2012 Trek Elite 9.9 SSL Carbon Mountain Bike
29ers may be all the rage but for riders wanting the fastest option on 2 wheels for flat-out XC racing and riding, the 26" Elite 9.9 SSL is still the one to beat for responsive acceleration and nimble handling on tight singletrack. It's gorgeous OCLV Mountain carbon frame is the lightest mountain bike frame in the Trek lineup and combined with a top-tier parts spec makes for a sub-9 kilogram complete bike that will wipe the floor when it comes to the weight stakes. Not one to be left behind with Treks advancements in carbon fiber technology, the Elite 9.9 SSL frame employs the very latest OCLV Mountain grade carbon for its chainstay to improve durability against impacts around this vulnerable area. It also features Carbon Armour under the downtube and around the BB area to protect the frame against rocks and debris that get thrown up from the front wheel, making sure your frame will look good for seasons to come. Additional frame features include the Tapered E2 head tube, press fit BB90 bottom bracket bearings, no-cut seatmast system and clever internal cable routing that keeps everything looking neat and out of harms way. Although the OCLV frame is superlight, Trek use their carbon construction to achieve a desired ride quality, which in the Elite SSL's case, is butt-loads of lateral frame stiffness with a certain amount of vertical compliance for vibration dissipation. Don't confuse the Elite for a smooth-riding couch however, as every gram of material has gone into making the frame an XC rocketship that responds to all of your input and the end result is a snappy, direct and quick-handling machine that holds its line with far more poise than the race bikes of old.

Fox Float RL forks grace the front of the 9.9, with a remote lockout situated right next to the brake lever that allows the rider to dial in a stiff platform for uphill efforts and smooth sections of fire road. A tapered steerer tube carries the theme of the frames lateral stiffness and a QR15 thru-axle up front shows just how far the XC race market has come in adopting new technology to improve ride quality. The big spec story with the 9.9 SSL however, is the carbon Bontrager XXX wheelset that uses OCLV grade carbon fiber rims for a superlight build that will set you back somewhere around $3k for on their own. The 28-hole carbon rims keep rotational weight down, but more importantly allow for a ridiculously stiff wheelset that responds to all of your pedalling input and keep everything laterally rigid. You can also set the XXX wheels up tubeless with the slick Bontrager TLR system that uses a specific Bontrager rim strip that locks into the rim well to create an airtight bead - no dodgy conversions required here. DT Swiss manufactured hubs are light but bulletproof and the matching DT Swiss butted spokes keep weight down, though are easily replaceable should you bust one. Combined with the QR15 front fork and stiff carbon frame, the Elite 9.9 SSL is about as close as you could get to riding a surgical instrument on wheels in terms of handling precision.
Of course a top-end bike like this deserves a top-end groupset, and the Shimano XTR Dyna-Sys drivetrain & brakeset do not disappoint with a slick double crankset featuring a 28/40t ratio that just begs you to go faster. The lightweight carbon XXX cockpit from Bontrager is about as good as it gets and we're pumped to see a decent width low-rise handlebar on the front of the Elite, which provides increased stability and cornering prowess that you just can't get from a flat bar.