Bike Check: Vero Sandler's Santa Cruz V10 - Darkfest 2022
Another newcomer to the Darkfest experience is Wales-based Kiwi, Veronique Sandler. Spending her time at home sending at Revolution Bike Park, not even the Vision line at Revs can prepare a rider for the scale and speed of the hits here in South Africa. We catch up with Veronique to chat about her new V10 and how someone prepares for event of this magnitude for the first time.
Santa Cruz V10
Frame: Santa Cruz V10 CC, small
Fork: Rockshox Boxxer Ultimate, 180psi, rebound 2 clicks from slowest, full compression
Wheels: Santa Cruz Reserve DH rims with Chris King hubs
Drivetrain: SRAM XO drivetrain w/ 170mm cranks
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC Brakes
Cockpit: Title handlebar (740mm width) and stem (35mm rise); WTB Grips
Pedals: DMR Vaults
Saddle & Seatpost Title JS1 saddle and seatpost
Frame: Santa Cruz V10 CC, small
Fork: Rockshox Boxxer Ultimate, 180psi, rebound 2 clicks from slowest, full compression
Wheels: Santa Cruz Reserve DH rims with Chris King hubs
Drivetrain: SRAM XO drivetrain w/ 170mm cranks
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC Brakes
Cockpit: Title handlebar (740mm width) and stem (35mm rise); WTB Grips
Pedals: DMR Vaults
Saddle & Seatpost Title JS1 saddle and seatpost
 | I didn't really know how to set my bike up my bike for something like this as I've not hit something of this size before. I played at Hellsend and messed with my settings until it felt good and paid attention to how much suspension I was using etc. Getting tips from the boys has been amazing as they've got a lot more experience on this stuff. I've got a pretty good set up I think, I've got an air shock in to make it easier to change the settings instead of changing out springs. It's obviously a lot stiffer and slower to how I would usually run it. |
Vero's bikes are usually set up for playing around near her current home in the UK, but the size of these jumps means that this week, her suspension is stiff and slow.
Some red Chris King details complement the CC frame - Santa Cruz's highest end carbon.
Those small details - like well-worn and familiar grips - make a big difference, and an even bigger difference at an event like DarkFest.
SRAM Code RSC brakes are in charge of stopping.
That Title MTB saddle is a popular choice in the freeride realm.
This bike is made for charging.
And it's DMR Vault pedals for the bike's final contact point.
Cheers to big hits.
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when is the return of the new 27" bikes? jajajaja XD
I looked at the other article, and dude said his settings were “all the clicks closed”. So fully damped, and that’s probably what is meant here.
So we, as mountain bikers, have managed to make the term “full compression” mean “actually as little compression as possible” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So see how we just drop the 'damping' to arrive at 'full compression'?