Santa Cruz’s new enduro focused dream bike
While the Santa Cruz Bronson has been causing a commotion on the enduro
scene as one of the lighter and more capable bikes, the Californian company
have been working on something better suited to the more gravity orientated
courses.
This new bike started life back in 2011, when Santa Cruz decided it was
time to update the popular Nomad. Undecided over whether the bike should remain
a longertravel all-rounder or have more of a gravity riding bias, the plans
were put on the back burner while they experimented with 650b wheels. This led
to the development of the 125mm (4.9in) travel 5010 and 150mm (5.9in) Bronson,
and clarified where the Nomad would fit in. It may only have 15mm (0.6in) more
travel than the Bronson, and the frame weighs just a couple of hundred grams
more, but it’s a very different bike.
Suspension overhaul
Enduro races are predominantly won on the extended downhill sections, so
Santa Cruz’s engineers got to work optimising the Nomad with this in mind –
starting with the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension platform. Several test
mule frames were built, each with slightly different configurations. To achieve
the suspension curve they needed, they eventually settled on a main pivot above
the BB shell, with an extended upper linkage – similar to that found on Santa
Cruz’s V10 Carbon downhill bike – and a short lower linkage that tucks up
behind the BB shell, out of harm’s way.
While long-travel trail/all-mountain bikes like the Bronson have to
balance shock absorption with pedalling efficiency, the Nomad’s descending bias
means it’s been designed with less focus on a firm pedalling platform and more
on grip and small bump suppleness, which ultimately aids sprinting over rough
terrain. The new linkage configuration also offers increased mid-stroke
support, avoiding that wallowy feel some long-travel trail bikes are plagued by.With
an extremely strong and yet lightweight carbon fibre construction, it’s a stout
chassis, with a plush – yet supportive – suspension platform.
Born to race
The new Nomad has been designed to excel on steep, rough and technically
demanding tracks, and has geometry to suit. The front end is longer than on the
previous generation Nomad and the Bronson, which means your weight is
positioned evenly between the wheels and you can run a shorter stem without
sacrificing cockpit length. The long top tube is combined with a relaxed
65-degree head angle that offers stable control at speed and through the rough,
and a compact rear end that gives a rapid turn of speed when it counts.
With flowing curves and a seamless carbon finish, the Nomad’s lines are
more elegant than its 165mm of travel might suggest. Everything about it looks
clean and tidy, from the single-ring-only design, backed up with ISCG chain
guide tabs, to the ingenious internal routing system – the gear, brake and
dropper post cables/hoses are all directed through tubes moulded into the frame.
That means no faffing when swapping parts, a clean looking frame and no cable
rub to ruin the gorgeous finish. Frame protection has been well thought out too
– the rubber chainstay guard extends up the seatstay braces to prevent chain damage
and noise, and an extended rubber section covers the BB shell and bottom of the
down tube to fend off flying rocks.
‘Nomad’ is a worthy name for the latest Santa Cruz bike – it’s at home
attacking enduro races, sessioning local downhill tracks or simply pointed out
into the rough for long days exploring. And it does so with that touch of class
that Santa Cruz deliver so well.
Choice of shocks
The Nomad has been designed with two RockShox shocks in mind, each of
which gives the bike very different characteristics. The Monarch Plus is perfect
for pedally all-mountain rides, while the Vivid Air helps tame the roughest
terrain.
Custom graphics
In true Santa Cruz style, you can choose between aqua or magenta graphics
for the carbon ENVE Composites wheels, and the RockShox fork and shock come with
beautifully colour matched graphics too.
Shortened lower linkage
The VPP design is famed for offering a stable ‘platform’ to pedal
against thanks to its S-shaped rear axle path. But on the Nomad, the lower link
(hidden behind the chainring in this picture) has been shortened so the bike responds
better to small bumps.
Extended upper linkage
Working with the revised lower linkage, the long, V10 style upper linkage
helps offer crucial support in the shock’s mid stroke – a problematic area for many
150mm+ air-sprung bikes.
Internal routing
With internal tubes to hold the cables, building up the Nomad is a cinch
and there’s no annoying rattling to worry about either.
Long front centre
The Nomad is an inch longer out front than previous Santa Cruz models, adding
all-important stability when pointing downhill and allowing the use of sub-50mm
stems for direct steering response.
Why is this a super BIKE?
- Super-light and tough carbon fibre frame
- Aggressive, gravity biased geometry
- 165mm (6.5in) of redesigned Virtual Pivot Point
travel
