Giant Factory Off-Road Team pro Carl Decker was instrumental in the development of the new Anthem X 29er mountain bike. The American cross-country and Super D racer worked with Giant’s team of product developers to create a bike that featured the increased control, stability and traction associated with 29-inch wheel mountain bikes while maintaining the legendary quickness of the race-oriented, Maestro Suspension-equipped Anthem X.

Decker got his first prototype Anthem X 29er at the 2010 Sea Otter Classic in Laguna Seca, California, last April, and won the pro Super D race just a few hours after his first ride on it.

“This bike felt pretty amazing,” Decker said after crossing the finish line. “I can tell you now I’m pretty much going to race this on everything this year. It’s super fast.”

Two months later, Decker won again on the bike at the Downieville Classic All-Mountain race in California. Throughout the season, he turned to the Anthem X 29er for all types of terrain and events, from World Championship cross-country races to marathons and Super D gravity events.

“It’s a great bike and you can ride it in so many different circumstances,” Decker said. “If I was going to have just one bike, this would be it.’”

The 2011 Anthem X 29er is available in stores now. You can learn more about it in this video, or from a recent “first-ride” review by BikeRadar.com.