Pivot

Vault Carbon Cross Frameset - 2016

Touted as Pivot's all-around, ride anything bike, the Vault Carbon Cross Frameset isn't shy about its multipurpose roots. For 2016, the Vault gets a mean, 'cross-race facelift while maintaining its versatility on gravel and road. Pivot loses the cantilever brake mounts to go disc-only and tightens up the geometry to improve handling for a nimble feel and more efficient power transfer compared to the previous version.

The most notable departure from previous Pivot 'cross/gravel geometries is in the chainstays, which have been shortened to create a tighter wheelbase resulting in much snappier handling and a nimble, more responsive frame. As an added bonus, shorter chainstays mean better power transfer across the drivetrain and more speed wherever you ride. The shorter stays complement the titanic BB386EVO for a back end that reduces watts lost to waggle and flex while sprinting out of hairpins or hammering up flyovers. The tapered head tube and oversized steerer also contribute to overall stiffness while keeping the Vault glued to lines through ramped-up berms and flowing hardpack. Combined with the lower-than-usual bottom bracket, the head tube also makes for more point-and-click stability for confident trail-blazing through sand pits and loose gravel.

Pivot's hollow core internal molding involves laying-up and compacting the carbon around an internal form, ensuring that the frame doesn't carry any additional material in the form of resin pools or wall thickness inconsistencies. The process makes for greater structural integrity to satisfy our practical side, and a lighter, stiffer frame, to satisfy our hunger for podium places. The lay-ups are also tuned specifically for each size, allowing Pivot to imbue each frameset with the same level of eager responsiveness across the size range.

The Pivot Vault Carbon Cross Frameset features internal cable routing for clean crisp lines and is compatible with both mechanical and electronic shifting systems. Please note that Pivot utilizes Shimano's flat-mount disc brake standard at the rear, so you may need a brake mount adapter to outfit your frameset depending on your choice of braking system.