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Would be interesting to hear if she thought there were brands who do benefit from the "lifestyle" marketing in EWS about riders "just having fun". Totally agree that it can be annoying, even from a fan standpoint, i just always figured that was a deliberate brand strategy rather than something the riders were driving

I'm not sure ews has actually taken much of a bite out of it? By comparison I can really see ews is participant driven (for the rider), but its not even close to dh in terms of glitz/glamour/ personalities/ attractiveness/ coverage etc etc etc. If you want to run a test look at ews athletes social media popularity compared to dh athletes - its not even in the same ballpark! Coverage is important. I don't know anyone that's stopped following the world cup events since the ews started, and many of the don't follow ews at all. Lots of them...

Again, we'll always disagree here but my 20 years of adventure sports experience says otherwise. My education in economics and dayjob in finance also says otherwise. You are arguing against how innovation works and how markets work. Bigger companies can throw their weight around and cause a bit of turbulence for sure (Trek with boost for instance), but being a number of my close buddies are engineers within the space, they all say the same thing. "Don't buy it if you don't like it, nobody is forcing you to upgrade". Simple as that. Nobody is forcing you to buy anything...

Relatively speaking, the cycling industry is not big. Sales are somewhere around $6.1B per year. To put that in perspective, United Technologies (UTX) posted sales of $13.8B last quarter. Santa Cruz isn't a small company in the bike world, but it was sold for millions, not billions. In the grand scheme of things, it'd still be considered a "small cap" company. I whole heatedly do not believe any manufacturer we we regard as "good" would ever do anything to artificially limit the life of their bike or force you to upgrade due to design. Maybe stuff will break, maybe better...

I agree, I didn't think I would hear that from Niko. Didn't he essentially go out on his own and create the V-process because he wasn't happy with other frames. He had radical geometry and technology that was ahead of everyone else and won a ton of races. Seems like a pot/kettle situation.

All fair points! You will see more 29" DH bikes soon btw (Fort Bill according to the rumors - 2 more teams)! So the field will be (more) level if in fact it is the advantage some are suggesting. Again, I dig the conversation. Cheers!

@Oz - go on as to why this doesn't feel right? Curious - have you ridden a long travel 29" trail bike? Is there something you are hung up on that doesn't feel right - like somehow the big wheels aren't somehow as cool? Like they probably suck in the air and you can't get sideways and "have fun with them"? I used to share this mentality until last season. I was faster, had more fun, and owe a little of this to my switch to 29" wheels in a longerish trail application. In the end, we are arguing about...

26 is dead. Sam Hill went enduro. And 29 is in DH. Who cares? Get. Over. It.

...and the v10 is only 190mm of travel for those not riding an XXL. Seems like an apples to apples analogy to me! To add, I have had the unique privilege of interviewing the founder of the company regarding the SB 5.5c in which he point blank said it was designed as a race bike for the EWS. (it was actually designed for an ex Yeti racer who now rides for a company with lots of red in their logo. This racer may be the best racer of all time.... ) That said, I can offer more... Sam Hill rides...

I don't disagree 29" enduro steeds are the new hotness, but again, I go back to Richie (see my other comments). He has had the option to ride one of the best 29" enduro weapons on the planet and sticks with the 27.5" steed. There are others who have also had the option to run the bigger wheel and chose not to. This speaks volumes to the reality of the situation. I really believe you'll see a mix, dictated more by comfort than anything else. I also think its not too far out of the realm of "crazy" to think...

...and in said EWS 29" bikes are allowed. With no clear consensus as to what is faster. Don't forget that.

They were all scrambling. SC just got there first.

That's the worst point that keeps cropping up. The exact same thing happens whenever a new innovation or improvement hits the circuit - carbon frames and components, somebody develops a glue-like tyre compound, somebody develops a super controlled damper (that smooths out terrain just like a 29er wheel btw). Etc etc, eventually everyone develops (copies) their own carbon frame, their own tyre, their own dampers and everyone's back on the same page...until the next thing comes along. It's precisely how competition drives innovation. Besides that your (and Brendan's and Loic's) argument assumes that a 29er wheel will be faster and...

I don't think it's as big an issue as people make out. I never got buzzed but I only had 150mm travel, Luca said he got buzzed but didn't seem to give two shits about it, same as getting muddy - just a fact of riding a bike

I don't think it's as simple as that. Developing a 35" wheel would take years and tonnes of money. And when you're done the huge negative side of such a massive wheel probably won't be quicker than a 275 or 29 wheeled bike. The bike doesn't automatically get faster the bigger wheels you put on it. The most successful team will be the one that makes the right decisions over which size to use for which race and for their riders - just like tyre choice, etc, etc

I know that wheel size is a bid deal and could give someone a slight advantage, but I am curious why no one is concerned or up in arms with the fact that there are different rear travel bikes in DH? I am curious why we are all focusing on one aspect of the bike. Ya might say that brake rotors should have a limit in size too. Just tossing out ideas as I am frustrated with all wheel discussions.

Food for thought, Greg C always seems to crush tight, twisty, awkward EWS aboard a 29" steed. The old school "29" bikes can't corner in tight stuff" belief is sort of a theory from yesteryear being perpetuated forward IMO. Bikes are already long and slack as hell. That, more than anything, is going to impact its ability in the mega tight stuff. My opinion anyway...

Wow. I'm pretty shocked. I figured both Nico and Fabien would love the bigger wheel as they both seemed to do whatever was needed technologically to eek out more speed. Larger riders have disadvantages in places, advantages in other places. Bigger wheels will be the same way. Limiting wheel size is like limiting bike fit, skewing things to benefit a certain type/size of rider. As far as it being a bummer for the industry, cmon boys! Its not like the wheels, tires, and 29" trail bikes weren't already in production this year. To add, I could see a few smart...