The Specialized Carve Pro 29 After
The Specialized Carve Pro 29 After
The Specialized Carve Pro 29 After
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BT_<strong>Carve</strong>_pg72-74:Layout 1 12/14/11 3:37 PM Page 2<br />
MBA est<br />
A Hardtail Hard Not To Love<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Specialized</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> <strong>Pro</strong> <strong>29</strong><br />
<strong>After</strong> testing dual-suspended <strong>Specialized</strong> bikes made of<br />
carbon fiber and costing five times what the<br />
<strong>Specialized</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> <strong>Pro</strong> <strong>29</strong> costs, you might think it<br />
would be impossible for the MBA wrecking crew to get too<br />
fired up about logging hours on this aluminum hardtail.<br />
Wrong. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> is one of our favorite bikes to snatch<br />
from the test fleet. Here’s why.<br />
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?<br />
Everyone. This is a Versatile trailbike, and we spelled that<br />
with a capital “V” on purpose. It is for the rider who wants to<br />
spend more time in the saddle than messing with his rear suspension.<br />
It is for rank beginners and seasoned experts. It is<br />
for the rider who wants to switch to <strong>29</strong>-inch wheels and for<br />
the rider who, up to this point, has refused to do so. It can<br />
even be pressed into service for road riding without forcing a<br />
rider to spin his brains out. Yes, Versatile with a capital “V.”<br />
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?<br />
Remember when a double-butted aluminum tube was<br />
trick? It is amazing what can be done with aluminum<br />
manipulation these days. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Carve</strong>’s frame is aluminum,<br />
although it sure looks like a carbon fiber front triangle with<br />
<strong>Specialized</strong>’s smooth welding technique. Take a close look at<br />
that bent seat tube, curved to tuck the rear wheel in close to<br />
the main frame. <strong>The</strong> head tube is tapered to take advantage<br />
of the fork’s tapered steerer tube. <strong>The</strong> frame will take two<br />
water bottle cages, and the seatstays have mounting eyelets<br />
for a fender or rack. This is the most expensive model. <strong>The</strong><br />
Expert goes for $1650 and the Comp for $1350.<br />
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?<br />
<strong>The</strong> 3x10 Shimano drivetrain is the proper pick for a <strong>29</strong>er<br />
at this weight. It is sweet to find a remote Pop-Loc lever on<br />
the handlebar for the fork. <strong>The</strong> integrated headset with full<br />
cartridge bearings gives the front end a smooth look. Cables<br />
are intelligently routed to keep them out of the rider’s way,<br />
adding to the clean lines of the bike’s profile. Finally, how<br />
many bikes get rims named after them? Seriously, it is the<br />
72 www.mbaction.com<br />
way that <strong>Specialized</strong> pulls all the design elements together<br />
that makes this simple hardtail stunning to look at.<br />
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?<br />
Ergonomics: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> <strong>Pro</strong> <strong>29</strong>’s front end doesn’t have<br />
that high <strong>29</strong>er feeling because <strong>Specialized</strong> used a short stem<br />
with a slight 7-degree rise (which can be flipped for a negative<br />
7-degree angle) mated to a flat handlebar. It looks racy<br />
and feels like a trailbike setup. <strong>The</strong> rest of the cockpit is ultra<br />
comfortable. <strong>The</strong> bar width, top-tube length and saddle are all<br />
comfortably positioned for everything from lunch-loop rides<br />
to epic journeys.<br />
Pedaling: <strong>The</strong>re is no doubt that you are getting <strong>29</strong>-inch<br />
wheels up to speed when moving out of the blocks. <strong>The</strong><br />
Captain tires assist your effort with a tread pattern and<br />
rubber compound that seem better suited for <strong>29</strong>-inch wheels<br />
than 26ers. <strong>The</strong>y roll nicely and are not overkill like some<br />
<strong>29</strong>er tires. <strong>The</strong> 3x10 drivetrain gives you plenty of options.<br />
We found ourselves using the big ring for hard packed, rolling<br />
trails; the middle for more technical stopping and starting;<br />
and the granny for steep climbs.<br />
Hammering: Once up to cruising speed, the<br />
<strong>Carve</strong> is in its element. <strong>The</strong> frame reveals no<br />
lateral flex as you push big gears, and we dare<br />
you to find a weakness in the Shimano Deore<br />
cranks. We caught ourselves shifting less on<br />
the <strong>Carve</strong> by using one gear for everything<br />
from torqueing on the cranks to spinning<br />
them out.<br />
Cornering: This bike will make anyone<br />
corner faster and with more confidence than,<br />
say, a 26-inch-wheeled hardtail. <strong>The</strong> bottom<br />
bracket feels low. <strong>The</strong> tires feel way wider than 2<br />
inches. <strong>The</strong> frame geometry numbers would equal a<br />
twitchy race bike if it weren’t for those big hoops. Instead,<br />
it is a very neutral-steering bike that is neither quick nor<br />
sluggish. It falls in the steering sweet spot.<br />
Descending: <strong>The</strong> large wheels make descending a blast,<br />
because you are not constantly trying to avoid ruts and rocks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> will have you floating over the top of them. <strong>The</strong><br />
