Competitive Cyclist

VENTANA EL COMANDANTE ULTIMATE

El Comandante Ultimate is built, from start to finish, in-house at Ventana's Northern California headquarters using their proprietary 6061 aluminum tubing, shaped and butted to perfection. The tubes are mated by their legendary “Electric Sex” welds, and finished with a rich powdercoat and a hand-crafted stainless steel head badge proudly displaying the Ventana “V” and the year of the company’s inception, 1988.

The lure of the 29er over a bike with 26" wheels is four-fold: 1) Bigger wheels roll over obstacles easier because of a lower approach angle; 2) traction is increased because of a larger contact patch; 3) the flywheel effect of the larger wheels makes it easier to sustain speed over broken terrain; and 4) the greater tire/rim mass is farther from the axle center, increasing the gyroscopic stability. Thus, 29ers and larger riders are a great match -- the increased stability works to counteract the typical higher center of gravity.

El Comandante Ultimate is versatile as well -- the right side dropout is equipped with a derailleur hanger, and a full complement of cable and hose guides allow for a cleanly executed geared bike setup. However, their new sliding/pivoting dropouts allow easier than ever chain adjustments if you pine for the simplicity of a single gear. The right side also allows the insertion of a Gates Carbon Drive Belt should you want to forego the noise, maintenance, and grime of a standard chain. The adjustable dropouts negate the use of the old eccentric system for the bottom bracket. Even better, they allow Ventana to make El Comandante disc specific without requiring a brake adjustment when you change gears and adjust the tension on your chain or belt.

Ventana's 29" wheeled El Comandante Ultimate requires a 27.2mm seatpost and is available in two stock colors -- Electric Superdust or Candy Blue. Or for $150 and a few weeks, it can be finished in any of Ventana’s other available colors -- Army Green, Satin Black, Cosmic Grey, Gloss Black, Grinch Green, Cosmic Orange, Candy Red, and Gloss White. It’s available in even sizes between 16”-24”. And if you’d like to personalize your frame, you may do so with custom or semi-custom geometry and custom colors.

 Share this Page

2010 Ventana El Comandante Ultimate Pricing