PIVOT LES CARBON 29ER

As common as plaid, button-up shirts on 30 somethings, it's getting harder and harder for a new 29er to standout -- especially with an ambitious and fresh 27.5in face stealing the limelight. Thankfully, Pivot is preventing 29er's midlife from the ubiquitous office job and a social life of mediocrity with its hardtail, LES Carbon 29er.

Aside from the flight-ready, jump-specific Point, the LES represents Pivot's first venture onto hardtail mountain bike territory. But, this is far from Pivot's first hula with big hoops and the almighty black fiber. Five years ago, the Mach 429 shook up squishies by mating 29er wheels with DW Link suspension, and the Mach 5.7 has recently set a new benchmark for what is possible with carbon fiber.

What separates the 5.7 from the carbon masses is Pivot's exclusive hollow-box, high-compression internal molding technology -- the same process used to create the LES' signature shapes. And those tasteful curves aren't like the false advertising of a corset. They're the result of extensive frame tuning in order to provide a sub 2.5lb chassis that accelerates with enthusiasm, yet filters body-fatiguing chatter.

Pivot's internal mold technology allows for greater compaction and smoother internal walls to produce a lighter, stronger, and highly optimized frame. The top tube and seatstays are flattened compared to the large down tube. This allows a leaf-spring-like-motion to dampen the LES' ride. This shape, however, is wider along the z-axis, so it won’t flex side to side while sprinting.

Adding color to the ride-quality picture are stout chainstays that have been mated to a 92mm PressFit bottom bracket. This offers excellent response on a geared bike, but better yet, the increased strength also welcomes the demands of single speed riding. And yes, the LES can strip the shinny bits in favor of simplicity with the separately available, Swinger drops.

Making a single speed frame is fairly straight forward, however, there are some ugly gremlins that still torment designers and riders, and they can be compounded on convertible frames like the LES. Luckily, Pivot invested ample research and design in this department. Pivot's Swinger adjustable dropout system is a dutiful approach to the issue of brake interference and chain tension. The design swings around a pivot that's located in front of the upper post mount of the brake -- it's virtual on the non-disc side. The resulting slight arc allows tensioning of the chain with a negligible affect to the LES' geometry.

The system is indexed for simple setup, and it allows vertical-drop ease-of-use when it's time to swap wheels or change a flat. At its minimum setting, the Swinger tension system gives the LES 17.1 inch chainstays. Many manufacturers claim to be packing stubbies outback, but this is one of the shortest lengths that we've come across. That translates into a bike that's eager to pull up over obstacles, bunny hop, and swing around tight switchbacks. At the other end of the geometry playing field is a 69.5 degree head tube that breaks from the traditional steeper angles of twitchy-descending race bikes. Instead, the head tube is tapered for modern 29er suspension, and Pivot recommends a 100 to 120mm fork.

The Pivot LES Carbon 29er is available in four sizes from Small to X-Large and in the colors Matte Carbon/red, Matte Carbon/blue, and Solar Orange. It uses a 30.9mm seatpost, a direct mount front derailleur, and a 142 x 12mm rear axle (included).

Please note that US Pivot dealers are prohibited from shipping Pivot bicycles outside of the United States and US territories.

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2013 Pivot LES Carbon 29er Geometry