Pro Bike Check - Laurie Greenland's Mondraker Summum 29/27.5 5

Laurie Greenland is one of downhilling's most exciting riders to watch. He's an active rider with a playful and energetic style on the bike. Well, that was until the 2019 season according to Laurie. -Photos and interview by Rick Schubert

Laurie Greenland discusses his 2019 downhill bike setup

During the off-season between the 2018 and 2019 World Cup Downhill series, Laurie worked with his team and mechanic to develop a bike setup and riding style that let the bike the work instead of Laurie. He explains that in 2018, he hardly touched his suspension settings and just muscled his way through brutal sections of track. Now, the bike takes hits.

Laurie has been modifying suspension setup more specifically at each race to match the course conditions. As he changed from an upright riding style to one that's lower the size medium felt too short. After watching his Maribor World Cup DH run footage, he saw what needed to be changed and he's stretched things out with wheelbase and cockpit over time. Eventually the team went to the 29-inch front wheel with 27.5 out back. Laurie didn't even know this was an option until recently and wishes they'd tested the format earlier.

Les Gets was Greenland's third race on the mixed wheel size and he placed 3rd, leaving France 7th in the overall. Laurie explains that it all may sound overly complicated, but it really isn't at the end of the day. The small tweaks add up over time and the rule he sticks to is that if he makes a change, he has to take multiple runs with the modification before ruling it out or embracing it.

Laurie Greenland's Mondraker Summum runs FOX suspension (DHX2 shock with 475-pound spring and 49 fork), Shimano Saint drivetrain, Shimano XTR brakes, Mavic Deemax wheels (29-inch front, 27.5-inch rear), Michelin DH22 tires, Crank Brothers Mallet DH pedals, Renthal cockpit, e.thirteen LG1 chainguide, SDG saddle, Race Face post and -2-degree headset cup.

Watch Laurie smash the Pila iXS European Downhill Cup course with Francesco Colombo.