Question — Jon H. writes: Hi, stumbled across an old write up on the Jackal frame size. Have you been happy on your short? I am 5’10 and have been struggling on their sizing. I mostly ride the pump tracks and small/med lines with my son on an old Giant STP and have been looking […]
Santa Cruz Jackal Dirt Jump Bike Build & Review
The Santa Cruz Jackal MTB dirt jump hardtail is only available as a frame only, and at $800, it’s on the high end in terms of available options. Because of the high entry cost, unless you have a healthy budget or a fondness for the most choice gear, it isn’t in our top recommendations for […]
Bike Check: Tec-GNAR Custom Painted Nomad + GNAR Trail Tool
While getting prepped to ride the Captain Ahab Trail in Moab, Utah, we caught the sight of a custom painted Santa Cruz Nomad. Turns out it was the personal bike of Dustin Carlson, a custom bike painter based out of Price, Utah. And when you custom paint bikes, your personal ride not only can but […]
Santa Cruz Jackal Dirt Jumper Custom Build
26″ wheels aren’t dead. Though the industry has moved on to promoting other wheel sizes for general mountain biking, they’re still in use, and while parts are becoming a bit harder to find, they’ll always have a place in freestyle. Though it is a niche market compared to trail riding, riders serious about progression and improving their skills eventually […]
Upgrading Your Ride: Santa Cruz 5010 2.0 Carbon S Case Study
According to surveys, the average rider will spend anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 on their next trail bike. That’ll net you a bike with name brand suspension with basic adjustability and solid components. At this price point you’ll choose between an alloy or carbon fiber frame. Choosing alloy will pay off with a higher quality parts […]
Bike Check: Inga Beck’s Santa Cruz Bronson CC
Although the new 2016 Bronson is here, it can be hard to let go of one you love, especially when its been accessorized as well as this one.
New Gear: 2016 Santa Cruz 5010 2.0 Carbon S — the Everyman Build
Earlier this year we got to spend some time on the new 2016 Santa Cruz 5010 CC. Equipped with top shelf components and premium carbon wheels, it was a dream bike, but with a sticker price of $10,000. That’s a hell of lot of money for a mountain bicycle. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend that much […]
First Ride: 2016 Santa Cruz 5010
It was probably sometime last year when I was pedaling up the fire road climb in Santa Cruz’s Demonstration Forest next to Don, a marketing manager at Santa Cruz Bicycles. We were both astride our 650b Carbon Nomads when I mentioned the wishlist for my next bike. Citing my fondness for my former ride— a Santa […]
650b Nomad Chronicles Part II: Bike Check
I’ve got over three months of riding logged on the latest iteration of the Santa Cruz Nomad, and it’s been a ball. As a rider that prefers the gravity side of the spectrum, the DH-like geometry isn’t just massively confidence inspiring pointed down, but it just feels right. Since swapping my parts over from my […]
650b Nomad Chronicles: Part One
Ermygawd, I have the new 650b Nomad. Since I’ve built it up, I’ve received more than a few Facebook queries about it, asking how it rides. My first answer? This bike puts a smile on my face. Yes— it is awesome. I was in that boat a few weeks ago; once I decided I was about to […]
Santa Cruz Nomad Update: 650b wheels, shorter stays, lower and slacker
We’ve guessed it was coming for sometime; the question was, would it live up to our expectations? Our wishlist had consisted of the following: shorter chainstays, lower bottom bracket height, steeper seat angle, slacker head angle, and a water bottle cage. On our bikes, an AngleSet had fixed two of the above: slacked out head […]
All Around Trail Crusher: Santa Cruz Bronson Build Video Edit
We’re getting closer and closer to that holy grail of mountain bikes every year— the one that descends like a downhill bike, and climbs like an XC bike. A few years ago this class of bike was typically referred to as an all mountain bike or long travel trail bike, but now marketing departments have latched […]