I spent a full day riding 5th Element-equipped Santa Cruz and Intense bikes, and nothing I've ever ridden before comes close to this. Boasting five-way adjustability and a unique Platform Control Damping that helps the shock to resist bobbing without detracting from suspension performance, the 5th Element is now available on 2002 Santa Cruz and Intense models. The adjustable position-sensitive damping has created a shock that makes eight-inch-travel bikes pedal better than some bikes with half the travel, and the rear-wheel control was truly phenomenal over everything from small ripples to massive drops. The bar has been raised substantially. www.progressivesuspension.com