Eurobike 2012: Pivot Cycles – Les is more?

It seems that after introducing their first carbon fibre framed bike last year in the form of the Mach 5.7 Carbon, Pivot Cycles have really caught the bug with the release of another two brand spanking new bikes made from the black stuff. Even more newsworthy is the fact that one of the new composite bikes is a bone-fide hardtail, completely lacking in springs at the back, a surprise for a company that prides themselves on their suspension bikes.

Pivot Les

It’s got big wheels, it’s called the Pivot Les (geddit?) and it’s designed to be used with a 100-120mm fork up front.

At the back there’s an set of smartly designed switchable carbon 142x12mm through axle ‘Swinger’ dropouts that can be switched out to run a singlespeed setup which we’re told has a indexed tensioning system.

As you’d expect from designer Chris Cocalis, there’s a lot of intelligently designed engineering detail in the frame. The Post Mount brake threads into replaceable trunnions so accidental threading a bolt doesn’t mean a written-off frame. Although best known for their aluminium bikes up, Chris has a wealth of experience working in carbon fibre for sister road brand BH Bikes and it looks like it’s set to spread through the mountain range.

Cable routing is internal for an extremely clean look – and it runs a Press Fit 92mm bottom bracket, unsurprising as Chris was heavily involved in the creation of that standard. Frames will come in three colours, the red/carbon as above, a blue/carbon or the lovely ‘Solar Orange’, which you’d have to be mad not to pick. As with all Pivot bikes, the geometry changes as sizes increase but all feature a snappy 17.1″ chainstay length and headangles move from  69.3° on the small up to 70° on the X-large. Prices will start at £1,600 for a frameset, with various build options being offered by UK distributor Upgrade.

Pivot Mach 429 Carbon

If you still like big wheels but prefer that newfangled suspension at the back of your bike as well as the front, then last year’s Mach 429 100mm bike has been remade in carbon too. We say remade, but there’s actually a whole load of work that’s gone into this version and it differs from the metallic bike in quite a few areas.

The bike still uses the DW Link suspension system with the rather scuplted looking alloy links but the shock rate has been revised to improve suspension performance while maintaining the anti-squat properties the design is known for. The 142x12mm thru axle back end also sports shorter chainstays for a more flickable feel, while up front the head angle has been kicked out a touch to make high speed handling more stable.

The 429 Carbon will take forks from 100-120mm in the tapered steerer, there are full dropper post mounts and, as on the Les, the shifter cables are internally routed to keep it looking clean. It also sports an ISC05 mount for more aggressive builds.

Prices will start at £2,350 for a frame and Kashima coated Fox Float CTD shock. Frame colours will be the lovely lurid green above or more muted red/carbon and blue/carbon finishes.