Santa Cruz Unveils Carbon 29'er Hardtail
Santa Cruz used their 104 Bronson blog to take the covers off of their latest dream ride, a carbon fiber 29'er hardtail. Information is slim, but have a look inside to see more photos of their latest pony.
Read on,
Prototype Santa Cruz Carbon 29'er Hardtail
![photo]()
![photo]()
At this point there are more questions than answers... Will it be single speed compatible? It's no doubt going to be light, but the weenies will want to know how light? How many Tallboy owners have printed out these photos and tacked them to the wall?
Hardtail 29'ers may not be your cup of tea, and if that's the case, take the hate elsewhere. For those who are stoked, let the guessing game begin below!
Read on,
Let's hope that the matte finish makes it into production
While big travel steeds and All-Mountain sleds rule the roost around here, there's more to life than carbon downhill bikes and 6" travel All-Mountain machines for the majority of riders around the world. In a strong effort to keep the masses happy, Santa Cruz has let slip their latest wonder bike. Nope, there is no rear shock or clever suspension linkage. Yes, it does use carbon fiber and 29 inch wheels. And no, we don't know what they've decided to name it yet. The bike pictured comes to the fight weighing 20lbs 9oz, mega light for a big wheeler. The frame is undoubtedly featherweight, but it's also helped along by selection of SRAM's top tier XX group, a Fox F29RLC fork, and ENVE's carbon clincher wheelset.
While big travel steeds and All-Mountain sleds rule the roost around here, there's more to life than carbon downhill bikes and 6" travel All-Mountain machines for the majority of riders around the world. In a strong effort to keep the masses happy, Santa Cruz has let slip their latest wonder bike. Nope, there is no rear shock or clever suspension linkage. Yes, it does use carbon fiber and 29 inch wheels. And no, we don't know what they've decided to name it yet. The bike pictured comes to the fight weighing 20lbs 9oz, mega light for a big wheeler. The frame is undoubtedly featherweight, but it's also helped along by selection of SRAM's top tier XX group, a Fox F29RLC fork, and ENVE's carbon clincher wheelset.
The unnamed bike looks to have short chainstays
The frame is said to use a tapered headtube up front and a standard threaded bottom bracket shell. Molded cable guides and stops, along with what looks like molded carbon International Standard brake mounts at the rear of the bike. No geometry numbers have been released at this point, but the bike looks to sport relatively short chainstays. It can be very cost prohibitive to change tooling for carbon frames so I'd expect the production bike to have very similar lines to this prototype version. Forecasted release date is said to be sometime this Spring.
The frame is said to use a tapered headtube up front and a standard threaded bottom bracket shell. Molded cable guides and stops, along with what looks like molded carbon International Standard brake mounts at the rear of the bike. No geometry numbers have been released at this point, but the bike looks to sport relatively short chainstays. It can be very cost prohibitive to change tooling for carbon frames so I'd expect the production bike to have very similar lines to this prototype version. Forecasted release date is said to be sometime this Spring.
At this point there are more questions than answers... Will it be single speed compatible? It's no doubt going to be light, but the weenies will want to know how light? How many Tallboy owners have printed out these photos and tacked them to the wall?
Hardtail 29'ers may not be your cup of tea, and if that's the case, take the hate elsewhere. For those who are stoked, let the guessing game begin below!
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Excited about Santa Cruz's carbon ventures, lookin good.
But yeah, many companies have their carbon frames made in China, like Ibis.
The Carbon Nomad is sick, but that new Carbon Jekyll is going to be even sicker. The Jekyll has some things that the Nomad does not have. First, BallisTec carbon used for armoring tanks in the Japanese army is used in the frame. That's not just any carbon. Its used in baseball bats and armoring, so its ultra dent proof. Second is the new Fox DYAD RT2 shock that's two in one with totally separate air pressures, compressions, and rebounds. I loved riding the Nomad, but I'm stoked to get on a Jekyll.
I love what you said lilwalters, so right on!