$2395
22.9 pounds
Hardtail
Carver, (207) 442-7840
Maxi test: April 2006

Highlights: Designing a mountain bike with a 29-inch front wheel and a standard 26-inch rear wheel sounds pioneering. An idea too extreme for big brands, it's the perfect way for a custom bike builder to make a statement. That builder is a new bike company from the Pine Tree State called Carver Bikes. The frame's signature characteristics include beefy hand welds, a curved top tube, machined hourglass head tube and replaceable drive-side dropout. The latter lets the owner choose between a dropout with or without a derailleur hanger. The machined, oversized, forged bottom bracket shell houses an adjustable aluminum eccentric insert (making the 96'er single-speed or internally geared-hub ready).

Best quote: "Don't confuse the slow turning arc with slow steering. When you turn the bar, the 96er responds just like good cross-country geometry should."

Bottom line: The Carver is a great bike that handles rough singletrack better than any hardtail we've tried before. It rolls like a 29'er without the design limitations of trying to stuff a 29-inch wheel into a frame that barley fits a 26-inch wheel. What remains to be seen is how well this concept applies to full suspension and how well it stands the test of time. The clock is ticking, so we'll keep you posted.