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Carroll Composites’ Prototype Carbon Fiber 29er Mountain Bike, Cyclocross Bike & More

Carroll Composites prototype carbon fiber 29er hardtail mountain bike
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Carroll Composites prototype carbon fiber 29er hardtail mountain bike

Carroll Composites is a small brand based near Boone, NC, with a wide assortment of frames, parts and accessories from designer Donovan Carroll.

The latest is his full carbon 29er hardtail mountain bike, which he and a few other testers raced at the BURN 24 Hour Challenge over Memorial Day weekend. The bike pictured above is a 2nd generation test mule, and yes, it’s quite similar in appearance to the Specialized Stumpjumper and Merida Big.Nine bikes – for good reason, Donovan says they come out of the same factory.

More pics of that, plus his King Louie carbon cyclocross bike and VIP road bike and more (like that Race Mate folding bike stand holding the bike above) right after the break…

Carroll Composites prototype carbon fiber 29er hardtail mountain bike

For his 29er, Carroll pulled separate front and rear ends from catalog options, then started tweaking. The result is a dead sexy bike with large weave patterns throughout the entire frame.

Carroll Composites prototype carbon fiber 29er hardtail mountain bike

We’re expecting a test bike or two in here soon, which will give us the chance to see how that cable routing on the left side of the top tube works out. Carroll says he, like me, tends to ride with knees in but hasn’t had an issue with rubbing them (click the image to enlarge and you’ll see that they stick out a bit on the side of the frame). The headtube is tapered.

Carroll Composites prototype carbon fiber 29er hardtail mountain bike

The downtube takes full advantage of the BB shell’s width. The original design had the rear brake caliper inside the rear triangle, but he moved it outboard to put a brace in for strength and allow postmount brakes rather than an adapter. They’re set up for 160mm rotors out of the box, which means 140’s aren’t an option.

Carroll Composites King Louie carbon cyclocross bike

The King Louie is Carroll Composites’ carbon cyclocross bike. The front triangle tubes are fairly large, which makes shouldering the bike a bit more comfortable and keeping it stiff. It has a tapered headtube and with heavily shaped seat- and chainstays. Frame weight is a claimed 1,100g (54).

Carroll Composites King Louie carbon cyclocross bike

The graphics and name hint at Belgian inspiration, but it’s named in honor of Louisville getting the first cyclocross world championships for the U.S.

Carroll Composites King Louie carbon cyclocross bike

The seatstays get a little external ribbing for stiffness. The fork is Carroll’s creation, too.

Carroll Composites King Louie carbon cyclocross bike

The King Louie has a BB30 bottom bracket and thick, shaped stays. Carroll says the geometry is tight for quick handling and stiff to handle off-camber turns and hills. The carbon wheels are built using parts picked by him, but he’s working on a full carbon tubular rim of his own design for launch soon.

Carroll Composites King Louie carbon cyclocross bike

The frame and fork retail for $1,399. Holding the bike is his Race Mate stand, which retails for $40 and should be sturdy enough to perform light repairs on your bike.

The handlbar is his as well. Called the GX12, it comes in at a remarkably light 169g but claims to be very stiff. The flattened, angled tops felt pretty good. MSRP $299.

His mountain bike stem is machined alloy and tips the scales around 120g (claimed).

Available only as a special deal for teams or friends and family is his VIP road bike. This is the 2010 edition.

Frame and fork are full carbon fiber with integrated seatmast.

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emp
emp
12 years ago

can rebrand chinese carbon

oilcanracer
12 years ago

ahh ya beat me to the rebrand comment.

Chris
Chris
12 years ago

What isn’t branded and rebranded? Look at the auto industry. +1 for graphic design of King Louie, why don’t you both recognize that?

skeptic
skeptic
12 years ago

Designer? Do you guys think anyone buys the idea’ Carroll’ have any input beyond the stickers. Sampson patented this level of lameness in cycling back in 1990 or so.

Sevo
Sevo
12 years ago

Yep…..Chinese all the way. The world needs another carbon frame and re-badged Asian junk like it needs…oh…Kanye West.

Sampson already does this sort of thing. But at least Eric puts some effort into it.

Sevo
Sevo
12 years ago

My bad….he also does waterproof cell phone cases. He has to be the real deal.

uglyyeti
uglyyeti
12 years ago

Chinese done stole his design.

Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
12 years ago

Y’all don’t realize how much of the product you buy is rebranded product that is shared by the majority of the worlds p&a suppliers. Give the guys at Carroll some credit, they are taking a stab at it and maybe, just maybe in the future they will carry the revenue to produce their own designs? What’s wrong with that? Specialized started with Mike Sinyard selling Cinelli and Campy and FMB tires…then FMB tires rebranded as Specialized tires…and look where it’s gotten them. =

Mitchell
Mitchell
12 years ago

The end result is what matters. What’s wrong with making a light, stiff, nice looking bike?

dave
dave
12 years ago

Is the King Louie also Chinese stuff?

Will Vandenberg
Will Vandenberg
10 years ago

I live in Boone, NC and know him. This isn’t some chines brand carbon frame. This stuff is nice. Quit making them because he didn’t make much money at it. Also made carbon tubular cx/road wheels too.

James Cisler
James Cisler
4 years ago

I am going to go look at one for sale tomorrow. The guy wants $600 for a carbon road bike with alloy wheels, and sram force group set. It really sucks that I cant actually find a review from anybody that actually owned one.

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