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Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013

$1118.93
$1399.00^*

REDUCED PRICE You Save 20%

(6)

Item # 825375

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A smooth operator, our new Novara Intrepid 29er hardtail mountain bike makes it easy to find your flow with its steel frame, big 29 in. wheels, 2x10 drivetrain and singletrack-loving RockShox fork.

Reynolds 520 butted steel frame supplies a smooth, buttery ride quality and responsive handling
RockShox Recon Gold TK 29 suspension fork delivers 80mm of travel and saves weight with an aluminum steerer and upper tubes; preload adjustment and lockout tune the ride
SRAM X7 shifters and front derailleur and X9 rear derailleur quickly guide the chain, and your power, through the drivetrain
2x10 drivetrain offers nearly identical gearing range as a 3x10 without the weight and supplies improvements in shifting performance and mechanical reliability
Shimano hydraulic disc brakes offer the all-weather, powerful benefits of hydraulic braking and use CenterLock 160mm rotors for enhanced performance and low profile
Double-walled Weinmann rims are decked out with the lightweight, 60 TPI WTB Nano Race aramid beaded tires for fast-rolling performance
WTB Pure V Race saddle features a leather cover for comfort and durability
Specs on our new Novara Intrepid 29er hardtail mountain bike are subject to change

All bicycles sold at REI include a free warranty tune-up. New bikes go through a normal break-in period, after which readjustment is important for longevity and performance. Bring your new bike in to your local REI for its free tune-up within 20 hours of use or 6 months from purchase, whichever comes first. Contact your nearest REI bike shop to schedule this important service.

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Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013 Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013

4.8

(based on 6 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Great components (6)
Handles well (6)
Rugged (6)
Smooth ride (6)
Versatile (5)

Cons

Best Uses

Casual trails (6)
Cross country (6)
Single track (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid cyclist (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (6)

Reviewed by 6 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-6

Jun

2013

4.0

Good bike for the money

By Gray biker

from cary, nc

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Free Riding
Single Track

Comments about Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013:

I am just under 6'3", ~210 lbs. I ride 2/3 off road, mostly forest single track and double track (bridal path) with hills. I like hills. I average 3 rides per week at 15 miles per ride. I have ~250 miles on this bike.
I got a Large (as opposed to XL) frame because the greater wheel diameter height changed the stance fit. I like steel frames as they seem to dampen vibration better.
This is my first experience with: 29", disc brakes, 2x10 gears.
the 29" wheels make the thing just fly..seemingly adding 5 mph on the flats for equivalent cadence.
The brakes work great! what comes to mind is the expression "stops on a dime with three cents change". Plus they make no noise.
the gears work well for all of my riding: hills and flats. some careful adjustment is required to get all 10 gears on the rear to work with the two front gears. More typically it is 2x8. The shifters work very well. It takes some getting used to the fact that gearing both up and down requires a push of the finger.
the front fork lock out is dead simple to use and does the job. As riding out of the woods onto the road, simply reach down and engage the lock.

The color scheme and such is not a stylish as the big name brands. The plus could be that it is less attractive to thieves.

I wanted a bike that would serve me well for both off and on road and was a good value. This bike well meets those requirements.
My only hold back on the 5th star has to do with the frame shape with regards to the 29" wheels. Some bike models drop the frame near the seat post so as to compensate for the taller wheels. I recommend care with regards to frame sizing.

Comment on this review

May

2013

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great bike!

By Kyle-D

from Phoenix, AZ

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Lightweight
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Single Track

Comments about Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013:

This bike is great for the price. Getting an air fork (worth 400-500 alone) and hydraulic brakes is a big upside to getting this bike, both of which you will rarely find on bikes under $2000. I really like the wide Novara brand headset too. Being a hardtail, it is a little rough on some of the rocky AZ trails, but that is a knock against hardtails, not this bike in particular. Definitely manageable, the buttery smooth air fork really makes for as smooth as ride you can get with a hardtail. It is a 10-2 gearset, which took me a while to get used to compared to 7-3, but I like it as it makes gear shifting less complicated.

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Steel frame... Awesome

By gg7096

from Phx, Az

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Lightweight
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Single Track

Comments about Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013:

I got my 20% off coupon and went right to REI for a Ponderosa...but while I was there, I figured I would test ride a Intrepid. I'm glad I did! While the Ponderosa was a great bike I couldn't believe the difference in the ride. The steel frame takes the harshness of an aluminum frame and gets rid of it. I didn't think once I got the Intrepid on a trail it would ride as smooth as my fs bike, but I got to say it was hard to tell the difference. In all fairness the fs bike is a 26in. Anyone looking for a steel frame 29er with good components that doesn't break the bank would be well served by this bike. The new 2013 Ponderosa weights a bit less, but the smoothness of the steel frame more than makes up for it.

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(13 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Steel 29er Hardtail

By jwachs

from Portland, OR

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Light for Steel
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Steel

Cons

Can't remove decals
Fork needs more travel

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Single Track

Comments about Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013:

Was looking for a steel 29er hardtail with good components so when I found this one it seemed to good to be true. There aren't very many steel 29er hardtails with good components available for less than $1,800 or so. I just can't buy anything else, but steel and so far this bike hasn't disappointed me at all. It handles climbs very well, rolls over roots, rocks, and other obstacles with ease, and can handle the abuse of technical singletrack. I am an avid cross country rider that likes both technical climbs and decents. If you are looking for a great steel 29er hardtail for the money I would look no further.

Comment on this review

May

2012

(14 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Phenomenal bike for the $$$$$

By aparkhi

from Colorado Springs, CO

About Me Avid Cyclist

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Lightweight
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Single Track

Comments about Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013:

If you're looking at the Ponderosa, stop... You should should get this instead. I had the Ponderosa and it's just not enough bike if you have aspirations of riding hard once you're stronger. The suntour fork is the ponderosa's weak link... The intrepid on the other hand has a nice Rockshox Recon Gold which itself is 300-400 dollars. On top of that it's a steel bike which I find makes for a smoother ride. The SRAM drivetrain I feel is better in every way. Shifters are smoother with more of a smooth ratchet feel where the Shimano on the Ponderosa was ok but lacks the feel of the SRAM. The 2x10 drivetrain simplifies the gearing and just seems to climb easier with better ratios. Also the brakes being Shimano hydraulics are fan-freekin-tastic. It allows you to use one finger braking with confidence therefore making you faster overall. Oh yeah, wanna wheelie easier? Just adjust the rebound on your fork to high speed and it helps push the front up easily once you compress it. My day today included 10 miles commuting to work (which it handles well) and straight to Palmer Park after work. I just can't believe the difference you get for just $450 more. Use a coupon and feel great about this bike. One last thing, this bike is a full pound lighter than the Ponderosa...

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Wow. What a bike.

By Lexingtonrambone

from Greenville, sc

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Great Components
Handles Well
Pricevalue
Rugged
Smooth Ride
Versatile

Cons

Color choices
Doesn't include pedals

Best Uses

Casual Trails
Cross Country
Free Riding
Single Track

Comments about Novara Intrepid 29er Bike - 2013:

Wow. What a bike. Steel frame and light weight. Great front shock, only 80mm of travel though... Who needs more on a 29er though. X9 rear derailer needed adjustments shortly after first ride, common though. Doesn't include pedals, but allowed me to get platform instead of clipless ones. Brakes work well with bike and wheels and tires are very good quality. With coupon bike is a even better deal. Regular price is still hundreds less than competition.

Service and delivery comments:

Ordered online and built in Greenville, sc store. Was back ordered but only took 3 weeks to get.