Not even worth mentioning anymore is the ubiquity of the 29 inch wheel and it's near-taking over of the industries' biggest brands line-ups. This is most clearly seen at your local trail, where cross country weapons wait in car parks for their mates on the small wheels to catch up the last stretch. It seems just a matter of time and all will be converted and equal again.
This is not the last chapter of the story. The photos below confirm that soon long travel, all mountain 29ers may see the light of day. Recently with Specialized, the 2013 Stumpjumper EVO has tried to fill that gap with stunning success. That bike has all but sold out in Australia for the 2013 model year and demand for the genre is growing. Enduro all-mountain racing is leading the charge as a niche between the grueling pace of cross-country and the increasingly extreme nature of downhill. This middle ground has an achievable appeal for the enthusiast looking to charge and experience some real head-to-head contests.
These are unconfirmed photos, but one look will tell you this bike is far beyond the prototype stage.
