Really interesting experience on a demo Intense Carbine 29 today.
I’m in Phoenix and typically ride rocky gnar on South Mountain. My daily driver is a 17 Specialized Enduro 29 in size XL. I’m 6’2, 34 inseam, monkey arms and about 180 pounds before gear.
While waiting for my backup bike to come in, my LBS (Thanks, Sonoran Cycles) offered me a size L 2015 Carbine carbon 29er to demo for a couple days. Because I’m a bike geek, I said, “heck yes.”
Picked it up yesterday, got it spinning to my satisfaction and took it out this morning to ride National Trail at South Mountain. Bike looks somewhat used, but nice. 160 Pike, DBInline, Flow wheelset, dropper, XT brakes, 11-speed setup, etc.
I put a different cockpit and grips (carbon BZA bars and a 60mm Chromag stem) then ran it. The bike is astonishly light to me. Set up the Pike and used the factory baseline tune on the DBInline with 30% sag.
Just by looking at the geo charts, I didn’t think the Carbine would be my thing. It’s not terribly “modern.”
But I have to tell you, friends, this rig is freakin’ awesome.
Let me start with the things I don’t like: XT brakes. Cane Creek shocks on VPP suspension. 125mm dropper posts. High Roller II as a rear tire. As far as the complete bike, the front was the tiniest bit floppy on the steepest climbs (which I can live with) and it doesn’t have the stiffest rear I’ve ever felt.
But let’s focus on what’s really important. On my first ride on this bike, not set up 100% to my taste, I PR’d the descent down National. For non-Phoenicians, this is a 5+ mile technical descent, all rocks, decent drops, big tech obstacles and wide-open speed. Very common ride for me, one I’ve done hundreds of times. And this was on a Sunday, so high traffic levels and I didn’t even have a clean run.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s really a beautiful bike. And did I mention light?
I did have it pinned and some of the components were complaining. The Stan’s stock wheelset was definitely in pain and I think I broke about half the spokes loose the way they were pinging. I taxed the shock, bottoming it pretty regularly and heating it up pretty good by the end.
All that said, the bike was a real hoot. Despite those chainstays, I had no issues manualing, popping both ends up when I needed to, doubling up obstacles. With a good shock, this frame could be scary fast in my environment.
I had a couple poor experiences with service and build quality years ago on some older aluminum Intense bikes and hadn’t really paid them much attention. I think I’ve been missing out for sure. I had a blast riding this bike.
I’m in Phoenix and typically ride rocky gnar on South Mountain. My daily driver is a 17 Specialized Enduro 29 in size XL. I’m 6’2, 34 inseam, monkey arms and about 180 pounds before gear.
While waiting for my backup bike to come in, my LBS (Thanks, Sonoran Cycles) offered me a size L 2015 Carbine carbon 29er to demo for a couple days. Because I’m a bike geek, I said, “heck yes.”
Picked it up yesterday, got it spinning to my satisfaction and took it out this morning to ride National Trail at South Mountain. Bike looks somewhat used, but nice. 160 Pike, DBInline, Flow wheelset, dropper, XT brakes, 11-speed setup, etc.
I put a different cockpit and grips (carbon BZA bars and a 60mm Chromag stem) then ran it. The bike is astonishly light to me. Set up the Pike and used the factory baseline tune on the DBInline with 30% sag.
Just by looking at the geo charts, I didn’t think the Carbine would be my thing. It’s not terribly “modern.”
But I have to tell you, friends, this rig is freakin’ awesome.
Let me start with the things I don’t like: XT brakes. Cane Creek shocks on VPP suspension. 125mm dropper posts. High Roller II as a rear tire. As far as the complete bike, the front was the tiniest bit floppy on the steepest climbs (which I can live with) and it doesn’t have the stiffest rear I’ve ever felt.
But let’s focus on what’s really important. On my first ride on this bike, not set up 100% to my taste, I PR’d the descent down National. For non-Phoenicians, this is a 5+ mile technical descent, all rocks, decent drops, big tech obstacles and wide-open speed. Very common ride for me, one I’ve done hundreds of times. And this was on a Sunday, so high traffic levels and I didn’t even have a clean run.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s really a beautiful bike. And did I mention light?
I did have it pinned and some of the components were complaining. The Stan’s stock wheelset was definitely in pain and I think I broke about half the spokes loose the way they were pinging. I taxed the shock, bottoming it pretty regularly and heating it up pretty good by the end.
All that said, the bike was a real hoot. Despite those chainstays, I had no issues manualing, popping both ends up when I needed to, doubling up obstacles. With a good shock, this frame could be scary fast in my environment.
I had a couple poor experiences with service and build quality years ago on some older aluminum Intense bikes and hadn’t really paid them much attention. I think I’ve been missing out for sure. I had a blast riding this bike.
