10 Best Mountain Bikes of 2012

Cannondale Scalpel 29er

Cannodale’s Scalpel 29er is a smooth, lightweight rocket on the trail, perfect for cross-country racers looking for a boost. Like any big-wheeled mount, it will give racers an edge on rough, rocky terrain, though it only boasts 100 mm of travel (it’s not a downhill bike). Cannondale uses its ECS (Enhanced Center Stiffness) technology for torsion control that delivers instant response to rider input and Zero Pivot technology that gives it an excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio. The lefty fork on the Scalpel 29er is Cannondale’s lightest, but it’s plenty strong and fluid on bumps. ($7,600; cannondale.com)