Darren Barrecloth and Matt Hunter seem to have done well by Specialized. It says something about a company when top class athletes stick with them and the company sticks with the athletes. Love the riding and hope this works out well for them.

I always kinda live by the policy that if I had no part building it, I'm a guest and behave as such. Just like when I was a child in my Aunts fancy house, I avoid handling things that may easily be damaged, give proper respect to those whose work afforded it, and generally tread with care. I'm also carefull who gets invited in. If there's someone who can't be trusted to be respectful or may eventually lead to others that may not be respectful, then caution is shown including them. It's not about secret societys, in-group fanatisism or "locals only" BS... its about respect and protecting both hard work and continued enjoyment of this sport and shared lands. I know what it's like to build something and spend a lot of time planning it, building it and maintaining it only to come back and find someone took five minutes and a shovel to ramp up the lip on something, brake bounce on a berm, walk up loose sections, ride soft spots in the wet, hack out a tree, insert a grade 7 shop class project quality wooden structure that serves no purpose, or any variety of other behaviour that damages the trail and disrespects those who put in the work to bring the trail about. Legally you can do what you want but, similar to how I think they should refrase all antibullying campaigns, "Don't be a dick" and things should work out. Sometimes you give a little more than you take and at other times, due to phase of life or a variety of other reasons, you take a little more than you give (hopefully you have given enough in the past to justify moments of trail loafing though)...just don't be a dick!

I agree. I was too quick to comment and didn't think it through.I cross over a lot of gear. What I was getting at was that the features that I value that are cycling specific are the gear straps for knee pads/ helmet and organized comparments on the interior for a pump, spares etc. I have ridden with non-bikespecific bags in the past but for the type of riding I have done, these features have become important to me. For someone less interested with these features, it would make sense to search elesewhere. I am always open to new products but also am mindful of what specific features I appreciate when doing so.

I don't see why people are so emotionally biased in the decision between 29 inch wheels and 26. People don't have similar tantrums, or at least I haven't seen the same degree of verbal diarrhea, related to travel length, rotor sizes, headtube angles, novel geometry tweaks or the many other mechanical variances we can choose from in bikes currently....so why this one? IT IS A BIKE. No one forcing you to by a bike with 29 inch wheels just like no one is forcing you to buy a bike with 120 mm travel as opposed to 180 mm. I'm happy to see Santa Cruz offering something in that price range and think given the intended purposes of these bikes, 29 inch wheels seem a fair choice. I've always appreciated the quality of product I have received from Santa Cruz.

@ $90 US why waste your money/ review space on a non-bike specific bag? There are lots of brands, two of which you mention, including: Dakine, Camelback, EVOC and Osprey, to name a few, that have bike specific options. MTC: For the same price get something designed for biking (Dakine Nomad or Drifter would get my vote and have where dollars meet the LBS. Both are great bags that are durable, cleanly organized for bike tools/parts and extras, not overly bulky, and comfortable.).