Josh Bryceland & Santa Cruz Bicycles Part Ways

Sep 27, 2018
by Sarah Moore  
Is 275 next As the last guy to win a World Cup on 26 the first to take the overall on 275 and seen here boosting on a 29er Ratboy is probably wondering what all the fuss is about.


After 10 years together, Josh Bryceland and Santa Cruz Bicycles are parting ways in 2019, although the Rat will continue to ride Santa Cruz's Reserve wheels.


bigquotesWe’ve been working with Josh since ’08, when he won Junior World Champs, and it’s been a great decade since. We’ve been with him through World Cup wins, shattered ankles, and the growth of 50:01 and their new approach to riding mountain bikes. Josh has always been an individual, and this is just the next chapter for him—we wish him nothing but the best. We have great memories of Josh riding Santa Cruz bikes, and we’re stoked that he’ll be continuing to love back wheel on Santa Cruz Reserves.Brian Bernard, Santa Cruz Marketing Manager


photo
photo

Santa Cruz Bronson


Who will Ratboy ride for next year?

Nothing is confirmed, but anonymous sources and professional internet speculators alike are floating Cannondale’s name as a place for the Rat to land. Apparently, they have a “green initiative” (no, not that kind) and Josh is a part of that. It may seem like a strange fit, but the Connecticut brand has started working with several other young UK guys over the last year. Does Cannondale have a bike for him? Is it all a bunch of misdirection? Time will tell. Wherever he lands, we salute the partnership that was Ratboy and Santa Cruz, and here’s to many more years of his playful riding and good times.




For many Top of the World is the hardest trail of the race. But for Ratboy it s no big thing.


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197 Comments
  • 279 10
 Cannondale to release new downhill bike, Bryceland returns to the world cup circuit - make it happen
  • 36 186
flag jozefk (Sep 27, 2018 at 11:31) (Below Threshold)
 No, Cannondale really is the XC spandex nerdy brand... stay lost out of DH...
  • 285 0
 Double lefty fork?
  • 4 71
flag jozefk (Sep 27, 2018 at 11:33) (Below Threshold)
 @Boardlife69: Tripple left goed right too...
  • 105 1
 @Trailstunter: are you joking? In the late 90's they dominated every genre of MTB. Dual slalom, DH, xc. All owned by Volvo Cannondale. That was dream team!
  • 15 93
flag jozefk (Sep 27, 2018 at 11:55) (Below Threshold)
 @makripper: read again... the late 90's?????
It has been freaking light years away in technical view...
  • 20 0
 Dorel industries already owns a successful DH formation, namely GT Factory Racing Wink
Cannondale has been XC/Enduro focused...
  • 46 0
 @makripper: Agreed, just looking at Volvo Cannondale Team poster in front of me, signed by Martyn Ashton, Anne Caro Chausson ,Cedric Gracia and Brian Lopes. A dream team Wink
  • 10 2
 @martin737: That is exactly what I was thinking...ever since Jerome Clementz retired, C'dale enduro racing lacked a certain je ne sais quoi, no?
  • 25 0
 @martin737: Allison sydor, missy giove, tinker jaurez, just insane
  • 6 1
 @martin737: gt has sort of been Enduro focused too
  • 16 0
 Josh on Cannondale and Loic on Orange good old days coming back
  • 3 0
 @makripper: also Cedric!
  • 3 0
 @martin737: Meanwhile, Steve Peat was on the GT DH team (99). Things change....
  • 6 3
 @Boardlife69: perhaps they can really go against normality and come out with a Righty fork
  • 9 2
 Orbea needs a dh bike.....
  • 43 1
 It almost feels like the end of an era. Bryceland and Santa Cruz have been a staple part of mountain biking since the first insight I had to British DH racing. For me its just as set in stone as peaty with Santa Cruz.

Josh is one of the few pros (or ex?) who actually continues to send the message of just ride the f*cker (JRTF). We all started riding to have fun and this kid knows how to. He wants a greener future for the world too (in many ways) but i like that, its an important message we should all listen too.

