SPECIALIZED CAMBER CARBON EXPERT 29
Its not often that a new bike becomes an instant hit, but Specializeds new – for – 2011 Camber is barely out of the starting blocks and already its a mainstay of the range.
Slotting neatly between the race – orientated 100mm travel Epic and the boulder – swallowing 140mm Stumpjumper, it was always going to be a crucial bike for the company that kick – started mountain bike mass production back in the 1980s. Its been so successful that the range gets a big boost for 2012 with the introduction of 29er wheels – as an alternative to the 26in regular version – and a new carbon chassis for the bigger wheels only.

The facts
Building a 29er version of the Camber represents a shift of focus for Specialized. 2011 marked the companys first concerted push into big wheel territory, but there was a clear division between wheel sizes and travel. What a difference a year makes… US riders can now choose big wheel options all the way up to the rock – spitting Stumpjumer EVO. In the UK the Camber will be the longest travel big wheeler in the range, which makes more sense to us. Big wheels are all about flow. Smaller wheels are easier to throw around. Huge travel with big wheels just doesnt add up for the vast majority of UK trail riding.

Probably.
Dont expect the same travel as the 26in version, though. Moving up to big wheels creates engineering headaches related to tyre clearances and geometry, some of which can be eased by reducing travel a tad. Given that one of the qualities of big wheels is that they roll more easily over trail obstacles, its no great loss. So the 26in Camber has 120mm travel at each end, whereas the 29er features 110mm at the back and 100mm up front. For big wheels, thats plenty.

The front triangle is made from Specializeds proprietary FACT 9M carbon. Flowing lines and organic tube shapes suit the carbon build, though at a distance youd be hard pressed to spot the differences from the very similar looking aluminium 29er chassis. Theres internal cable routing for Specializeds Command Post adjustable seat post. It may seem out of place on a big wheeler, but the three preset positions are useful in everyday trail riding. The clever self – adjusting Autosag shocks featured on 2012 Stumpjumpers havent found their way onto the Camber range, but the Experts Fox Triad shock is as competent and easy to set up as youd expect, as well as the perfect complement to the Fox Float 32 – with 29er specific geometry – plugged into the front.

Bolted onto the back and providing 110mm of rear wheel travel is an aluminium rear triangle built from Specializeds own high – end M5 alloy.

Its a feat of engineering to have crammed relatively short chainstays, a 29in wheel and 110mm travel into the space, but its here that the most obvious compromise is clearly visible: very tight clearances between tyre and seatstays. Its unlikely that the Camber 29er will be the best option for mud – plugging duties, though the dry California dust of our test sessions didnt give us the opportunity to find out.
A 142mm bolt – thru rear axle provides plenty of extra torsional rigidity and wheel strength, while Specializeds designers have also put extra time and effort into increasing the rigidity of the larger diameter wheels.

A 2×10 SRAM XO – based transmission provides snappily reliable shifting, low weight and stacks of ground clearance, delivering power to the completely redesigned Ground Control rear tyre.

The feel
Although the Camber was late to the 120mm party in 2011, its a credit to Specializeds engineers that it moved straight to the top of the mid – travel pack. The 26in wheeled versions reasonable weight, relaxed geometry and apparently bottomless travel make it a versatile and fun trail companion. Its fair to say that the carbon 29er version has a lot to live up to.
The good news is that, with a couple of years of very intensive development under its bell, its clear that Specialized has got 29er geometry dialled. Getting the big wheels to behave in fast – changing situations on the trail has been a big priority for the engineers. Even with the greater demands of the Cambers mid – travel format, the only perceptible big wheel – related foible is a subtly less fiickable feel to the front end compared with the 26in version. You have to work a bit harder to push and pull the front wheel in and out of tight, quick – changing lines – but thats a comment that applies to pretty much any 29er weve ever ridden. Its a characteristic rather than a criticism.

The flip side – and the big advantage of 29ers – is a noticeable reduction in jitteriness and stalling over small to middling sized trail obstacles. The Camber 29 rolls over rain gullies, rocks, roots and water bars as though theyre not there, the large wheels doing what large wheels do and plenty of travel taking care of the rest. The 29er platform may lose a few mm of travel over the 26in version but, in practice.
its simply not noticeable. If anything, its smoother and faster.

The icing on the cake is the low weight, incredible stiffness and vibration – absorbing character of the carbon front triangle. Few 29ers steer with the precision of the Camber Carbon 29, while the combination of big wheel easy rolling and carbon comfort makes perfect sense for long days in the saddle.

Summary
Specialized has successfully shoe – horned big wheels into a mid – travel trail bike – which is no mean feat. Aggressive riders may prefer the flickablility of the 26in Camber but for long rides out in big country, the smooth ease of the 29er makes perfect sense. The vibration reduction, torsional rigidity and low weight of the carbon front triangle make it well worth the extra if you can justify the outlay. Our only reservation is over mud clearance – mud pluggers beware.