|
Carver 96'er Single-Speed |
|
|
Product Reviews -
Custom Builds
|
Chris's Carver 96'er Single-Speed:
 | | click to enlarge |
Chris is a Team Bikeman.com member and one of the original testers of the very first prototype Carver 96'er SS. In fact he has more hours on that prototype bike than any other single person. He flat out fell in love with the thing. It was a struggle to actually get it out of his hands long enough to take it to expos. So, it was a no brainer when the first production run hit the shop he had to have one. He was going to go SS for sure but how would it be built?
 | | click to enlarge |
Luckily for me Chris is also a good friend so when has me build up a bike for him all he tells me is "Build it the way I like it, you know what I like." He trusts me implicitly and knows that I won't steer him the wrong way in build spec. It doesn't hurt that we are also almost the exact same size so when I set it up for fit it is easy as pie. If it fits me, it will fit him.
This doesn't mean I have an open checkbook to get 14k gold plated rims but Chris isn't afraid to spend a couple extra bucks to make sure the bike is right. This gives me a plenty of leeway to build up a sweet ride.
Now I like a bike to have as much form as function so I wanted to make sure the bike has a little bling. I know that Chris likes understated class so I had to walk a fine line. He wanted a black frame so my canvas started there.
 | | click to enlarge |
The bike would be rigid so if you have the opportunity to drop major weight over a suspension fork you might was well go all out. The carbon Pace RC29 is the lightest rigid 29er fork around at a scant 750g uncut. It also has a suprisingly buttery feel for a rigid fork. It looks like a million bucks too.
The cranks were the next choice and since I have been a little dissapointed in the BB design of the new Race Face X-Type cranks it was time to step up to the TruVativ Stylo GXP SS cranks. It doesn't hurt that the the mirror black finish compliments the frame. An ACS Claws freewheel and the best SS chain around the SRAM PC-68 completes the drivetrain.
 | | click to enlarge |
Now I had to pull the cockpit togther. Chris likes riser bars so that was a start. I thought since the fork was carbon why not keep that whole thing going? It sure would smooth out the ride of a rigid SS. I already had a splash of TruVativ so I decied to show the Team Bikeman.com sponsor some more love and go whole hog.
The Truvativ Team Carbon oversize riser bar is wide and torsionally stiff which is what most SS guys are looking for on standing climbs.
 | | click to enlarge |
The TruVativ Team Carbon double clamp seatpost has my requirement for a durable seatpost that you don't see much in carbon posts and that is the double clamp. Started by Syncros back in the day, then really mainstreamed by Thomson, it is in my opinion the flat out best desgin for a seatpost clamp.
The TruVativ Team stem is a great mate for the handlebar and matches the mirror black finsh of the cranks.
 | | click to enlarge |
Tying the cockpit togther is the FSA Orbit X headset, in black of course. It also happens to be my new favorite headset. It is super smooth, has sealed cartridge bearings and a great warranty. It is lighter, cheaper and suspiciously looks a lot like a competitor's headset by the initials of CK. Ok, so it isn't made in the USA, you've got me there.
 | | click to enlarge |
Chris has been a tried and true rim brake guy forever but after trying disc brakes on the Carver prototype he had seen the light. Now he isn't big on bike maintenance, hence the SS, so hydraulic discs were a little beyond what he would want to get into. So if you go mechanical look no further than the best stoppers out there, the Avid BB7. Mated up to the Avid Ultimate levers and and you have some sweet modulation.
 | | click to enlarge |
Now you can't buy a 26/29 wheelset off the shelf yet and it is also pretty tough to match seperate 29 fronts and 26 rears. You also can't have some mongrel wheel setup on ride as sweet as this so a tried and true handbuilt wheelset by yours truely was the only way to go. Surly QR disc hubs were the base of the wheels. They are light, smooth and black. Seeing a pattern here right? The hoops are Salsa's new Delgado Disc rims that come in matching 26" and 29" versions. They are fairly light, strong and WIDE. The wide profile balloons tires out to make full use of the casing on the 2.3 WTB Exiwolf on the front and the matching 2.1 WTB Exiwolf on the rear. The wheels are laced up 3X all around with Wheelsmith double butted spokes and black alloy nips. A pair of stainless Salsa Flip-Off QR's, black of course, top the wheels off.
A few last bits to finish it all off. The new WTB Devo Ti saddle to cushion the behind and a pair of Salsa Juegos de Fuegos Lock-On grips to cushion the hands. The Jagwire Sterling Silver L3 brake housing added just a little touch of flair and the Jagwire Slick Stainless cables keep the braking running smooth.
I call this masterpiece "Carbon on Black with Silver Accents." Real world weight without pedals? 21.5 lbs if you are counting. All said and done I am quite pleased with how it all came togther. The good news for me is that Chris is really happy with it as well so I think I will get a crack at building his next dream bike.
|
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
; "click to enlarge")
