Tested: 2008 Giant Anthem 1

GIANT ANTHEM 1 $2,600

For anyone who has felt the nerves jangling in the moments preceding a cross-country race, the Giant Anthem needs no introduction. Since being launched in 2006, Anthems have multiplied like rabbits on XC courses everywhere. With models ranging from $1,875 to $6,300, this line appeals to the masses.

After assembling the $2,600 Anthem 1, I stood back to assess its personality. Let’s see, Fox suspension front and rear; Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes; WTB wheels; Michelin Dry2 tires; Maestro suspension. Okay, I got it: humble weekend warrior. Sandbagger. Nothing flashy, just an efficient tool to get the job done. Even the dull blue-and-gray graphics suit its understated nature.

The first test was a local loop with familiar climbs, where the bike’s aggressive posture (72-degree head angle/72- seat angle) dared me to ignore the granny gear. If you’re accustomed to the plush, slack front ends on most trail bikes today, the 80-millimeter fork and racy headtube angle can be bracing. But if beating mates up the climb sounds appealing, this is how you do it.

A Fox Float RP23 rear shock gives this Anthem a different disposition than the last one I rode, a 2006 Anthem 1 with a Manitou S-Type SPV rear shock. The new Anthem uses all of its 3.5 inches of rear travel, and the suspension feels quite active. I kept the Pro Pedal lever switched on most of the time, but appreciate the option of opening the shock on fast, jarring descents. And component updates makes this Anthem more versatile; there’s less carbon, less emphasis on weight savings, yet at 26 pounds it’s nimble enough.

Next came the torture test: La Ruta de los Conquistadores, the lunatic endurance race in Costa Rica. I’ve never abused a bike so intensively in such a short period of time. Hours of knee-deep mud followed by never-ending climbs and rocky volcanic descents. I can’t even describe the sounds the drivetrain emitted. Spectators poured motor oil on our chains to keep us going, and I wore through brake pads in a single day.

At the end of each stage I handed the battered Anthem to mechanics, and it came back the next day smelling like kerosene. Many bikes caved, leaving riders cursing on the side of the road, but the Anthem just did its thing. Since then, it has accompanied me on mellower XC rides, where it just lopes along confidently. But I know what it can do when really pressed. KIP MIKLER

HIGHS: Smart, solid XT spec at a bargain price; active suspension makes most out of 3.5 inches of travel

LOWS: Tight rear tire clearance makes narrow tires mandatory in mud; 80mm fork limits its trail versatility

MORE INFO: 800-874-4268; GIANTBICYCLE.COM