STEEL STEED: THE COUNTRY BIKE
Replete with gorgeous lugs and rack braze-ons, Homer also bears a Latin inscription that translates as "You can take this country bike anywhere you like." So we did. Dicey streets, rolling highway, cobblestones, singletrack, fire roads, stairs—it took on all with nary a whimper. Especially impressive was its dreamy handling on high-speed downhills—on street and trail. The classic 650B wheel size (between 26-inch and 700C; standard on frames up to 58 cm) allows plumper tires and is unbeatable for all-terrain versatility. From $3,300 ($3,940 as pictured); rivbike.com. ALSO SEE: The Kogswell P/R (frameset, $600) or Homer's budget-friendlier brother, the Samuel Hillborne (from $2,100), both all-arounders with 650B options.