The 2011/2012 Ibis Silk SL uses a refined layup of high modulus carbon fiber, fine tuning prior year’s weight savings and gain in strength. The carbon fiber headcups keep the weight down, resulting in a 58cm frame weight of about 2.2 lbs. The Silk SL is stiff but remarkably smooth riding – what you get is the responsiveness of a large tube aluminium bike combined with the suppleness of a Ti frame. Not only stiff and light but also very strong the Silk SL can survive a 900 pound frontal impact (at the front axle) before a failure of the down tube, stronger than many full-suspension mountain bikes! We also think you’ll find the understated graphics package a refreshing change in a world of gaudy team replicas.