Geometry in real terms

[JamesM]

Re: Re:

Don't think that's the reason for the short stem or steep angles as it started on full suss where that's not a problem. With the seat stays the fashion has been for shorter ones, especially with the move to bigger wheels. One of the reasons everyone is dropping front mechs is that it allows great freedom to design the rear end.

Don't you mean chain stays? Also is that not simply that the first 29" wheeled frames had longer chain stays to get the wheels to fit and now they are trying to get back to somewhere near the chain stay length of 26" wheeled frames by bending the seat tube and, as you said, ditching the front gears? I think the chain stays on modern big wheeled bikes are still a bit longer than on correct sized wheeled bikes.