Products Featured in Outside Magazine's Gear of the Year 2006

Hey guys, Outside magazine recently named three of our bikes in its annual Gear of the Year issue. Check out the reviews on the Litespeed Ghisallo, K2 Apache 5.0 and the K2 T:Nine Summit.



Litespeed Ghisallo

The Ghisallo is a wake-up call for weight-freak roadies dutifully switching everything (even water-bottle-cage spacers!) to carbon: There's another gravity-defying game in town. Weighing less than a box of Clif Bars, this all-titanium frame is not only the wispiest factory model available; it's the lightest complete bike we tested. Compulsively shaped tubing keeps the compact frame relatively stiff. "On climbs, you literally rocket upward without expending any energy," said one tester. If you're one to order the most expensive wine on the menu no matter what, you've found your next trophy. Bonus: The ProBuild kit serves up full Dura-Ace and Mavic Ksyrium wheels. Bummer: Big cyclists, or those with lots of torque, may find the slight frame flexy. 15.7 lbs, 56 cm.

K2 Apache 5.0

One tester sprinted away the Apache as soon as it arrived and only returned it a few weeks later, after we threatened to withhold his pay - and even then it took a few days. The Apache is simply one of the most fun cross-country bikes we've ridden, especially for the money. It climbs a lot lighter than its weight suggests but still bombs descents like a supercharged Fabien Barel. We took it on all manner of trail, from Tucson's flat, loopy Fantasy Island Track to arm-jangling jeep roads, and we never found any terrain on which the four inches of suspension and assertive, head-foward geometry didn't feel at home. Bonus: All this and it comes with Crank Brothers Egg Beater pedals. Bummer: An upgraded fork with lockout would be nice. 28.2 lbs, 18-19 in.

K2 T:Nine Summit

If you like riding up as much as down, get this light and nimble climber. In Moab, testers powereed up steep slickrock and rutted trails with nonchalance. But it's not just a mountain goat: The new Linear Link rear suspension, which provides almost four inches of travel, yielded one of the most natural feeling rides of any bike tested. The SRAM drivetrain is straight value, and we dig the short-reach brake levers. Bonus: Hayes hydraulic brakes provide smooth stopping power. Bummer: The T:Nine saddle proved uncomfortable; budget a replacement. 28.7 lbs (medium).