We have to break out the superlatives for this out-of-the-box racer. It's the lightest and stiffest frame that Giant has ever produced—the same one (albeit without the integrated seat mast) that was ridden to more pro wins last year than any other bike. Granted, the SL 2 is hung with a more affordable mix of Shimano Ultegra components and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels. But make no mistake: It's still an absolutely race-worthy rig. It's such a well-rounded package, in fact, that three testers each gave it a perfect 10 on their score sheets—but, and this is the most telling part, in three different categories: climbing, descending, and pedaling responsiveness. 16 lbs, 56cm;
