The Times They Are a-Changin': It's not just Bob Dylan who sings this, but many a player in the mountain bike business can also sing a song about constant change. If you had predicted around five years ago that 29-wheel enduro bikes would be the "next big thing", you would probably have been met with a shake of the head. But today, enduro bikes in 29er format are not only popular on challenging race tracks, the end customer also knows that such a 29er bullet not only has a lot of potential downhill.

Cannondale is now also following the trend towards long-stroke twentyniners. The well-known Jekyll 27.5 donates the DNA that testifies to the brainpower of the Fox and Cannondale engineers. On board is the Gemini shock, where the rear suspension stroke can be tightened from 150 millimeters to 120 millimeters via the handlebar remote, allowing a sporty uphill ride. An additional air chamber is activated and the progression of the air spring is increased. The design principle of the rear triangle corresponds to a supported single-pivot, and another special feature of the Jekyll frame is that it leaves space for a water bottle on the down tube. The Jekyll 29 is designed for forks with 150 millimetres of travel at the front, while the Jekyll 27.5 has 170 millimetres.

The new Jekyll 29 is available in four frame sizes (S-XL) and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of geometry: At 65 degrees, the head angle is a hip flat, while the seat angle of 75 degrees is so steep that the rider sits comfortably centered in the bike and even long uphill rides should not be a problem. The reach of 463 millimeters on the size large is on the long side, the rear triangle is not ultra-short, unlike the Jekyll 27.5, but with a length of 442 millimeters on the longer, albeit still agile side. Cannondale relies on a carbon front triangle for the frame construction, while aluminum is used for the rear triangle.

Three versions

Cannondale is launching the Jekyll 29 in three versions. The Jekyll 1 is priced at CHF 7499, Jekyll 2 at CHF 6299 and Jekyll 3 at CHF 4599, making the top model of the Jekyll 29 over a thousand francs cheaper than the top model of the Jekyll 27.5 - even though the 29er has to do without carbon rims and carbon rear triangle.

www.cannondale.com