Getting up to the goods that include flowy and gnarly descents can sometimes require a little work, but the effort is always worth it and we wouldn't have it any other way. So if you don't have shuttle buddies and don't want to pay for lift access, you'll most likely want a bike that can climb as well as it can descend. We've found Yeti's SB5 Carbon GX Eagle Complete Mountain Bike to be plenty capable of hanging with the big bikes coming down the mountain yet climbs with the alacrity to make an e-bike pilot jealous. The SB5 is quite possibly Yeti's best rounded and most versatile bike. It's quite lightweight and has an excellent suspension design lending itself well for days when the topo lines get stacked or even toeing the line at the occasional XC race. We have ridden enough bikes to know that we don't want an anorexic, steep-angled, nervous bike while chasing our buddies down unfamiliar or technical singletrack. Thankfully the SB5 strikes a perfect balance of nimbleness and surefooted attacking. The head tube angle is a fairly slack 66. 5-degrees for confidence inspiring handling on the steep stuff without requiring excessive body English keeping the front wheel from leaving terra firma on uphill switchbacks. Further contributing to excellent ascending, the seat tube angle is 73. 6-degrees. This keeps your weight forward on the cockpit and knees over the pedal spindle for improved climbing. When work turns to play, drop the WTB saddle out of the way with FOX's excellent Transfer post and you won't have anything between you and that rowdy descent. 148mm Boost hub spacing widens the hub flanges for a stiffer wheel build and rear end, and it frees up precious real estate between the chainstays close to the seat tube. The bonus here is the ability to shorten the chainstays to a stubby 17. 2in tucking the rear wheel in closer to the frame and allowing you to run bigger rubber. On the trail, you get near telepathic handling and a laterally stiff rear end. This t...