All Mountain.... really all of it

Yesterday and this morning we tested four new 5" travel All-Mountain Bikes for Roy's LA Times Fitness Column. They are designed to ride like Cross Country Bikes but have the suspension to take some real abuse. They all exhibit excellent manners and are without question more refined than similar models we tested 3-4 years ago. The frames are mostly super strong trapezoidal cross sections, obviously engineered for high strength to weight. The components were pretty standard throughout: SRAM X-O, Shimano XTR, Avid Juicy. Different versions of the Fox Float RP2 in back on all 4. Trek and Giant use Fox Talas forks, the Specialized a Rockshox Pike 351 and Cannondale a carbon lefty. Suspension settings are all very adjustable and easier than ever to understand how to adjust.

The track was Santiago Oaks, below the Northwest end of the Santa Ana's. We climbed the 'Three Sisters' to what was called Robbers Roost in the 1830s, where outlaws literally waited to swoop down and rob the Butterfield Stage in Santa Ana Canyon. That's when things got interesting, we dropped in, over and through several outcroppings into rutted then winding single track. Oh Yea ! Nothing too deadly but just perfect for using up 5" of travel. Down a steep rock section w/ a couple tricky turns, back into the river bed switched bikes for the next lap.


Giant 'Trance'

Light (26 lb)... not just the weight though, the bike is ready to respond. It ate up 2 & 3 foot drop outs and high speed single track descents. Solid performance climbing and on technical downhill sections. This bike defines the class being tested here. Its a Cross Country rig that can take All Mountain punishment.
Score 9 out of 10.

Specialized 'Pitch'

This bike was the heaviest of the bunch and did have some lower spec components but it handled real well. The frame looks bulletproof. I saw a Discovery Channel piece where they did destructive testing at Specialized. A frame that looked allot like this one, buckled at 7,000 pounds force. It has a shorter cockpit and added fork rake, different tricks to fine tune stability and handling. You can read about the geometry but the ride is solid. If you're concerned about climbing w/ a 31 lb bike, go loose 5 pounds. Score 8.5 out of 10.



Cannondale 'Rize'

If manners are to be judged, this bike is the butler. It climbs like an undernourished mountain goat (24lbs). Suspension movement is subtle but once on the decent, the bike sucks up boulders with agility. Ride like a banshee and carry a carbon Lefty.
Score 9.5 out of 10.


Trek 'Fuel EX'

Trek have added a Floating Link & Active Braking Pivot to the rear suspension they say the result is better handling under braking while turning through the bumps. The cockpit is longer yielding a more aggressive rider position. I'm out of superalitives so... it does what the other 3 bikes do, reeeally well. This is a 27lb bike that seems to be aimed at Endurance racing. Bing ! Direct Hit. Score 9 out of 10.


There is plenty of technical detail in print, on the Mfgr's websites and reviews on line. The price range is from $2,500 to $5,000+ depending on model and options. For that price you should have no problem arranging a full day demo ride to get into the knitting yourself. I would ride at least 2 of them and another model in the lower range if you haven't robbed the Butterfield Stage recently.