The new and yet to be named Nukeproof DH bike, 160mm rear, 175mm front and 27.5 wheels.

After checking out the new bike that Team CRC/Nukeproof will be running in Pietermaritzburg for the first World Cup yesterday, part two of PROTO-HYPE looks at the riders.

Sam Hill, Joe Smith and Mike Jones will all have the option of running this all new bike for the 2014 season as well as their stock Pulse 26″ DH bikes and South Africa will be it’s first outing on the World Cup circuit.

Without being sucked too deeply into the volcano of web opinion it’s worth making one point, that point is simply speed. The abrasion that seems to form in comments boxes across the web seems to drag against the potential progression from the 26″ wheel size. Don’t get us wrong, 26″ wheels have their place and they are great fun and fast in a lot of situations. The thing is, when all you are concerned about it going as fast as possible and winning races then why not go for a wheel size that could help you achieve that?

Jones, Smith and Page ready top talk wheel size and World Cup racing.

We put some questions to Joe Smith and Mike Jones after their very first few runs on 27.5 wheels and their responses were interesting. There are changes to be made in timing and balance but there is more to it, check out what they had to say.