2013 Specialized Carve SL – Medium (17.5)
Welcome to this sale, I’m really glad you’re here.
Should you be inclined to “push the button”, let me tell youa little bit about what you are offerding on.
A little about of history...
This is a 2013 Specialized Carve SL – the last modelproduced before Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc was, quite ironically, thevictim on the receiving end of a trademark infringement. Nothing like eatingyour own dogfood every now and then, eh?
Harking back to the days of unduly expensive printingpresses – I suppose they decided to stay with the same letters and employ ananagram-esque strategy to produce the new name – Crave.
I was always quietly very satisfied that I got a Carve andnot a Crave. The new name has always just sounded funny to me. Sounds like a nicotine patch or something.
Anyway, enough about that.
This Carve SL is so special, that it actually has its ownname. This bike is affectionately andirreverently known as #barfight.
I immediately named her #barfight after our very first ridetogether – as that was the only term I could think of that sufficiently expressedthe feelings that overwhelmed me after our first ride. Full, from head to toe,with adrenaline. Shoulders, wrists, legs and eyeballs all trembling with pain.Chest out, huffing and puffing, walking around in circles like a lion watchingover his pride. Completely irrational, hard to pin down, utterly senseless andfully destructive. Kind of like a bar fight. There are never winners.
The hashtag (#), I threw in there because I basically haveno idea why people use them or what they’re for. I’m a bit of an old fart, somy experience with them doesn’t go much past a Jimmy Fallon skit, but it cameto me, and anybody who knows me knows that I follow my heart. So #barfight itis.
It has come to be one of my absolute favorite bikes andoften puts a bigger smile on my face than my 9 million dollar carbonified superrocket full suspension couch boinger bike (a wickedly built up Santa CruzTallboy C). As mentioned previously, I’m an old fart now with zero visions ofgrandeur – in fact, any time I can spend more than 5 minutes outside of mynormal self-hatred and loathing is considered a once in a life time victory –so you’ll really never see me ride more than 60-90 minutes. In that time frame,especially while on my sad and pathetic corporate lunch break, it’s reallyimpossible to beat the bang for buck that you can get on a singlespeed.
But for those days when you can get out longer, riding SSwill beef up your skills so much, that when it’s time to hit the gears, youride like an entirely new and different animal. Such a great tool for honingone’s skills. Or skillz. Whichever floats your boat.
I’ve enjoyed singlespeed so much, that I’m doubling down onit and building up a real-deal whizbanger. I know I’ll regret it eventually,since this bike is already perfect, but we are all obliged to simply be thebest version of ourselves that we can be, and this is what I do. I never stopbuilding new things. In all likelihood,I’ll waste a ton of money, hate the new bike, sell it, then go buy anotherSpecialized, but this time I’ll be saddled with a Crave instead of a Carve and the name will driveme to my grave. I’ve seen this movie before…
I sincerely hope you’ll keep that name, but I understand ifyou’d like to let your own experiences imprint a new name for you.
A little about the bike...
As mentioned above, this is a size Medium (17.5).Additionally, all of the geometrical specifications listed on the currentSpecialized webpage still apply directly to this bike. One difference is thatthey specified a 2.1 on the webpage, but actually delivered it with a 2.3. The2.3 is really essential for comfort and stability. I stand at a whopping andintimidating 5’9” and have found that this bike needed not one singlemodification to fit me like a glove.
The build is absolutely bone-stock, with not one singlechange to it. The only item on this bike that is not OEM are the grips. I put abrand new pair of ESI Chunky grips on there, since I did a pretty good jobwearing out the stock grips.
This bike has precisely 206.2 miles logged on it. As you digthrough the pictures, you will certainly notice some wear on the cranks andseatstays. I have really big feet and my heels wobble all over the place, sothose are why you see those marks on the cranks and stays. I also live in anarmpit of a place where the humidity rarely subsides, so you’ll see someoxidation on some of the bolts around the handlebars and brake mounts.
A little about the sale...
Please try and refrain from asking me to close the sale early or making offers prior to the sale\'s closing or below the buy now price. I\'ll simply ignore these messages. If any of the photos attached don\'t fully explore a section of the bike, please feel free to ask me for a higher resolution photo, as I do have a few more than the maximum of 12 that are allowed on .
Good luck and keep the rubber side down!
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
FRAME
Specialized M4SL Aluminum, 29er singlespeed specific frame w/ XC geometry, fully butted w/ smooth welding, tapered headtube and seat tube, forged post mount 160mm disc dropouts, alloy replaceable der. hanger
FORK
Specialized Chisel carbon rigid fork, monocoque carbon structure, tapered carbon steerer, alloy dropouts, PM brake mount, OS28 compatible
HEADSET
Integrated 1-1/8\" upper and 1-1/2\" lower threadless, Campy-style, full cartridge bearings
STEM
Specialized 3D forged 6061 alloy, 4 bolt clamp, 7º rise, 31.8mm
HANDLEBARS
Flat bar, 6061 double butted alloy, 700mm wide, 10º backsweep, 4º upsweep, 31.8mm
GRIPS
Specialized Body Geometry XCT, Kraton rubber w/ gel, closed end, 132mm, lock-on
FRONT BRAKE
Avid Elixir 1, hydraulic disc, G2 CleanSweep 180mm rotor
REAR BRAKE
Avid Elixir 1, hydraulic disc, G2 CleanSweep 160mm rotor
BRAKE LEVERS
Avid Elixir 1, hydraulic lever
CASSETTE
Singlespeed conversion kit, 20t Cr-Mo 3/32\" cog, alloy spacers and lock ring
CHAIN
KMC X-10-Ti, 10-Speed, titanium nitride gold w/ reusable Missing Link
CRANKSET
Custom SRAM 1250, singlespeed specific, GXP
CHAINRINGS
32, aluminum
BOTTOM BRACKET
SRAM GXP BB for 2pc, 73mm shell
PEDALS
N/A
RIMS
Carve SL Disc, 29\", alloy double-wall, sleeve joint, 26mm, 32h
FRONT HUB
Specialized MTB disc hub, alloy, Hi Lo flange, cartridge bearings, alloy axle, QR, 32h
REAR HUB
Specialized MTB disc hub, alloy, Hi Lo flange, cartridge bearings, steel axle, steel cassette body, QR, 32h
SPOKES
Stainless, 2.0mm (14g)
FRONT TIRE
Specialized Ground Control, 29x2.3\", Aramid bead, 60TPI
REAR TIRE
Specialized Ground Control, 29x2.1\", Aramid bead, 60TPI
SADDLE
Specialized Body Geometry Carve, steel rails, 143mm width
SEATPOST
Specialized 2 bolt head, forged alloy, 12.5mm offset, micro adjust, 27.2mm, 350mm or 400mm
SEAT BINDER
31.8mm, forged alloy QR, brass washer
GEOMETRY
Seat Tube Length, Center to Top
445mm
Top Tube Length (Horizontal)
603mm
Top Tube Length (Actual)
574mm
Chainstay Length
442mm
Bottom Bracket Drop
63.5mm
Bottom Bracket Height
308mm
Head Tube Length
100mm
Head Tube Angle
71.5°
Seat Tube Angle (Actual)
71°
Seat Tube Angle (Effective)
73°
Wheel Base
1085mm
Stack
625mm
Reach
412mm
Standover Height
796mm
Handlebar Width
700mm
Stem Length
75mm
Crank Length
175mm
Seatpost Length
350mm
