Thanks to my awesome friend Erik, I got to test ride the 2012 Stumpy 29er for 3 days.
Ill start by saying its the best xc bike i've ever thrown my skinny white legs over. The 29 inch wheels are far superior to the smaller "older brother" that we all know today. They roll over anything with much more prowise than the smaller 26 inch. The bike was excellent on the long uphills and descended much like a downhill bike, stable and ready to attack anything in its way. The super plush suspension meant that the ride was very comfortable and handled like a dream.
I rode 3 different types of trails in 3 days, from open faster wooded trails when the dirt was wet and tacky, to the rocky, dry, flat desert terrain of Phoenix. And even tight, technical, boulder infested trails of the dells in Prescott. Riding different terrain made me wonder if the bike was better suited for one type over another, but oh how I was wrong. It acceled in any and all environments that I threw at it.
I had zero complaints and problems with the bike, in my opinion, you wouldn't be able to find a better xc bike on the planet. Although the price tag is a bit steep, it is WELL worth it.
A big thank you again to Erik for letting me taste the wrath of his beloved new bike.
Here are a few pictures from a cool spot we stopped at.
