94 OUTSIDE BUYER’S GUIDE 2013

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e mountain bikesLately there’s been no mountain bike debate more divisive than wheel size: 26-inch versus 29-inch. This year the flames get even bigger with the advent of midsize 650B wheels (or 27.5 or 27, depending on who you ask). At our bike test, some 29er fans loved the 650B; others were unmoved. Small riders seemed to favor the midsize, but a few of our tiniest testers preferred 29ers. We took on the subject quantitatively a few weeks later, and our conclusion was that the performance differences are smaller than you might expect. Sus-pension design, accessories like dropper seatposts, and basic bike fit are all just as impor-tant as wheel size. Incidentally, though, this is the first year a 26er didn’t make the final cut, even though we tested a half-dozen of them. BY AARON GULLEY

Gear of the YearNiner Rip 9 RDO $6,869The sculpted carbon tubing, the color-matched fork, and the blinged-out red hardware accents—every detail on this 5.1-inch trail bike screams quality. You feel it in the ride, too. The Fox CTD shock provides killer traction and a surprisingly firm platform when climb-ing and a totally secure feel bombing even the chunkiest rock gardens. Niner, as its name implies, is one of the longest-running purveyors of 29-inch wheels, and the Rip 9 RDO is extremely well balanced and stable but also nimble and quick. The new SRAM XX1 drive-train, which eliminates the front derailleur by putting 11 cogs out back (including an über-easy 42-tooth ring), is a brilliant simplification. “Plush. Sweet. Awesome. Beauty. Ultimate heaven,” one tester gushed. And he wasn’t exaggerating. 26.4 lbs; ninerbikes.comCLIMBING: 4.5 / DESCENDING: 5