are the best of the best, they gonna win with anything you give them......
  • 2 0
 Bam seems to like it, b good to hear Sams thoughts, he looks ready to win again, I thought his Carins run showed hes ready! Biggest issue is not the bike or wheels its the courses or lack of them. Hope the FT delivers!
  • 1 0
 So much comments on the wheel size crap and noone mention what a cute picture the above is - to have your own son turning the wheel for you. And his dad being careful to him to not get hurt. Come on guys we all love riding and bikes, but dont be blind for the real things that also exist !
  • 1 0
 I must admit I'm starting to get really racked off with people still whining on about 26inch wheels are best etc etc . If 650b is good enough for world cup racers then it's good enough for us minions. 650b is clearly faster otherwise they wouldn't be racing them. Come next year they're probably won't be a DH with out 650b. Get with the times and move on!!
  • 1 0
 Believe it or not the 26" wheel for mountain biking is a fast dying breed. Has nothing to do with the best wheel size for thousands of people or not. It costs too much for companies to keep 3 wheel sizes rolling through a bike line up. With 26 and 27.5 being put on the same genre of frames, well 26 is going to get the axe. So many companies big and small are doing it. Santa Cruz has what two 26 inch wheel options? Pivot is in the same boat. Foes is all 27.5 and 29 save their DH bike. Specialized announced they are working on a 27.5 Demo, they can't wait to axe 26" wheel completely. For all the 26 riders going to be harder and harder to just go buy a new fresh 26" wheel mountain bike that isn't some entry level piece of crap.
  • 1 0
 26 is the best for jumping,cornering,gnarly,twisty trails and it's more buckling resistant than anything bigger. 650b and 29 wheels are also more expensive than 26, in fact the only time i would even begin considering 650b would be for enduro, and i don't race enduro so i'll probably never run anything bigger than 26. in other words 650b and 29 are both complete and utter SHIT!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 For the love all that's holy...stop calling it 27.5.... only a handful of 650B tires actually inflate to 27.5 inches diameter. The ones on that particular NukeProof are nearly 28 inches. Its as dumb a label as MBA deciding to call them 27ers.
  • 1 0
 "Cairns three out of the five podium positions were held by riders aboard non-26" bikes"

HAHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAA!

Look at that another way. At Cairns 2 of the 5 podium positions (40%) were held by a now apparantly obsolete wheelsize that made up about 2% of the protected riders field. Josh Bryceland has been placing very well this year compared to previous years. The only change made? He's still on 26", pretty much everyone else is on 27.5"

If that doesn't make 26" look like the better option, then I don't know what does.
  • 1 0
 I'm not sure the Pulse 27.5 is based on a dedicated 27.5in frame. If I recall Nigel Page's statement from earlier in the year the frame can take 26 or 27.5in wheels. Whatever the case may be, it is apparent that quite a few DH bike designers either did make allowance for their new 27.5in bikes to use 26in wheels, e.g. Scott Gambler, or had initially planned to do so, e.g. Pivot Phoenix. DH bike designers are being sensibly cautious.

Besides the well understood relationship between wheel size and certain features of suspension bike geometry there is a less well understood relationship between (rear) wheel size, (rear) wheel path and travel. Larger wheels lose some of their attraction as travel is increased - wheel path starts looking less and less optimal compared to smaller wheeled bikes. 27.5in will probably be very good between 150mm and 200mm travel. 26in remains a viable choice for bikes with even greater travel than that.
  • 3 0
 "… and we laugh like soft, mad children smug in the wooly cotton brains of infancy."
  • 7 2
 559 for life! Wink
  • 6 3
 Meh who cares about 650b? I don't... Tell me about a new dh rig with 26'' and I might be interested
  • 1 0
 Sam's CR kit and nukeproof frame color makes him look like a rising billboard for adverts. Lol. Next year tone down the pastel colors and go stealth black. I bet that will be the year he podiums.
  • 1 1
 "when wheel size is no longer worth mentioning and frame designers can change their focus to more groundbreaking developments."

GROUNDBREAKING? How so? How is "The overall layout of the frame remains the same, save for the geometry, which will have been altered to fit the slightly larger wheels." groundbreaking? Please indicated some other groundbreaking tech that has been unveiled by 650...

"Wheel size has been the fuel for countless fiery internet debates over the last year or so, but racers seem to be accepting the change and moving on." -- What choice do they really have? If a company's marketing dept says they're going 650 - input from a DH racer is not going to sway them to stay with 26". Please indicated where (in the case of a company moving their line up to 650b) the DH racer has a choice...

"It's also worth noting that the first two World Cup races of the season have been won by riders on 27.5" wheeled bikes"
-- And it's also worth noting that the EWS last year was won on a 26", while racing against many 650s. But that's a fluke, or he could have won on a Stingray, right?

