Specialized Carve Pro 29 '12

Specialized Carve Pro 29

The Specialized Carve Pro is a trail geometry hardtail (compare with the Specialized Stumpjumper's XC geometry) specially tuned to get the utmost benefit from its 29" wheels.

Specialized compensate for the longer fork that 29" wheels require by speccing a shorter head tube. That way you get the big fork benefits of better leverage yet the handlebars on a 17.5" Carve are no higher than they would be on a 26" wheel 17.5" Specialized hardtail, so you can still carve round corners.

Specialized also compensate for the longer chainstays that a 29" rear wheel requires by curving the seat tube forward where it meets the bottom bracket. That way, the Carve Pro retains the quick-handling benefits of a tight rear end. These tweaks ensure that the Carve's contact points (the saddle and pedals) will exactly imitate sitting on the same sized 26" wheel Specialized.

Because the Specialized Carve's saddle, bottom bracket and bars exactly replicate their position on a 26" wheeled Specialized MTB, the bike will feel natural and familiar to ride. Then you get the benefits of a 29er. The bottom bracket is lower in relation to the wheel hubs. This drops the bike's centre of gravity so you sit 'more in the bike'. The bike feels more stable on downhills. The big tyres roll over rocks easier and up hills faster. The net result is a hardtail that will help you knock 2 minutes off an hour-long ride round a typical World Cup XC circuit.

Same as Specialized Carve Comp

• World Cup-proven superlight, stiff, and efficient fully-manipulated smooth-welded Specialized M4SL alloy frame.
• 29er XC geometry with integrated, tapered head tube for front-end stiffness and bridge-less seatstays for compliance over bumps.
• Light, stiff, double-walled alloy rims.
• Specialized The Captain 29" Aramid-beaded 2Bliss-ready tyres.

Upgrades over Specialized Carve Comp

• The Recon Gold is a lighter weight and better performing fork than the RockShox XC.
• The RockShox Recon Gold fork also boasts remote handlebar-mounted lockout.
• The Shimano disc brakes are upgraded to Shimano Deore level.
• Both front and rear hubs have cartridge sealed bearings for smooth spinning reliability.

'The all-new Carve Pro 29 is a competition-inspired aluminium hardtail 29er with an 80mm-travel RockShox Recon Gold 29 SL fork, Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes, and Shimano SLX shift levers.

• Fully butted, smooth-welded M4SL alloy frame is superlight, stiff, and efficient, with 29er XC geometry, integrated, tapered head tube for front-end stiffness, plus bridge-less seatstays for compliance over bumps.
• 80mm-travel RockShox Recon Gold 29" air-sprung fork features aluminium stanchions and steerer for even lighter weight, plus remote lockout for additional efficiency when climbing.
• Light and stiff, double-walled alloy rims for added stiffness; front and rear hubs have cartridge bearings and oversized dropout interface for front-end rigidity.
• Light and efficient 29" Specialized The Captain Control tyres are 2Bliss Ready with aramid bead for fast and predictable speed and control on the trail.
• Two-piece 10-speed Shimano crankset with outboard-bearing BB features oversized spindle for increased power transfer and lighter weight.
• Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes feature Servo Wave technology for more pad clearance with light weight XT 6-bolt rotors (180mm front, 160mm rear)
• Shimano Deore XT Shadow 10-speed rear derailleur for lightweight, pro-level shifting, and improved clearance.'

Specialized.

29ers
The word from the USA is that hardtails and XC dual suspension bikes with 29 inch tyres (AKA 29ers) are beginning to outsell mountain bikes with traditional 26 inch tyres. Here’s why.

Pros:

• Bigger tyres offer more cushioning and better traction.
• Momentum gained via the wheels’ greater rotational mass can get you through tough sections that might slow down smaller wheels.
• The benefits of enhanced rotational momentum are especially noticeable on longer rides and when riding uphill.
• A larger wheel makes contact with trail obstacles at a shallower angle. The result is that you float over roots & rocks that you might have once stuttered over.
• Bigger wheels cover the ground quicker once they get up to speed - this is especially noticeable on climbs.
• With over a decade’s experience developing 29”-wheeled MTBs, America’s most progressive bike companies have totally nailed the geometry. 29er’s higher bottom bracket helps you clear obstacles.
• However this bottom bracket will actually be lower in relationship to the wheel hubs so this can make the bike more stable.
• Another advantage of 29er geometry is that even tall riders on larger bikes can enjoy the extra clearance benefits of a frame with a sloping top tube.
• Although the majority of 29ers are hardtails, a number of progressive bike companies are now integrating 29” wheels with full suspension. In fact they have done so with such success, 29er converts will tell you that their 100mm-travel Giant Anthem 29er or their 110mm-travel Specialized Camber 29er can downhill almost as well as a 26”-tyre 140mm-travel trail bike.

Con:

Big (therefore heavier) wheels take more time to get up to speed and they might not be quite as nimble when you have to weave through tight twisty sections.

Mountain Bike Sizing Guide.

Specialized