Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25238
As long as you know the type of riding you want to do, it's tough to go wrong choosing a bike these days. With the refining and sharing of technology and an overall slowing in bona fide innovations, frames and components have become almost universally reliable. While heated competition controls pricing. Of some 30 bikes ridden for this review, the most difficult task (aside from the steeper climbs) was choosing which to feature. Our decisions for the best bikes of the year were based on recent trends in suspen- sion and frame design, such as adjustable travel and materials innovations, as well as overall value. When the moment comes OF Y2K-PLUS-TWO to kick down, you'll generally get what you pay for. Bikes in the $1,000 range will be closely matched, but the very same bike would have cost $2,000 in the late 1990s. Aside from budget, some questions to consider when choosing a bike are: How rugged is the terrain you' ll be riding? Are you looking for pure comfort or flat-out speed? Do you ride in muddy or in dry conditions? With the help of your local bike shop, the answers to these questions will yield your ride of choice. Following is a broad mix TEXT: ROB REED of mountain and road models, each representing a given style of riding-styles which are defined by levels of suspension, choice of materials, and component specs. MOUNTAIN BIKES SPECIALIZED ENDURO PRO FSR For whom: Those with a broad taste for terrain and a budget for one bike The single most significant trend in mountain bikes t his season suspension adjustability. While some require stopping to make the switch from short to long, the Enduro Pro is the only bike with on-the-fly capability. With the f lick of a switch on the rear shock, you conve rt from fu ll lockout for climbing to four inches of travel for cross-country and then 5.2 inches for downhill. Likewise, the RockShox Psylo SL fork is dial-adjustable from lockout to 80-125 mm. Lockout is handy fo r paved sections; 80 puts you in a centered position for steep, technical climbing while maxed-out 125 handles all manner of rocks, ruts, and debris on the way down. Lastly, the weight-to-suspension ratio is superb, meaning it's damn light for the level of suspension. Specialized, www.specialized.com. $2920