2004's rigs are higher in fiber. Now cyclists can have their cake and eat it, too. Carbon fiber, previously just for pros, is now more affordable, so the rest of us can benefit from the exotic composite's remarkable weight-to-strength ratio and superior vibration-absorbing qualities. Bike makers are using it in different ways to make rigs that are faster, lighter, and, yes, even more comfortable.

Seven Cycles Elium

Custom built to suit a rider's speed needs (want a higher position for an aching back?), the Elium is widely considered the world's best road frame. The 16.3-lb carbon and titanium rig offers a seemingly impossible combination of comfort and stiffness. (frame starts at $3,595)