{"id":186093,"date":"2018-06-19T05:06:01","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T03:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/?p=186093\/"},"modified":"2018-06-19T05:06:01","modified_gmt":"2018-06-19T03:06:01","slug":"first-ride-the-new-commencal-meta-am-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/en\/first-ride-the-new-commencal-meta-am-29\/","title":{"rendered":"[First Ride] The New Commen\u00e7al Meta AM 29"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It almost seems as if 29&#8243; wheels are taking over, even in the long travel realm&#8230; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">A few weeks ago we were invited to Spain, in Ainsa to be precise, on the same tracks where the EWS stop was held, to experience the new Meta AM 29 in person.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The Meta AM 29 is not new: we saw it\u00a0under\u00a0Cecile Ravanel in the French stage of the EWS, conquering\u00a0everything in her path, propelling her to\u00a0the highest step of the podium. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Below we go over all the specs and our first\u00a0ride\u00a0impressions of this new, formidable beast.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The new Meta AM 29<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">29&#8243; wheels, 160mm of rear travel combined with 170mm forks, and a 65.5 \u00b0 steering angle. The new Meta of AM basically defines a new category: it&#8217;s in effect an <\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">aggressive enduro<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> bike<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186025\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1996-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1996-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1996-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1996.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The shift to the 29 &#8220;wheels meant a huge change for the Commen\u00e7al enduro model: the larger wheels required a virtually all new design to take full advantage of the potential of the larger wheel size format.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">From an aesthetic point of view the Meta AM 29 is very similar to the old version. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The rear shock is\u00a0still mounted on the top tube, the dropouts are the same, as is the headtube area. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But the\u00a0similarities are limited to these 3 elements, everything else is new.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186030\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2014-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2014-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2014-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2014.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The suspension scheme is\u00a0still a single pivot layout in\u00a0Commen\u00e7al tradition, but the kinematics have been substantially modified. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The position of the main pivot has changed,\u00a0sitting further back. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This allows the bike to\u00a0be more active and, above all it boasts better pedaling efficiency and reduced pedal kickback. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This is very important during the long stages of modern enduro races.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186026\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2001-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2001-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2001-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2001.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Larger wheels, however, are less rigid and since the\u00a0rear end is longer, the frame can also lose stiffness. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">For this reason, a solid reinforcement was added\u00a0between the seatstays\u00a0and the whole frame was optimized to be much stiffer than the previous version, with\u00a0updates such as\u00a0spreading the distance between bearings at the main pivot.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186037\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/geometrie-750x259.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/geometrie-750x259.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/geometrie-768x265.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/geometrie.jpg 1135w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Looking at the geometry we realize that the new Meta AM is really aggressive! <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The 65.5\u00b0\u00a0head angle and the 160-170mm travel range stands out immediately. The rear end is<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0not overly short (432mm), but still impressively tucked in for a 29&#8243; wheeled bike. The Reach is quite generous, which stretches the bike out, making it more stable and, perfect to use with a short stem, following\u00a0new trends in geometry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As for the seat angle, don&#8217;t be fooled by the numbers: the value of 66 \u00b0 is that of the actual angle, the more relevant, effective seat angle is much more vertical, in line with the trends of modern frames.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186039\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1998-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1998-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1998-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1998.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Apart from the entry level set-up (Essential), the two upper end versions of the Meta AM 29 come with\u00a0a coil sprung shock out back. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In reality, the improved pedaling efficiency of the new chassis offsets some of the compromised pedaling from a coil, while allowing\u00a0 for both high sensitivity on small bumps and good pedaling, with the main, big advantage: the\u00a0coil sprung shock suffers\u00a0significantly less\u00a0from overheating, working\u00a0far better than its air sprung counterparts on\u00a0long descents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In any case, the Meta AM platform is also well suited to air shocks, especially for riders who want to\u00a0save weight. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Everyone has the\u00a0option!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186040\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1999-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1999-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1999-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC1999.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">A slew of other\u00a0improvements have been made as well. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">First of all the protection on the down tube and on the chainstay is now made from very thick rubber, which was revised to make riding as quiet as possible. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The cable\u00a0routing in the bottom bracket area has been improved, with a mount fixed to the axle of the main pivot. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The\u00a0front end is watertight, to prevent water from getting inside when washing the bike. