realskiers

Don owns about 5 bikes (I didn't count, but approx. that many).  His favourite bike of all time, and one that he still uses for recreational riding out the back door, is an older Kona 26er hardtail with a scandium frame.  However, for a long multi-day race like this, he chose the full suspension because of the rough terrain and the comfort / less fatiguing ride that the Trance provides.  Although the video doesn't show it, the trails out in BC are VERY challenging.  Nothing at all like what we have here in Ontario (I can't speak for the NE U.S.).  Don would have been pretty beat up after 7 days on a hardtail on those trails.

As for a 29er, he is a pretty small guy, about 5'5" or 5'6", and he feels awkward riding the big wheeled bikes.  That size just doesn't work for him.  We chatted about the 650B size, though, and he is pretty stoked to try one.

FWIW, he just bought a Giant Anthem 26er which he is having a lot of fun on.  He really likes that bike a lot.  I'm not sure if it's carbon or alloy, though.