Pivot LES 29 Carbon Mountain Bike Frame 2017

Lighter, stiffer, more comfortable these qualities surface constantly across the industry, the droning chant of XC monks touting their manufacturing prowess in catalogues and marketing materials. With the latest LES 29 Carbon Mountain Bike Frame, Pivot is no different however, its claims do enjoy one difference to set them apart from the droning masses. Having ridden the bike's predecessor, we know that light, stiff, and more comfortable are accurate descriptors of what the LES 29 feels like on the trail, so when Pivot claims the newest model has is even more devoted to improvements in all these areas, we're inclined to take note. All told, the latest model is a claimed 50g lighter than the previous LES. Pivot attributes this weight loss to updated carbon fiber construction, but the new Swinger II rear dropout system is also lighter than the OG Swinger. Lower weight typically means less efficiency, but the Swinger II interface is also stiffer, which is likely attributable to the Boost 148mm rear axle. Like the heavier model it's effectively replacing, the latest LES is built with the goal of balancing comfort and efficiency the holy grail of trail tuning a frame. While the frame's carbon construction is notable, the key difference between LES 29 generations is the Swinger II dropout system. Whereas the previous LES 29's Swinger design was a last gasp effort to keep pure 29ers relevant in a world increasingly dominated by 27. 5 wheels, Swinger II simply incorporates mid sized hoops by allowing the frame to switch between 29 and 27. 5 wheels. It also still allows for singlespeed conversion that addresses the common issues 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 to maintain chain tension with a negligible effect to the LES' geometry. Since it can also be run as a double or a one by and includes electronic porting, the new LES 29 is compatible with pretty much every...