There are any number of bikes out there carrying claims of an ability to hop from 'cross to road to gravel with ease, but very few of them manage to live up to our admittedly high expectations. Pivot's 2017 Vault Ultegra Complete Bike is one of those few, and after spending some serious miles on it we can confidently say that this ride is 100% fun no matter the terrain. There's a snappy, aggressive criterium monster hiding under that cyclocross-bred exterior, with Pivot's deft carbon layup lending a smooth penchant for any all-road adventure. While no single bike can be the best at everything, the Vault has proven that it's able to throw down with a versatility that's rare to find in a market of ever more specified disciplines.
The Vault is a racer at heart and takes a modern approach to its cyclocross heritage with a comparably low bottom bracket and tight chainstays that snap through technical courses with an alacrity reminiscent of a bobcat zig-zagging through the fields in hot pursuit of its prey. On the road, the wheelbase is a hair longer than you'd usually find in a road-specific race bike, which we've found translates to exceptional stability that adds a much appreciated dose of confidence when railing race corners and bombing switchback descents during weekend epics.
Pivot's carbon construction expertise is well known in the mountain bike world, and shines brightly in the Vault whether you're on the race course or heading out for a wilderness gravel adventure with a pack of friends. It offers a balance of stiff and efficient speed alongside plush vibration dampening to smooth out the ride, allowing you to carry speed efficiently over rough roads and enjoy the scenery while your ride mates battle vibration-induced fatigue.
The Vault's build kit puts the final touches on its do-anything attitude, utilizing a blend of Shimano componentry that manages cost without sacrificing the precise and confident functionality you'll need when barreling down a loose, twisty, descent on the edge of control or winding up the gears for a fierce county line sprint. At the axles, Stan's NoTubes' Grail wheelset is a one-wheelset quiver, boasting the versatility to handle everything from the low air pressure cross races require to the high PSI you'll need to fly tubeless on the road.
