Brand Spotlight: Pivot Cycles

Pivot Cycles

A brand built from experience and hands-on knowledge

At just under a decade old, Pivot Cycles is a young brand in comparison to their competitors. However, their commitment to the latest, most innovative bike technology and the collective experience of their employees has elevated Pivot to the top tier of the high-performance mountain bike market. When Chris Cocalis founded Pivot in 2009, he brought with him the hands-on experience gained from years of riding and working on bikes, as well as from starting his own bike company —Titus Cycles— in 1991. Since he started biking, and throughout his time with Titus, Cocalis focused on innovation. He began exploring frame building and designing components in the late 1980s and 1990s, which allowed him to gain experience and exposure. His work on cranks and bottom brackets was exceptional and was even utilized by Specialized and other brands in the 90s. Eventually, Cocalis parted ways with Titus Cycles, but he took the valuable knowledge and experience that he had gained to launch Pivot Cycles in 2007.

Embracing innovation to reach the highest level of performance

From the start, Pivot strove to be a brand the represented performance-driven innovation. By approaching bicycle design and construction with an open-minded attitude, Pivot quickly climbed the ranks and established a reputation as a leading mountain bike manufacturer. Pivot has focused on innovative technologies, quickly adopting carbon fiber for frame construction, as well as partnering with Dave Weagle to incorporate his revolutionary dw-link® suspension system. In addition to Weagle, Pivot brought in other talented designers and business minds who brought with them significant experience in the bicycle industry. From former Titus engineers to management personnel who have worked at other brands throughout the industry, the Pivot team members bring varied experiences, business models and design philosophies together in one place. Cocalis continually asserts that Pivot bikes are elite because of a collective knowledge that he and his team synthesize into one cohesive philosophy. Since the designers and builders at Pivot have seen first-hand the faults and benefits of a wide variety of bike designs across the industry, they can avoid mistakes and shortfalls why maximizing performance. Cocalis has stated that "The Pivot bikes are a result of riding the best bikes made, recognizing the positive traits and the weakness' and designing something better" ( bikeradar.com ).

In addition to building a staff with a wealth of relevant experiential knowledge, Pivot has also sought to integrate cutting edge technology to give their bicycles an edge in the competitive world of high-end mountain bikes. Pivot has maintained a strong report with component manufacturers, including Shimano, Fox, DT Swiss, Maxxis, WTB, KS and Reynolds to provide a heightened level of integration and efficiency. Pivot utilizes two 3D printers as well as CNC machining to build models and prototypes quickly. Pivot is constantly searching for better design and higher performance through the use of the best materials and harnessing innovation. Pivot bikes can crush muddy trails, tight woods and the toughest, rockiest terrain with ease due to incredible design and construction.

Technology highlights

Tapered head tube-

Tapered head tube construction lowers front-end height of the frame and increases bike fit for a wider range of cyclists. Additionally, a tapered head tube is lighter, stronger and more rigid.

Press Fit 92 Bottom Bracket-

The press fit 92 BB system was a technology born from a collaborative effort between Pivot and Shimano. The Press Fit 92 is now the industry standard for high-performance mountain bikes, as it offers efficient protection for the bearings, great alignment and easy installation of the crank. The Press Fit 92 BB system improves component integration, as it eliminates the need for spacers and the need for an aluminum shell usually bonded to carbon frames. The PF92 system is fully compatible with most cranks, but the XTR version is also tied to a 3-year warranty from Shimano!

Direct Mount Front Derailleur-

Pivot innovated the direct mounting of the front derailleur to the frame. This provides factory-precision placement of the components for effective shifting and chain management. Additionally, direct mounting provides a better platform for mounting that is more secure than clamp derailleurs and rigid to prevent variations in shifting performance.

DW-link suspension-

Designed my mechanical engineer Dave Weagle, DW-link is a revolutionary suspension that is in tune with the rider's center of gravity. While most full-suspension bikes suffer from "suspension bob" —an uneven loading and unloading of the shock during period of hard pedaling, rough sections of trail and uphill motion— DW-link provides "anti-squat" performance for a smooth ride and efficient power transfer. This makes Pivot bikes, which all feature DW-link, more versatile for a variety of conditions and terrain variations. DW-link manages "suspension bob" without the use of compression dampening, lock-out settings, or other techniques that hinder performance for a smoother ride and better power transfer.

Check Out Pivot Cycles Here! (In store purchase only)

Cited:

"dw-link® Suspension," last modified 2015. http://www.pivotcycles.com/technology/dw-link-suspension/ Farley, Marcus. Interview: Chris Cocalis of Pivot Cycles . July 02, 2008. http://www.bikeradar.com/us/news/article/interview-chris-cocalis-of-pivot-cycles-17318/ "Frame Design," last modified 2015. http://www.pivotcycles.com/technology/frame-design/ "Pivot Cycles," last modified 2015. http://www.pivotcycles.com/about-us/