tires do great on off-camber sections where they grip way<br />
better than their little knobs look capable of.<br />
Climbing: <strong>The</strong> 3x10 drivetrain gives you plenty of options<br />
for getting the <strong>Carve</strong> up the climb. You can muscle the bike<br />
up sections in a large gear while out of the saddle, or you can<br />
(more intelligently) spin your way up. Even at the end of a<br />
50-mile epic when we were feeling the effects of a long time<br />
in the saddle, the <strong>Carve</strong> offered a gear that allowed us to take<br />
our time and work up the last nasty climb of the day. We<br />
were very thankful.<br />
Braking: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Carve</strong>’s braking performance is dialed for its<br />
<strong>29</strong>-inch wheels. <strong>Specialized</strong> gives you a 7-inch rotor up front<br />
and a 6-inch rotor in the rear that are well balanced and plenty<br />
powerful. <strong>The</strong> Shimano’s Deore’s small master cylinder<br />
and compact calipers make these brakes look far more like<br />
their expensive older brothers, the XT and XTR brakes.<br />
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?<br />
Our test bike was <strong>Specialized</strong>’s medium size (they offer<br />
the <strong>Carve</strong> in five frame sizes), but it felt more like a medium-large.<br />
Don’t go by what you are riding now to pick the
BT_<strong>Carve</strong>_pg72-74:Layout 1 12/14/11 3:38 PM Page 3<br />
We dare you: We<br />
encourage riders now<br />
riding dual-suspension<br />
bikes over five<br />
years old and any<br />
hardtail to try the<br />
<strong>Carve</strong>. Time has<br />
moved forward, and<br />
this <strong>29</strong>er is on the<br />
forefront of one bike<br />
that can fill a lot of<br />
needs.<br />
March 2012 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 73
BT_<strong>Carve</strong>_pg72-74:Layout 1 12/14/11 3:42 PM Page 4<br />
<strong>Carve</strong> <strong>Pro</strong> <strong>29</strong><br />
perfect <strong>Carve</strong>. Take advantage of all those sizes and find<br />
the one that fits you properly (probably a size smaller<br />
than the 26er hardtail or dual-suspension bike you ride<br />
now).<br />
<strong>Specialized</strong> racing legend Ned Overend won a National<br />
Championship last year on a modified <strong>Carve</strong> <strong>Pro</strong>, proving<br />
that this bike is worthy of just about any upgrade you want<br />
to throw at it. <strong>The</strong> most logical upgrade is converting the<br />
tires tubeless and a far more expensive upgrade would be<br />
splurging for carbon fiber rims.<br />
<strong>The</strong> chainstay protector is a thin piece of clear plastic.<br />
We’d throw a wrap-around protector on there in addition to<br />
the stocker.<br />
<strong>The</strong> front brake howled like a lost dog on a cold night. We<br />
checked brake alignment, and sanded the pads, but the noise<br />
came back. Replacing the pads with stock replacement<br />
metallic pads eliminated the annoying noise. Our first pair<br />
must have been accidentally contaminated or we may have<br />
rushed the break-in period.<br />
BUYING ADVICE<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are so many riders who can benefit from this<br />
bike. Riders who purchased dual-suspension bikes and<br />
still don’t have a clue how to set sag or rebound would<br />
be better off on the <strong>Carve</strong>. New riders or riders returning<br />
to mountain biking will get up to speed faster and with<br />
less effort aboard a <strong>Carve</strong>. Roadies who want to find out<br />
what they are missing will find the transition to the<br />
<strong>Carve</strong> effortless. ❑<br />
<strong>Carve</strong> it up: Forged, post-mount rear-brake system, 10 cogs<br />
matched to three rings for lots of gearing options, and a new<br />
Shimano Deore master cylinder looks as good as an XTR.<br />
74 www.mbaction.com<br />
Ready for anything: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> <strong>Pro</strong> can be many things to<br />
many riders. This frame has won a National Championship, but<br />
it is just as much at home cruising your favorite three-hour<br />
Saturday-morning loop with friends.<br />
SPECIALIZED CARVE PRO <strong>29</strong><br />
Price<br />
Country of origin<br />
Weight<br />
Hotline<br />
Frame tested<br />
Bottom bracket<br />
Chainstay length<br />
Top tube length<br />
Head tube angle<br />
Seat tube angle<br />
Standover height<br />
Wheelbase<br />
Suspension travel<br />
Suspension travel<br />
Frame material<br />
Fork<br />
Shock<br />
Rims<br />
Tires<br />
Hubs<br />
Brakes<br />
Crankset<br />
Shifters<br />
Handlebar<br />
Front derailleur<br />
Rear derailleur<br />
Chainrings<br />
Cassette<br />
Tallest gear<br />
Lowest gear<br />
Pedals<br />
$2000<br />
Taiwan<br />
28.2 pounds<br />
(408) 779-62<strong>29</strong><br />
17.5" (medium)<br />
12" high<br />
17.5"<br />
24"<br />
71.5°<br />
73°<br />
<strong>29</strong>.5"<br />
42.75"<br />
3.1" (front)<br />
None (rear)<br />
Aluminum<br />
RockShox Recon Gold <strong>29</strong> SL<br />
None<br />
<strong>Specialized</strong> <strong>Carve</strong> Disc (<strong>29</strong>")<br />
<strong>Specialized</strong> <strong>The</strong> Captain (2.0")<br />
Formula Disc<br />
Shimano Deore<br />
Shimano Deore<br />
Shimano SLX Rapidfire<br />
<strong>Specialized</strong> XC Flat (27.5" width)<br />
Shimano Deore<br />
Shimano Deore<br />
Shimano (42/32/24)<br />
Shimano 10-cog (11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36)<br />
<strong>29</strong> feet (per crank revolution)<br />
5.1 feet (per crank revolution)<br />
None (Weighed with Shimano XTR)