2009 ANTHEM X 0 GETS TRAIL TEST ON VELONEWS.COM!!

On Velonews.com, Editor Matt Pacocha writes about his test ride on the new Giant Anthem X 0. He and Giant’s Global Product Marketing Manager, Andrew Juskaitis, take the bikes for a spin on a new trail near Boulder, CO, that Matt describes this way: “…the trail’s relentlessly bumpy sections give a good cross-country suspension design the perfect stage to fly or flop.”

His lengthy review provides readers much background on the design and engineering of the Anthem X series. A sample: “Giant’s key design goal for the Anthem X was to manufacture a premier race bike. Besides the new Co-Pivot and vertical shock orientation, the new bike loses weight by taking cues from the shaped tubes present in the TCR road line. The square ‘MegaDrive’ down tube is shaped in the same manner as the carbon down tube of the TCR Advanced SL, while the top tube, head tube and seat tube are all extensively shaped.”

There’s a very interesting comment to whet the reader’s appetite for what may be coming down the trail: “Why not carbon, you may ask. ‘We build all of our new designs in alloy first so that we get everything right before we commit to composite molds,’ said Juskaitis. ‘It’s too risky to do both and commit to composite.’ Juskaitis hinted that the Giant Factory Team will begin testing a prototype composite Anthem X in February, but, unless you run into Craig or teammate Carl Decker on the trail, the first time for the public to see the bike will be at next year’s Sea Otter Classic.”

There’s quite a good story about Matt and Andrew pedaling the trail hard to beat the setting sun. And Matt ends the review with this pro/con: “As for Anthem X, after that first ride and being a fan of the first rendition of this bike, I can say two things, one positive and one negative: Giant and Adam Craig are good at designing race bikes that are fun to ride. For a gripe, the rear shock’s ProPedal lever is much harder to reach than on the old bike, because of its lower position, so it’s a good thing the bike rides well enough not to need to fiddle with it too much on the trail.”

For a gripe, that isn’t too bad. You can check out the full review at:
http://www.velonews.com/article/84361/riding-giant-s-anthem-x-on-the-picture-rock-trail

And check out the full spec’s of the Giant Anthem X0 by clicking here.