2012 Trek Superfly 29er
Since its introduction way back in 2008, the name Superfly has become synonymous in the 29er bike market, when Gary Fisher introduced the very first carbon 29er hardtail at a time that brands like Specialized, Yeti and Giant were vehemently avoiding the 29er movement, even calling it a "fad"! 
Fisher, being the visionary man he is, could clearly see the benefits of the smooth-rolling 29er wheels and the advantages they could bring to an XC race course, though was also aware of some of the design restrictions involved in squeezing the big wheels into a mountain bike frame. With the shortest chainstays in its class combined with the evolution of the Genesis geometry; G2, the Superfly quickly proved that a stable and confident riding 29er didn't necessarily have to feel like a tractor. Due to a custom offset fork provided by RockShox (and later Fox too) Fisher managed to find that magic balance of nimble handling that mirrored 26" bikes, with the stability of a 29er wheelbase.

Fast-forward to 2012, and the Superfly has dominated magazine reviews, online editorials and comparison shootouts with other 29ers all around the world. With an upgrade to a 100mm travel Fox Float G2 fork and the newly certified OCLV Mountain carbon construction with its Tapered head tube and BB95 press-fit bottom bracket, the Trek Superfly continues to improve each year. With 3 models available for 2012, the base level Superfly swaps some of the blingy XX components for a sub-$4k pricepoint that puts in in contention with the mass produced Asian brands, yet still manages to provide a stiff Tubeless Ready Bontrager 29er wheelset, a SRAM X9/X7 10 speed drivetrain and the brand new Avid Elixir 7 disc brakes.
Of course, the big story with the Trek Superfly is its Carbon Monocoque frame and impressive G2 handling that create an absolute weapon on the trails, with a level of lateral stiffness and steering response that is a big step up from the cheaper alloy bikes.
 

Our favourite features of the Superfly

	Fragile carbon? Think again!   A few years ago Trek realised that everyday riders was still scared of taking carbon off-road. As the leaders in carbon fiber technology, Trek knew they could offer a better solution. So they  took the best engineers and designers, and asked for better carbon, built for off-road use. The result? OCLV Mountain Carbon. OCLV Mountain Carbon takes the patented OCLV process and figures in the rigors of off-road use. It is reinforced in the right areas with unique materials, but preserves the lightweight, stiff carbon feel. Today, every carbon mountain bike Trek makes is built using OCLV Mountain Carbon—carbon that’s tougher than the trail, without the added weight.
	Carbon Armour Sometimes you need a little extra protection, so Trek developed a light, tough external shield. In addition to OCLV mountain Trek have developed another layer of protection for those vulnerable areas The Carbon Armour polymer shield provides reassurance to riders who know their down tube is bound to take some abuse.
	FCC MTB Oversized hub, flanges, and end caps create a flex-free 29" wheel capable of chewing through technical terrain. With a 29er wheel that has Wider and taller flanges with outboard J-bend spokes you get a stiffer wheel system.  FCC wheel system pushes the wheel flanges out and up, improving the bracing angle between flange and rim also adding strength and rigidity to the wheel.  A stiffer and stronger 29er wheel, that’s the result.
	Slow-handling 29ers? The many advantages of bigger wheels can come with a price: sleepy handling. Gary Fisher solved that with G2 geometry. G2 Geometry is a system-wide solution to slow 29er handling. Trek have optimised frame geometry and fork geometry in tandem to create a bike that handles nimbly in tight, twisty singletrack without compromising high-speed stability. It's why the Fisher Collection 29ers handle better than any others and can be ridden the same way you would a 26” bike