Ellsworth entered the big wheel bicycle race with the Evolve. The dual-suspension trailbike is based upon the four-bar rocker link design of its best-selling Truth and has four inches of rear wheel travel. As a late comer in the 29er movement, designer/founder Tony Ellsworth had the opportunity to incorporate many subtle improvements in the frame geometry that are intended to spruce up the naturally slower steering and more stable handling qualities of the larger wheel format. Tony announced that Ellsworth arrived at a handling package that mimics his conventional, 26-inch-wheel Epiphany's long-travel, big-hit performance-and to demonstrate the similarities, he sent us his personal Evolve to test.

Test quote: "Despite the fact that Tony's Evolve uses lightweight wheels and tires, it can't escape the fact that accelerating a 29-inch ring of rubber and aluminum requires a bit more push than its 26-inch counterpart. You'll feel the first three pedal strokes each time the 29er jumps up the cogset more than one click at a time. Once it gets up to speed, it is easy to maintain a smooth cadence over rough ground. Its steering is slower than its 71-degree head angle implies."

Stoked:
Great traction while climbing
High-speed stability
$50 to cancer research on every sale

Bummed:
Long top tube
That 29er feel on the climbs

Bottom Line: Tony's Evolve reflects the Ellsworth legacy-top-notch cross-country ergonomics, mated to a lightweight-as-practical chassis, with handling that takes the worry out of any technical problem that a trail rider would expect to encounter on a forest singletrack. Those in the market for a smooth-rolling, made-in-USA 29er with a cross-country edge should talk to Ellsworth.
(Full specs below photo)