makakio

@nate35: Amen. Looking at you, SAN JOSE/MILPITAS/FREMONT/CUPERTINO!

I was in his whole ride until the air at 3:33 - way beyond even my wannabe ability and it turned into a video game. WOW. Also: super-surprised this kid is not wearing a LEATT-type neck/chest protector. Do you eventually get to a point where that stuff holds you back or something?

FWIW: random thoughts from a guy who owns the '19 Expert 29 - and doesn't pretend to try and judge a bike based on geometry numbers alone (mainly because I don't keep track of mine lol): * Coming off a Tallboy LT (2017) and demoing against the Hightower LT it pedals MUCH better than both of those rigs. The TB to be expected, but in back-to-backs on the same route I finished my climbs not only faster but a full 20-25% fresher on the Spesh over the HT. Adding: I don't like climbing, so using less energy and being super-comfortable in the saddle was important to me. Also to note: I suck at steep technical climbing, so while I'll add that all of these bikes have tall front ends, none felt particularly better than the other when trying to climb steep, rooted or tight-switchback singletrack. They all sucked, under *my* particular level of skill and enthusiasm. * The Spesh feels far more nimble than the HT - though there's something to be said for the SC as it plows through *everything* on the way down. I just like the bike more active and willing to pop and smear and jib off features. Maybe I'm an "old-school" geo guy, but this bike is waaaay slacker than my '17 TBLT - and feels it - yet it hasn't lost the ability to turn and be fun (like the heavier-built HT or the Ripmo) - and I like the nimble feeling, Makes riding more fun on singletrack up in these SC mountains. Also to note FWIW - I sit a *tiny* bit more upright on the Spesh than the others (probably that reach thing) - which makes pedaling more comfortable - but I'm still *in * the XL at nearly 6'2", not on top of it. * Yep - tested the Ripmo. I wouldn't put it in the same class. Ripmo felt more AM/Gravity to me. I didn't love or hate how it climbed, but it definitely feels longer and slacker under me. Maybe just an Ibis thing - they're down the street and I have plenty of buddies who would ride nothing else - but they never really grew on me. For reference: I'm a clyde, at 6'2" 210#. Also an 'upper-intermediate' rider. My Ibis-fan buddies tend to be in the 5'8"/150# range, are RIPPING riders - and are REALLY concerned with all measurements in grams. Not sure if that has anything to do with the brand, but hey - as with surfing some shapers are great at building for small people and others for big people... * The stock dropper is bullshit. It hasn't sacked me yet, but I'm careful and tend to 'ride it up'. Had to replace one under warranty about a week into owning the bike. Spesh needs to work on this. The hubs get called out but so far there's no slack and they seem to roll just fine. I might gripe about them later if they DO indeed fall apart prematurely. Code brakes are fine, but Code Rs (standard spec on the HT) would have been nicer - at my weight. The bike is QUIET. No obnoxious freewheel, very little chain slap, cables are dead silent. I like this - makes my morning rides nice. The GRID tires grip and grip and grip - but are heavy. You feel it when spinning up. I'll look for a lighter-weight solution when these are done (but already know I'll miss the grip lol). * Fit me really well right out of the box (I'm pretty proportionally-shaped, if XL). Didn't need to swap parts to get there (after changing sooo much on my TBLT this was nice). Suspension is as the reviews have billed - supple up top but a really supportive mid and the rear feels deeeep. The back end is nice and planted until you choose to lift it. Yes, changing between lockout/pro-pedal/open are options, but I run in pro-pedal almost all the time, only opening things up when looking down into a truly rowdy abyss). I tend to run my fork closed down a bit more than others (to reduce dive / save arms as I have considerable body mass) and unlike my former Fox 34, which had three positions (open, trail, lock) - which was IMO easier to dial-in with pressures - the infinitely-adjustable damping on the Pike has taken some getting used to. Frame and front-end stiffness is light years ahead of 2016 designs. * I mostly think that if you're a very skilled rider who knows exactly what their ideal geos and preferences are you're probably better off building a bike for $9k, not buying a manufacturer-built anything. That said - am thrilled with this bike all-around. It's comfortable and efficient under me on the ups, super fun to play around on and the first bike I'd consider taking to a real park (instead of demoing a DH). And faced with buying the model one under the Expert (which has non-upgrade-able NX not GX drivetrain, alu wheels not carbon, yada yada) and building it up versus just buying this one (janky dropper and suspect hubs included), the value/financials made better sense for the Expert.

Pijnkbike did one on the 27.5 in spain. search here