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It is possible to comfortably fit a water bottle\u00a0above the down tube and there is a\u00a0second\u00a0mount under the down tube. It is a less than ideal position for an actual water bottle, however it&#8217;s quite suitable for accessories and\/or tools.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">On the trail<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186036\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2557-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2557-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2557-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2557.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Now we arrive at the most interesting part: how did the new Meta AM 29 actually\u00a0 perform in the field? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We had the chance to test it for two days of intense riding on the trails of Ainsa, Spain, in the Pyrenees. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In the Zero Area, where we found beautiful, rocky singletrack\u00a0and highly varied trails with plenty of rocks and ripping sections.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The bike we tested is the Team\u00a0version, albeit with some modifications. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Sram Eagle\u00a0drivetrain (a mix of X01 and GX Eagle), Spank wheels, a Renthal handlebar &amp; stem, KS dropper post, Code RSC brakes, Rockshox Super Deluxe Coil RCT rear shock and a Rockshox Lyrik RC2 fork.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">For the suspension setup we relied on the new <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/trailhead-una-web-app-per-il-setting-delle-forcelle-rockshox\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Trailhead Rockshox application<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">, where upon entering in our personal data, and implementing the suggested settings, the fork felt spot on immediately.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186033\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2264-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2264-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2264-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2264.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The\u00a0setup with Meta AM required a little bit of attention. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Used to a rather low front end, the 30mm rise Renthal bar combined with about 2cm of spacers under the\u00a0stem made the position of the handlebars too high. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We proceeded to remove as many\u00a0spacers as possible, remaining with a\u00a0front end that was still rather\u00a0high, which<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0required some adaptation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Our first impression on the Meta was: &#8220;this bike crushes everything!&#8221;&#8230; Between t<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">he high front end, the slack head angle, and bump swallowing 29 &#8220;wheels, the bike grinds up any obstacle and spits it out.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Capacity\u00a0to mow down obstacles\u00a0is just one of the advantages of this bike. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You do not have to worry about where you put\u00a0your wheels, you can focus on optimizing the lines and, if you accidentally end up off line,\u00a0usually nothing adverse happens. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">On\u00a0successive, mid sized hits and rock gardens, the bike doesn&#8217;t lose speed like you&#8217;d expect, keeping its speed nicely\u00a0where other\u00a0bikes tend to slow down more under constant impacts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186031\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2086-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2086-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2086-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2086.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">On\u00a0the climbs\u00a0the bike is stable, but it is certainly quite\u00a0heavy. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We believe that the combination of Spank wheels and Super Gravity tire casings have a significant and negative impact on\u00a0the weight, and we&#8217;re sure that with\u00a0lower rotational weight\u00a0(even if the wheels\/tires are less sturdy)\u00a0this can greatly improve. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">On the other hand, it is excellent on technical punches\u00a0where, once &#8220;in motion&#8221;, without batting an eyelid the Meta rolls over every type of obstacle, rock, step or stone in its path.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We also faced a long ride on a steep road that then\u00a0transitioned to a trail with numerous technical sections. With a locked out rear<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0shock, to avoid losing too much energy, the Meta climbs very well. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The seat angle is rather\u00a0steep and the bike efficiently climbs up offbeat and technical sections without sinking\u00a0down too deep in its travel. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The high front end didn&#8217;t help, but with the necessary calm and an agile\u00a0pilot,\u00a0you can climb without too much difficulty, even on long and demanding ascents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186032\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2165-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2165-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2165-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2165.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We were initially skeptical about the Meta regarding its manageability. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">29&#8243;\u00a0wheels, a long\u00a0reach and a super slack head angle: on\u00a0paper the Meta seems like it would be anything but agile.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Actually the impression was quite different in the field. On<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0one hand you definitely need to &#8220;take control&#8221;, once you have adapted your riding style, anticipating and\u00a0approaching turns accordingly, the Meta is really fun. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Of course, we can not say that Meta is razor sharp on quick changes of direction\u00a0as it&#8217;s quite a lot of bike. With that in mind, it is the type of bike with which you have to\u00a0straighten out\u00a0the corners as much as possible. You&#8217;ll need to really look for the straightest<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0lines, which are the fastest anyway.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-186035\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2420-750x501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2420-750x501.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2420-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/DSC2420.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It was however once we made a &#8220;race simulation&#8221; that the true nature of the Meta came out. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Descending without stopping, retracing the route of an old EWS stage. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Trying to follow the lines of Cecile Ravanel and Anne Caroline Chausson, made for a very fast &#8220;special test&#8221;. