Carver Gnarvester Ti 29 Plus – STOLEN

Updated 6/9/2015

I purchased this bike last month, in May, 2015.  It’s my first titanium frame and I’ve been wanting a 29+ bike for a while.  Stoked!!  I feel it’s the perfect bike (for me, at least) for the type of terrain we have at home in the Eastern Sierra.  Miles and miles of soft, sandy doubletrack to explore.  The extra flotation over a regular mtb tire is welcome, but for most of it, a full-on fat bike is too cumbersome.  Since I’ll be riding the inaugural Caldera 500 route this Summer, I splurged – hoping this tool will help me successfully conquer the challenge.  I decided to put some gears on it (1×10), but can very easily convert it back to ss with the sliding dropouts.   I’ve only been on a couple of rides on the bike so far, out here in Santa Fe, but already love it.  It rails on the descents, and doesn’t feel sluggish at all on the climbs.  It feels just like a “real” mountain bike, except that it climbs up and over chunk like a monster truck.  I have yet to ride it in sandy conditions, but can imagine it’s gonna do well.  Anyhoo, here is the build and some photos:

• Frame: Carver Gnarvester Titanium – 17″ (Small/Medium)
• Fork (Rigid): Niner Carbon RDO – (15mm DT Swiss RWS Thru-Axle)
• Crank: Sram XX1  – (168 q factor, 175mm length)
• Chainring: Absolute Black – (32T, Direct Mount GXP, color – red)
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR M-986 Shadow 10-speed (Medium Cage)
• Rear Shifter: Shimano XTR M-980 (iSpec B)
• Cassette: Shimano XT 10-speed
• Chain: Sram PC-1091R
• Headset: Cane Creek 40 – (solid, and great value)
• Stem: Easton- EA90 90mm, 0 degree (I had it lying around, solid and light)
• Bars: Enve Sweep Carbon Flat Bar –  (700mm- 9 degree sweep, I had it lying around – lightweight, solid, and comfy)
• Brakes: Shimano XT 785-B (strong braking power, iSpec B mount allows me to clamp my shifter directly to brakes, so only one clamp on bars – nice and clean.)
• Wheels: Stan’s Hugo 52mm – (Yellow tape makes tubeless super easy.)
• Front Hub: Stans 3.30
• Rear Hub: Stans 3.30
• Tires: Bontrager Chupacabra 29 x 3.0 (set up tubeless with 2 scoops of Stans)
• Grips: Ergon GS2 (I use Ergon GS2’s on every bike I own.  Best grips ever!)
• Saddle: WTB Valcon (I’m testing other saddles out for multi-day rides)
• Seatpost: Easton EC-90 (31.6 x 400mm, I had it lying around – again, lightweight and solid)
• Seatpost Collar: Carver Ti
• Skewer (Rear): DT Swiss 12 x 142mm RWS Thru – Axle
• Pedals: Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3

Bikepacking

• Custom Frame Bag: Porcelain Rocket
• Seat Bag: Revelate Vischacha
• Handlebar Harness: Revelate
• Gas Tank: Revelate
• Jerry Can: Porcelain Rocket
• Feed Bags: Revelate
• Computer: Garmin eTrex Vista HCX (yes, it’s old, but it gets the job done)
• Lights: Fenix LD-22, Exposure Joystick
• Rear Light: PDW Aether Demon (mounted to chainstay)

Drawing up the pattern for my custom Porcelain Rocket frame bag.

The Bontrager Chupacabra 3″ tires. Yummy.

Stans Hugo 52mm wide wheels

Absolute Black – Direct Mount chainring. Anodized red bling – nice and clean.

Lily hanging out during the build at Frankie Flat’s house.

Shimano XTR derailleur with Sram XX1 cranks. I’m still getting used to shifting – it’s been a while 🙂

The PDW Aether Demon rear blinky light mounted to the chainstays.

Photo after its maiden voyage up Aspen Vista Trail and down to Big Tesuque. Man is this thing fun!

Finishing touches. Put my incredibell on and trimmed up the brake and shifter cables.