A 29er may be quick but at the end of the day the destroy the fun of riding small wheels. I ride a Specialized Big Hit I with a 24 inch rear wheel. Great handling - great fun.
This is definitely a bike you can ride uphills. I've tried a light set up of the 2011 and it went up the hill surprisingly well. Or was it due to the riders legs? However: I like!
That's a very shooth ride. Perfect!