Pagey and the boys, serious about testing but always having a laugh.

Wheel size has got to be one of the hottest, or maybe most bemoaned subjects in the bike world right now. Whether you are a fan of the new sizes or not when it comes to winning races World Cup riders are going to be looking at every inch that could make the split clock go green.

Site of the World Champs last year and first World Cup of 2014 Pietermaritzburg is now only 8 weeks away. As the teams get their riders through pre-season preparations the start hut in South Africa is going to be an interesting place to be come the first practice day in April.

In the first part of a our behind the scenes look at this new bike we caught up with Nigel Page at the Forest of Dean on the first day of UK testing for their 27.5 DH bike. In part two we chat to the team riders about their feelings and how they think the bike could help them as the World Cup season kicks off in South Africa.

We’ve heard rumours of some of the big teams going to 27.5 wheels for the coming season but CRC/Nukeproof are the first we have had chance to talk to about testing. It’s worth pointing out that the team will be running Mavic wheels on this bike not the Nukeproof ones on this bike.

27.5 wheels, dropped top tube, gussets and some modified suspension. This is the weapon team CRC/Nukeproof could be on in PMB.

The guys at Nukeproof have built this prototype bike for the team and it looks like they are going to have the choice between this yet unnamed 27.5 bike or their stock 26″ Pulse. Steve Jones gets the lowdown on the bike from Nigel Page (after he has finished his cake) in this interview and we snapped some shots of the bike below.

Cheers to Pedal A Bike Away for letting us turn their workshop into a ‘studio’!