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Bikes
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The Versatility Factor
Four do-it-all rides that eat up the terrain but not your budget. Text and photography by Steve Casimiro
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When looking to buy a new bike, two qualities should be at the top of your list: versatility and value. A mountain bike should devour Utah slickrock as voraciously as the trails behind your house. A road bike should handle weekend centuries and your daily commute with equal verve. And neither should leave you feeling like you've sacrificed quality just to save a buck. To find such a beast is no small task. It just so happens, we found four.
Mountain
Veteran Single Tracker
It doesn't matter whether you're buying electronics or bikes, leading-edge technology is expensive. For that reason, savvy consumers look to last year's gear for a bargain. Case in point: the Santa Cruz Superlight ($1,499; www.santacruzbicycles.com). The time-tested favorite has four inches (ten centimetes) of travel and employs a low-maintenance suspension that keeps the bike on the trail and out of the repair shop. And because the company is pushing its newer, more complex bikes, the 24-pound (11-kilogram) Superlight is a steal; both the frame and components are much higher quality than those of most comparably priced bikes.
Comfort's New King
If you're hunting for an ideal all-mountain bike, one that works for an hour-long workout or a day-long epic, train your sights on the new Kona Dawg Primo ($2,300; www.konaworld.com). It features a proprietary suspension system that sports five inches (thirteen centimeters) of travel in both wheels—the perfect amount for absorbing bumps without adding too much weight—but it doesn't feel overly mushy on the trail. On the contrary, the 30-pound (14-kilogram) Dawg Primo pedals like a dream and comes standard with some very tony components. The Hayes disk brakes are powerful, the front Fox suspension fork is one of the best you can get, and the hassle-free rear shifters are from Shimano's upper-shelf XT line.
Pick up the May 2006 issue for 38 amazing family escapes, wild beaches, and cool festivals, Sebastian Junger's lessons from the road, and the best bikes for summer.
Subscribe now and save 75 percent off the newsstand price!
Now available at the Gear Store in partnership with Altrec.com Performance Clothing and Gear!
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