Pivot updated the Trail 429 last year, making substantial changes in its bestselling line. But I didn’t believe the chatter about it being a formidable climber while still being a downhill crusher — until I rode it.
I am a realist; I know the “quiver of one” claim usually means the gear isn’t great at anything. But man, oh man, did this bike shove those assumptions down my throat. I was giddy going up and ecstatic on the descents. The Pivot Trail 429 had me at “DW-link.”
We tested the bike over 4 months, covering terrain from Texas to Colorado. We rode hardpacked and fast XC trails with punchy climbs and rocky descents and bombed 10-minute-long all-mountain downhill runs.
In short: If the terrain is unknown, and you can only bring one bike, the Pivot Trail 429 is a top choice. You can reach the top of the climb with the energy and ability to bomb the descent and do so repeatedly. The Pivot Trail 429 delivered on all counts, proving to be a versatile one-bike wonder.
Pivot Trail 429 Updates
Our review sample was the third iteration of the 429 with plenty of notable changes. Lighter is righter, and Pivot shaved a claimed 300 g off a medium-size frame by upgrading the carbon fiber. This mass loss is impressive, as Pivot gave the geometry the trendy lower, longer, and slacker treatment.
The brand increased the reach on a medium frame by 16mm and reduced the head angle by 1.3 degrees (but steepened the seat tube 1.0 degrees).