Honest, I don't have anything against the wheel size other than the industry/media push to the masses as something it's not - other than new. I'll probably end up riding one in another year or so, and will do so happily.
  • 3 0
 You're slightly misinterpreting what I wrote. By 'more groundbreaking' I meant greater than, as in something that's a bigger deal than a slightly larger wheelsize.
  • 1 0
 Possibly, I'm a hot-head and reactionary... so yeah - maybe. Smile

I agree, wheel size is not groundbreaking.
  • 1 0
 i got told that SC developed a 650B version of the V10 but after Minaar+Peaty decided to stick to 26wheels they put back a release of a 650B V10...so i would doubt that we see a 650B V10 this season tho!!
  • 1 0
 i have a riends that has been doing some work with sc and said kind of the same thing, that sc is testing and getting good times with the 650b, they were testing last spring, this is what i was told, i never heard or seen anything since though
  • 1 0
 The Polygon DHX standard bike is still 26 inch. Although Mick Hannah rode a 27,5 prototype in the first two WC's. V-10 is also 26. Still a lot of high end DH bikes with 26 inch wheels. luckily.
  • 1 0
 Dude its honeslty just physics 650b rolls so much faster then 26 inch DH rigs... I am actually pretty stoked to see some killer DH bikes come out whit bigger wheels then 650B, that shit is gonna be raw
  • 2 2
 We could not come up with bigger circles years ago? We have a space program for goodness sakes...

My main gripe is lowered re-sale value of my 26" parts. I couldn't care less if I had the latest or greatest.
  • 6 2
 Sam hill your a legend!
  • 2 0
 So is there anything new other than the wheelsize and a slight geometry change?
  • 1 0
 i doubt it.. look at all the other 27.5 dhs.. just slightly tweaked geo to fit the bigger wheelsize.
  • 5 4
 Please do not place any pressure on Santa Cruz to jump on fanboy "mid sized wheels" If I am forced to use 650b I will not get another v10 when its time
  • 3 0
 I just bought a 26" bike so I'm holding progression back...
  • 3 0
 racers have a choice on their wheel size ?
  • 1 0
 I bet half you kids bitching about wheel size have dirty big SUV's with 22" rims on them.
Get off your high horses, or SUV's or w/e
  • 1 0
 i believe this is a typo, thats the new prototype 27. 624 wheel size, much better than a 27.5. the advantages are lightyears ahead of a 27.5
  • 1 0
 It's also worth noting that the first two World Cup races of the season have been won by riders on [...] bikes. I think this says it all.
  • 1 0
 I have a 26er but am going to buy a 27.5, and also a 29er for longer hikes. I will then decide which one I prefer or feel like using on the day. I'm very wealthy.
  • 2 0
 i hope we start to see penny farthings in downhill because that is one massive wheel!
  • 4 5
 Ok let's face it next year most DH bikes are going to be 27.5. Why don't they just come out and say it. How many prototype's Is this now..... Like we weren't expecting it. O and I forgot to mention 26 4life!
  • 2 0
 Wait, I'm confused. Why wouldn't people want to go faster?
  • 2 2
 its called money. some of us cant just go out and buy a brand new bike.

with that said, im in the process of building up a trek fuel thats 26", i couldnt be more stoked.. i dont give a damn about wheel sizing, i just wanna ride my bike!
  • 3 0
 I'm learning to use my brakes less, it's way cheaper than a new fucking bike.
  • 1 0
 I hear ya. I'm shopping for a used dh bike now so will def be 26". Thinking Sunday...
  • 1 0
 There are riders riding 26 frames that fit 27.5s. No change in geometry. They are just trying things out.
  • 2 0
 Vamos minaar !!!!!!!!! goo santa cruz !!!!!!!!
  • 3 0
 fuck you industry
  • 1 0
 Next years craze will be 29er front wheel and a 24" rear wheel as it surely is the ultimate combination
  • 2 0
 Just go ride your bikes? Who cares about the wheel size.
  • 3 0
 90% you, 10% bike.
  • 1 0
 The only down side to bigger wheels is bike takes up more space, need a bigger garage?
  • 1 0
 Built up a set of 27.5 for my M9 recently and it is a big diffrence, you will all be on 27,5 in a few years
  • 1 0
 So is this a prototype now?
  • 1 1
 It's racing and bigger wheels are faster....get over it. I'll buy the conspiracy theory when Clunkin goes 650B
  • 1 0
 He s gonna go yet faster Big Grin
  • 1 0
 first mavic deemax 27.5??
  • 1 0
 nope.
  • 7 7
 27.5 gay worst news ever!! This is why I am selling the dh rig and getting a motocross bike!
  • 7 0
 lmao, i have no idea why that would make you sell your bike, but okay...?
  • 2 2
 26" for life. I am not spending more money on a new bike anymore, that's for idiots.
  • 1 0
 Wheels are wheels ,different strokes for different folks Smile
  • 1 0
 It's not the wheel size, it's the rider.
  • 1 0
 Why not 29 .? Iam sarcastic
  • 2 0
 Still riding flats Smile
  • 3 2
 okay, it's nap time children.
  • 2 2
 The bigger the wheel. Less travel u got so bigger tire have disavantage 26 rulz
  • 1 0
 Who makes that front fender?
  • 2 0
 27.5 boxxers???
  • 1 0
 Yet another wheelsize thread!?? Really?
  • 1 0
 Professionals ride what they think is better for them, like… money!
  • 1 0
 26 for me. I stick to what i know, that way i won't get disappointed.
  • 1 0
 Who gives a shit if the wheel is 1.5 inches larger!? IT'S A BIKE.
  • 1 0
 cute kid!
  • 2 3
 Looks like a session
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