Specialized Crave SL (2015)

29 Single Speed Sweetness

Pros

- Lightweight
- SS
- Amazing XC geometry
- Disc brakes

Cons

- None

Review

Hands down one of the best bikes for your buck. This 29er single speed bike from Specialized has got to be the most fun and simplest bikes to ride. With the 29 inch wheels and single speed, you basically just need to hop on and start to pedal. The great thing about a bike like this is that it's designed for XC, but with the single speed I got to focus more on shredding than shifting. The Crave SL's platform is an aluminum frame with carbon forks, keeping it super light and nimble on the trail.

Let's get to the test ride: I had so much fun riding the Crave SL from Specialized. It's just one of those great, fun rides that you'll be glad you took. Like I said, with the single speed my focus was simply pedaling and the scenery. The 29 inch wheels wrapped in Specialized rubber demolished everything that was in my sight. Now, don't forget the carbon forks can only dampen so much ground vibration as there are no shocks on this bike, but that really didn't have an impact on the overall performance. The gearing was perfect for my local cross country trails and even did a good job on not tiring me out on some climbs. Headed down the other side of the climb, the Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes with duel pistons did more than an adequate job of stopping.

[For those of you intrigued about duel piston brakes, let me explain exactly what they do and why you need them. A single piston alloys only the outboard pad to be pressed against the rotor until it gets wedged against the inboard pad. A duel piston setup allows for both pads to be pressed against the rotor using an equal stopping force and providing more reliability.]

I recommend this bike to anyone looking to explore the country side. The Specialized Crave SL is the perfect cross country bike. With the lack of front fork shocks, riders that are looking to do more off road may not be as happy with this bike. That being said, there are many great uses for this bike and they don't need to be restricted to XC. Use this bike as your daily rider, commuter, or simply a means to break free for a few hours. No matter what you do or where you go with this bike, you'll go there with a smile.