Raleigh Phase II ($2,675):
When one of the granddaddies of the bike world proclaims a crowning two-wheeled achievement, listen up. The Phase II mountain bike is billed by Raleigh as the best-performing trail bike they've ever welded. We agree. This all-mountain machine is based on a bombproof aluminum frame, with up to five inches of trail-taming travel provided by a gonzo Manitou rear shock. The four-bar design puts an end to energy-wasting pogo fests during climbing, and with the buttery smooth Manitou Minute 3:00 fork in control on the front end, you've got the upper hand on the tightest of trails. To keep things sane, six-inch hydraulic front 'n' rear Avid Juicy disc brakes respond to the lightest of one-fingered feathering, allowing stop-on-a-dime performance in dry or mucky conditions. Power transfer comes via a nine-speed cassette worked by SRAM X-9 gear shifters to give you 27 drivetrain choices. And with 17-, 18- and 20-inch frame designs, the Phase II will surely fit most riders, from storks to Clydesdales. Contact 800-222-5527, www.raleighusa.com.
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