Pivot

Vault Carbon Cross Ultegra Complete Bike - 2016

Pivot bills the latest Vault Carbon Cross Ultegra Complete Bike as "the perfect Paris-Roubaix" bike, equally suited to road or gravel, the latter of which has become North American's version of Northern France's Napoleonic stones. In our experience, though, the Vault is more at home catapulting onto the 'cross course than grinding out gravel. The Vault can go almost anywhere, but its blend of uncompromising, road-inspired carbon construction, a geometry that's tighter than a typical road or gravel bike, and a built-up drive spine make it ideal for the tight quarters, frequent obstacles, and constant speed changes of cyclocross.

The geometry's story is best told by the chainstays, which are shorter on the newest Vault than on Pivot's previous 'cross/gravel bikes. These not only help to keep the frame nimble and the wheelbase tight, but they also make for more efficient power transfer. The 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 crown 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.

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, which our practical side appreciates, and a lighter, stiffer frame, which satisfies our less practical hunger for podium places. The lay-ups are also tuned specifically for each size, allowing Pivot to imbue each size with the same level of eager responsiveness without undue weight gains. Requiring a larger frame no longer comes with the penalty of a noodly, poorly tracking ride.

The Vault is finished with a handful of details that further highlight its ride-anywhere ethos, including the stable braking and line-tracking of thru-axles and a 38mm tire clearance. The 3T cockpit provides a platform for the Shimano drivetrain and TRP's cable-actuated hydraulic calipers. Stan's NoTubes' Grail rims have become standard fare for the self-sponsored 'cross racer because, well, they just work without complaint, adding yet another element of simple, 'cross-focused quality while providing a nice, wide bead to take advantage of the Vault's comically plush tire clearance.