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FOR THE RECORD:
The sweet spot
Specialized Camber Elite 29er: Handsome, value-oriented full-suspension aluminum cross-country bike with wide appeal.
Likes: The ultimate Everyman 29er. Great price, looks and performance hit the "sweet spot" for a majority of riders. Includes a comfy 4 inches of front and rear suspension cushion, a fork lock-out for fast climbing and a Shimano XT/SLX 27-speed drivetrain. Also nice: room for a water bottle within the frame. Slightly relaxed geometry makes it more comfortable for daylong rides than an all-out race bike. The higher-end Camber Pro has better shocks and brakes and a lightweight 20-speed XTR drivetrain. Lower priced than similar 4-inch dual suspension bikes from other major brands.
Dislikes: Lacks common front-end strengtheners like the tapered head-tube and through-axle hub, though the handling remained tight.
Price: $2,050; Pro, $2,900. ; http://www.specialized.com
Plush and fast
Cannondale Flash Hi-Mod 29'er 1: Ultra-light carbon-fiber hardtail (front-suspension-only) bike with unique comfort.
Likes: Hardtail speed and simplicity with great built-in rear-end shock absorption — far more than any hardtail I've ridden. Credit Cannondale's SAVE (system active vibration elimination) system, which gets vertical flex but side-to-side rigidity from flattened sections on the seat stays, chain stays and seat post. It definitely takes the edge off bumps and saves weight; with a carbon Lefty suspension fork and SRAM's svelte, superb 2-by-10 20-speed XO drivetrain, the bike's a feathery 21 pounds. The Flash 3, with a heavier grade of carbon and an aluminum Lefty, weighs just 23.2 pounds. With great power transfer from the burly front triangle, it flies, making it a rare hardtail you could race or ride comfortably all day.
Dislikes: The 90-millimeter Lefty, though super-stable, has 10 mm less cushion than the Specialized Camber and requires tools for wheel removal, an inconvenience when transporting the bike or fixing a flat.
Price: $5,899, Flash 3 is $2,999. (800) 245-3872; http://www.cannondale.com
Rock-solid
Niner Jet 9: Finely detailed dual-suspension race/endurance bike with a unique suspension design from a company that makes only 29ers.
Likes: Great climbing, solid handling. With an instant reaction to pedaling input and minimal bob, it almost feels like a hardtail. Credit a massive, 1.5-inch tapered head tube for solid, precise steering; a fat down-tube; burly, friction-free pivot linkages; and Niner's CVA (constantly varying arc) suspension, which uses a floating link under the bottom bracket to isolate drivetrain torque from the movement of the solid rear triangle. Like a high-end sports car, there's nice attention to detail, from the handlebar-mounted fork lockout button to strong, smooth double-pass welds and a New Belgium beer bottle cap over the headset bolt. I recommend the 100 mm fork over the stock 80 mm.
Dislikes: The wheels' perplexing, plastic, hard-to-use DT Swiss quick-release skewers take more time to change than normal QRs.
Price: $1,749 frame only; $4,427 full bike with 30-speed Shimano XT. (877) 646-3792; http://www.ninerbikes.com
Simple suffices
KHS Tucson 29er: Basic, well-appointed aluminum hardtail
Likes: A profound joy going so fast on a bike so uncomplicated. Makes you wonder why you need the fancy stuff. Perfect for any new 29er rider. From a solid but low-profile company, this bike has good parts — a 27-speed SRAM X7/Shimano Deore drivetrain, cushy WTB saddle — at a fair price.
Dislikes: The 3-inch RST fork is about an inch short of comfy.
Price: $1,099. (310) 632-7173; http://www.khsbicycles.com
Roy M. Wallack is the co-author of "Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100."
roywallack@aol.com
