Juliana

Nevis Mountain Bike Frame-2014

Though some cyclists may dismiss certain wheel sizes as being gimmicky themselves, we think it's pretty safe to call an aluminum, hardtail, 29er mountain bike frame like the Juliana Nevis a setup that doesn't traffic in nonsense. It's a simple machine with a simple goal: to go from point A to point B across cross-country terrain as efficiently as possible.

The Nevis is a hydroformed aluminum frame built on the fast rolling 29in platform, and its hardtail design completely eliminates the common 29 complaint that the slightly larger wheels limit rear travel. That's because it (obviously) eschews any rear suspension to focus solely on cross-country speed, which many feel is a 29er's strongest discipline. The replaceable dropouts can be swapped for sliding ones for the occasional single speed dalliance or a full conversion to the power of one.

The bottom bracket junction incorporates an asymmetrical forged chainstay yoke for maximum power transfer that doesn’t skimp on tire and chainring allowances. The stout chainstays and shaped seatstays are a welcome and necessary addition in so far as they help to smooth out noisy trail surfaces. They also complement the tapered head tube for extremely responsive acceleration over multiple types of terrain.

Unwieldy chainstays are another common 29in complaint that the Nevis's geometry addresses. Its relatively short 17.3-inch chainstays are less than half-an-inch longer than what's on the versatile Furtado frame, so the Nevis places your center of gravity closer to the rear wheel for a surprising amount of flick-ability. The stays are once again co-conspirators with the head tube, which contributes a 70.5 degree angle for a compact, fast-steering front end that goes some way toward addressing yet another criticism of 29ers: that they lack the agility of smaller wheels. It also allows you to get into a powerful cross-country position, which is where the combination of 29-inch wheels and a hardtail really shine.