4. (tie) Giant Glory – 29 Top Ten Finishes
Out of all the bikes on the list, the Giant Glory may take the cake for best name. After all, glory is what racing is about, right? Of the Big 3, Giant tends to be the most conservative, adapting more gradually to changes in the industry. It wasn’t until 2015 that they launched a carbon fiber DH bike, some three years after Trek and Specialized. Since Danny Hart left Giant at the end of the 2014 season, top ten finishes have been fewer and farther between, although Marcelo Gutierrez had a solid showing in 2015.
- 2012
- 26″ wheels
- aluminum frame
- 2013
- Giant updates the geometry of the Glory
- The head tube is 2 degrees slacker and the wheelbase is longer
- 26″ wheels
- Aluminum frame
- 2014
- Giant Factory team tests 27.5″ version of the Glory
- 2015
- Giant releases 27.5″ Glory
- Giant offers a carbon version of the Glory for the first time
- Aluminum version is offered as well
Standout result: This doesn’t quite count, since it’s from the 2011 season, but any excuse to watch Danny Hart’s World Champs run in the mud at Champery is okay with me.
Best season: Marcelo Gutierrez, Danny Hart, and Andrew Neethling combine for 10 top ten finishes in 2013.
