Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes | Apparel | Upgrades | The Buy List
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Speedster (Above)
Photograph by Joshua Scott
Fast and smooth needn't be mutually exclusive—just ask the guys at Intense Cycles. The U.S. company's four-inch-travel, "for racing only" Spider FRO hammers across cratered flats and scoots up hills, thanks to a virtual pivot point (VPP) suspension that holds the rear wheel in place during stand-up pedaling (instead of yanking it around). While the 25.9-pound (11.7-kilogram) rig is ideal for racers—we shaved ten minutes off what's regularly an hour-long loop without even trying—it's also a good purchase for amateurs. Pair it with a budget-oriented parts package and you'll be ready to make the jump from hardtail to your first dualie ($3,700; intensecycles.com). |
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Daredevil (Above)
Photograph by Joshua Scott
Meet the 29-inch (74-centimeter) wheel. It has better traction, climbing ability, and stability than the standard 26-inch (66-centimeter) mountain bike rim. True to its name, Niner makes some of the best rigs in this growing category, including the R.I.P. 9. At first the bike feels like a Christmas gift you have to grow into, with a hefty frame and wheels that aren't as nimble on switchbacks. But soon you'll notice the flowing ride, much like that of a longer ski, and start aiming for big obstacles with even bigger confidence ($3,799; ninerbikes.com). |
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Generalist (Above)
Photograph Courtesy of Trek
All-mountain rigs haven't been Trek's forte, but the Remedy 9 leapfrogs the brand to the top of this all-conditions category. The 28-pound (13-kilogram) bike has an innovative feature called "active braking pivot," which keeps the suspension flexible even when braking hard, so you can motor through the uglies with more control. It turns as if on tracks, courtesy of an oversize head tube and other wobble-reducing refinements. No bike can offer everything for every rider, but this one comes pretty darn close ($4,730; trekbikes.com).
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Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes | Apparel | Upgrades | The Buy List
League of American Bicyclists:
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