Near the end of the summer of 2008 I bought a used bike. The bike I chose was a 2006 Giant Anthem 2 and I rode it as many times as I could before it started snowing. With spring approaching, I thought it would be a good time to review the Giant Anthem 2 for anyone looking for a really good used mountain bike.

Now for a little background on why I was in the market for a new bike. After riding my cheap, heavy hardtail mountain bike with my friends, I realized I had to get a better bike just to keep up with them. I also had plans to ride a mountain bike, but I didn’t want to use the old bike because I was worried about breaking some of the cheap components on the bike.

I’ve been keeping an eye on Craigslist (see my post on Buying a Used Bike on Craigslist) for a better mountain bike and one day I noticed someone selling their 2006 Giant Anthem 2. Before I called the seller, I did some research. Both online and at local bike shops. In 2006, the Anthem 2 mountain bike was the second top-end mountain bike for Giant and as of 2009, the Anthem frame is still used as Giant’s top-end mountain bike. The bike was in mint condition and looked like it had hardly been used. In 2006 the MSRP was around $2,300 due to the bikes high-end components. And that’s also why it’s so much lighter than my other bike at about 26lbs (which is pretty light for a mountain bike). This bike is lighter than many of my friend’s hardtails. I guess it’s true, you get what you pay for.

The only thing I have changed on the bike is the seat. The bike came with a cheap pair of pedals (high end bikes usually don’t come with pedals), so I added a couple of clipless pedals. I also put on a Specialized Elite Cycling computer. And when the sun goes down, I put up lights so I can see where I’m going and other people can see me.

I have to tell you that I love this bike and I am very pleased with the performance of this bike. I would also recommend this bike to anyone serious about mountain biking. The bike is lightweight and works great on paved trails and off-road mountain bike trails. And the suspension soaks up bumps extremely well and the suspension is adjustable both front and rear and they even have lockouts.

The frame of this bike is aluminum, not carbon fiber. It doesn’t seem to affect the performance of this bike, but I’ve never ridden a carbon fiber mountain bike. I should also let you know that I am not a professional mountain biker, so I have nothing else to compare this bike to other than my cheap hardtail. But I’ve been riding seriously since 2007, so I’m not a novice. I don’t think the aluminum frame is a drawback for this bike, but I thought it should be pointed out in case you have your heart set on a carbon fiber bike.

I plan on using this bike for at least one mountain bike race this summer. Also, there are plenty of mountain bike trails in my area, so check back for more updates on this bike and mountain bike trails in the Twin Cities area.