Fresh new bike maker Bear Bikes have just unveiled their first offering. Tailored to the type of hilly NorCal riding on offer in their backyard, they’re even calling the new carbon road bike the Pantoll, anmed after one of the Bay Area’s iconic climbs. Jump past the break to get a closer look and see what makes this bear one you might want to ride into the hills…
Bear Bikes set out to build a bike that was ideally suited to their mountainous Northern Californian environs. Accordingly, the new bike needed to climb well, corner well, and be very stable on the long, fast descents found there. Cue the Pantoll, a full carbon road bike thats intended to excel at all those things, without sacrificing comfort for speed. Available in 5 sizes ranging from 50cm to 61cm, the Pantoll is built around a stout BB30 bottom bracket shell for a wide variety of crank compatibilities. Up front, a tapered steerer fork is sure to keep the front end stiff for stable descending and cornering. Offered complete with an Ultegra build or separately as a frameset, Bear Bikes is partnering with Bay-are bike shop chain Mikes Bikes to offer an in-store pickup option for customers looking to save on shipping charges.
The Pantoll sticks with rim brakes and standard quick release axles front and rear. Knowing many riders these days are starting to opt for 1x drivetrains, the front derailleur hanger is removable, giving a little cleaner aesthetic for those running a single chainring. All cables are routed internally, and interchangeable cable ports mean Di2 routing is simple and clean. Bear has a full table of weights listed for complete bikes and frame sets, with a 55cm bike tipping the scales at 18.3lb/8.3kg, and the same frame weighing in at 3.24lb (1470g). In addition to Ultegra 6800 components, the full build is rounded out with Mavic Aksium wheels and a Ritchey alloy cockpit.
Interestingly, full bikes come equipped with a compact crankset and a surprisingly narrow 11-25 spread cassette, but also feature a mid-length GS derailleur cage (which will handle up to a 32t low gear.) Of note is the option to get a frame unfinished, to be painted how ever its new owner sees fit. MSRP for a Pantoll is $2800 for a complet build and $1400 for a frame/fork/headset, with introductory promo pricing of $2500/$1100, respectively.