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And it is precisely\u00a0under race style guidance that the Meta gives its best. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When you&#8217;re tired\u00a0and your vision becomes clouded, the Meta will amaze you in how well it keeps you in control. You can tackle blind terrain incredibly well, but y<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">ou&#8217;ll be rewarded by keeping speed in the turns and\u00a0staying in the middle of the track, as bike\u00a0does the rest.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Of course, two days of testing are not enough to provide an exhaustive judgement on a bike, but the first impressions on the Meta are very good. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It is certainly not light, but on the downhills it is very, very good and it could lose some weight without breaking the bank.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Also, the\u00a0Meta is the proof that aluminum is not dead. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">With the right design choices, you can make an excellent bike in metal, without the use of carbon fiber. By the way, all Commen\u00e7al bikes are<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0available only in aluminum, not carbon.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The Meta is a bike purely derived from the racing world, it is a bike designed to excel in downhills and it goes where you point it\u00a0tremendously well for such a burly bike.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It&#8217;s a bike with a strong downhill inclination, a truly aggressive enduro bike, which\u00a0still\u00a0gets you\u00a0back to the top. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Outside the tape, it is ideal for bike parks, but also for riders who frequent super technical descents and burly sections. That said, d<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">on&#8217;t expect it to perform as well uphill as it does down&#8230;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Specs\u00a0and prices<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As we all know, Commen\u00e7al has only been selling online for a few years now. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The prices that we&#8217;ll see are therefore the final prices that you will soon find on their site.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The <\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Signature<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> set-<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">up <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">has it all. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Fox suspension and a top-of-the-line package, for \u20ac 4399<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_186024\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-186024\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-186024 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-signature-750x455.jpg\" width=\"750\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-signature-750x455.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-signature-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-signature.jpg 1209w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-186024\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Meta AM 29 Signature Price: 4399 \u20ac<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The <\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Team set<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> up <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">is the replica of the bike that Cecile Ravanel uses in the EWS. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Rockshox suspension and a price of \u20ac 3899. This<\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u00a0is the bike that we\u00a0rode in Spain.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_186042\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-186042\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-186042 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-team-750x426.jpg\" width=\"750\" height=\"426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-team-750x426.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-team-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-team.jpg 1207w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-186042\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Meta AM 29 Team Price: \u20ac 3899<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The <\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Essential <\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">set-<\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">up <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">is rather affordable and is the only one with an air sprung rear shock. For\u00a0\u20ac 2999 you still take home a bike with a Lyrik and 1&#215;12 drivetrain.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_186041\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-186041\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-186041 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-essential-1-750x462.jpg\" width=\"750\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-essential-1-750x462.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-essential-1-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/meta-am-29-essential-1.jpg 1203w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-186041\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Meta AM 29 Essential Price: 2999 \u20ac<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">More info: <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commencal-store.com\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">commencal-store.com<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It almost seems as if 29&#8243; wheels are taking over, even in the long travel realm&#8230; A few weeks ago we were invited to Spain, in Ainsa to be precise, on the same tracks where the EWS stop was held, to experience the new Meta AM 29 in person. The Meta AM 29 is not new: we saw it\u00a0under\u00a0Cecile Ravanel in the French stage of the EWS, conquering\u00a0everything in her path, propelling her to\u00a0the highest step of the podium. Below we go over all the specs and our first\u00a0ride\u00a0impressions of this new, formidable beast. The new Meta AM 29 29&#8243;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3504,"featured_media":186025,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3683,3677],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v19.7.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>[First Ride] The New Commen\u00e7al Meta AM 29 | MTB-MAG.COM<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/en\/first-ride-the-new-commencal-meta-am-29\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"[First Ride] The New Commen\u00e7al Meta AM 29\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It almost seems as if 29&#8243; wheels are taking over, even in the long travel realm&#8230; A few weeks ago we were invited to Spain, in Ainsa to be precise, on the same tracks where the EWS stop was held, to experience the new Meta AM 29 in person. The Meta AM 29 is not new: we saw it\u00a0under\u00a0Cecile Ravanel in the French stage of the EWS, conquering\u00a0everything in her path, propelling her to\u00a0the highest step of the podium. Below we go over all the specs and our first\u00a0ride\u00a0impressions of this new, formidable beast. 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