Mountain Bikes: Cross Country

With complex suspension systems and weights almost as low as some road bikes, these cross country racing machines are designed to be ridden fast.

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Vertex 90 RSL – $5,699
Rocky Mountain
13046

When all-out speed is the goal and the terrain calls for it, sometimes a hardtail carbon cross country bike is the best option. Rocky Mountain has been making speed machines like this for years and the Vertex 90 RSL is the latest in the lineup. The lightweight full-carbon frame is built up using super light options across the board. There’s a Rock Shox SID Race fork with 100mm of travel and a remote lockout. The drivetrain is mostly SRAM X.0, but it features a Race Face Next XC Carbon crankset, a Shimano XT front derailleur, Avid Elixir CR Carbon brakes and Stans ZTR Olympic tubeless-ready wheels wrapped in Continental Race King Supersonic tires. The stem, handlebar and seat post are all from Race Face.

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Anthem X Advanced SL O – $8,359
Giant
13047

If the course calls for a full-suspension race rig, the Anthem X is what Giant calls the fastest XC bike it has ever produced. Truly a stunning bike, the composite Advanced SL 0 is the choice of multi-time US champion and World Cup racer Adam Craig. It has 100mm of travel in the front and back courtesy of a Rock Shox SID World Cup and a Fox Float RP23. The full SRAM XX 2×10 groupset is used and that’s matched up to Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels with Maxxis Crossmark tires. Available in four sizes.

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Superfly 100 – $6,299
Gary Fisher
13048

Gary Fisher has long been at the forefront of the 29er movement. The Superfly combines that experience with sister company Trek’s carbon expertise. The Superfly, which is also available in a singlespeed version, is a cross-country racing platform with all the benefits of bigger hoops. The carbon monocoque hardtail frame is matched to a Fox F29 RLC fork with 80mm of travel. A mostly SRAM X.0 drivetrain is used with the Truvativ Noir carbon cranks and Avid Elixir CR brakes. Bontrager supplies the Race X Lite wheels, tires, seat post, saddle, stem and handlebar.