Just came back from a demo event here at our local Mtn bike park. Has a LOT of people enjoy riding the Carbide Xc I have and a Snyper Joel sent me. The most attention came to the Flint 29er by far though. I only had a frame so no test rides on it.
All the big names were there also, Trek, Specialized, Giant and Felt. I took a Specialized Epic 29er out for a spin myself. $9000 bike and I absolutely HATED it. Only shining point of the bike I rode was the SRAM XX drivetrain. I could go on about what I hated about it but this is a Tomac thread. I wouldn't trade the ride of the Carbide and at half the cost for anything I rode there. But what do I know, I ride skinny tires most of the time.