Lets watch this space eh?
  • 3 6
 @dave6797: this man is speaking truth...
  • 1 0
 @Matt76: that's Cannondale, not Apple...
  • 2 1
 @makripper: Miles Rockwell, Cadel Evans...
  • 1 0
 @Boardlife69: Why hasnt someone thought of this sooner. Brilliant!
  • 2 1
 @martin737: missy giove tinker juarez and myles rockwell too
  • 1 0
 @endlessblockades: and then to orange. Him and missy killed it
  • 1 2
 @makripper:
  • 2 0
 He is probably moving to Enduro.
  • 8 0
 @dave6797: @dave6797: couldn't have said it better ….rat makes you want to go to the trail and just have a good ass time...…..no strava, no garmin just bikes, buds ,and a shaky camera hand . always respected that about rat and peat ,,,,they made you feel like you was 10yrs old again ...like a kid ….the reason most of us started in the first place . hope he lands some where fun …...cheers
  • 1 0
 @makripper: Óscar Saiz too
  • 2 0
 in current political climate it would rather be double righty
  • 2 1
 Cannondale may have had a great era for winning races and for their powerhouse teams. However, they were racing at a time when most bikes were modified XC bikes. Once Intense released the M1 which was one of the first DH bikes, that was a total game changer. Even other teams were riding rebranded (Mongoose) versions of the M1. Cannondale has always focused on XC oriented bikes and failed miserably when creating a "true" DH bike. I'm optimistic that they can finally make one, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
  • 1 0
 @makripper: Cadel Evans, Myles Rockwell,etc. They definitely had had deep pockets before they entered the moto business Wink
  • 1 0
 @tropical4130: never knew he made it to cannondale. When I paused mtb he was on alpinestars
  • 1 0
 @digitalsoul: first dh bike is controversial. San andreas can fit there as well as super v gt lts
  • 3 0
 @digitalsoul: "they were racing at a time when most bikes were modified XC bikes"
Totally wrong.
"Cannondale has always focused on XC oriented bikes."
Mostly wrong.
"failed miserably when creating a "true" DH bike" mostly right bit I would had "for customers". Note that one of their dh bike won a rampage.
  • 3 0
 Nobody has mentioned Aaron Chase yet
  • 2 0
 @toooldtodieyoung: and his urban craziness
  • 1 0
 @Boardlife69: who would’ve thought of that?
  • 2 0
 @digitalsoul: The Gemini was pretty successful on the WC circuit under CG. He also won a Red Bull Rampage on that bike. Might need to break out the history books on this one.
  • 1 0
 @eurojuice: he was doing backflips on his lefty fork as well. Oh the good old days
  • 2 0
 @toooldtodieyoung: that Claymore with a boxxer is still in my mind... And the chase dj bike was good!
  • 1 0
 @giantwhip: member that race he backflipped to crash, awesome. Pure pastrana style
  • 69 2
 Miami Bryce own brand frames made of hemp and resin!!
  • 33 2
 Can be recycled in your bong. I'll take two!
  • 43 2
 Please let it be Orange, back where he started with some young rippers bringing back the glory days of Peat.
  • 3 0
 Would be sick
  • 34 0
 Fookin ell maaaan, ah jes be dwin skeds on t oother barks, that's arl.
  • 30 1
 Josh starts 50-01 brand bikes with green Maple leafs for logos
  • 17 0
 All come specced with only a rear wheel, that's in the shape of a heart.
  • 24 0
 can we get something like Lebron's The Decision?
  • 8 0
 I'm going to be taking my talents to...the north shore.
  • 6 0
 @acali: maybe Cove has a secret? We can dream.
  • 25 2
 Will it just be 49:01 now?
  • 18 1
 50-01 Smile
  • 8 17
flag taskmgr (Sep 27, 2018 at 11:41) (Below Threshold)
 He's not leaving 50:1? Just santa Cruz. I wonder if it's because of the carbon fibre frames?
  • 3 1
 @makripper:
Well then it has to be Pole.
  • 16 1
 Really interested to see where he goes. He is a great draw for any company that wants him. Also, interesting that he’s still on reserve wheels. It sounds like Santa Cruz is trying to branch them off as a different brand maybe?
  • 10 1
 Haven't you read the news on this other website? It is all pretty well known by now. He'll join his good friend Olly Wilkins on Focus bikes. They're about to release their new DH bike. Apparently German gravity bikes are going like hot cakes these days and they want a piece of that.
  • 2 0
 I'm sorry, What? Where did you get this information.... kinda makes some sense as when they sponsored Geoff Gulevich first I said was that he rides big mountain and they don't have a DH bike. But, at the same time, dh bikes don't bring in money, the sales are tiny compared to the sorter travel brethren and ebikes.
  • 22 0
 Ratboy to Focus bikes/Fox/patagonia
He will compete in the first UTI DH bike polo underwater bong championship
Trust me, my sources are 50:01% reliable
  • 1 7
flag clarky78 (Sep 27, 2018 at 15:00) (Below Threshold)
 Also thinking about it, when did you last see Josh ride a DH bike?? He rides trail/enduro bikes, so this makes even less sense. Plus, I'm pretty sure Focus have no plans to make a DH bike...
  • 26 0
 @clarky78: 12 days ago at hardline..
  • 1 8
flag clarky78 (Sep 27, 2018 at 15:07) (Below Threshold)
 @acali: yeah, fair enough, but it's bloody rare. And how long before that?..
  • 7 0
 @clarky78: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
  • 3 0
 @clarky78: he was also filmed on his dh bike a couple months ago at royal fest. Just because you don't see a ton of videos of him on a DH bike latley doesn't mean he isn't riding it.
  • 1 0
 @zede: I could believe he might work with Patagonia. I know he was impressed with their approach after reading “Let my people go Surfing”.
  • 1 1
 Oops, sorry. I see it is still classified. Please disregard my post!
  • 13 1
 Commencal is a good fit
  • 16 7
 Well, that's a mistake if ever I've seen one. For Santa Cruz that is.
  • 13 0
 the info on Vital makes it sound like Josh made the choice to leave.
  • 8 0
 awkward to announce now as they just build him a freshy 5010 for transacadia haha
  • 3 0
 Most likely has a few more months on the current contract
  • 7 0
 Due to Cannondale's recent rebranding efforts, I could see Ratboy moving there, it would definitely help them grow into the trail/enduro market.
  • 1 0
 Would love to see Cannondale do something new being they’re local to me but so many people have had bad experiences with warranty issues. Hard to overlook that.
  • 6 0
 Cannondale have made a smart move... Back in the 90s, they were super cool bikes with great Dh, 4 cross and Xc bikes ridden by the likes of Lopes, Rockwell and Missy..... They had a great image and I bought into it.
  • 17 9
 is he moving over to a bong sponsor?

#TEAMRUMORS
  • 11 2
 Did you come up with that on your own or did you copy paste from Vital? Or do you also go by Colin McCarthy?
  • 1 0
 @djyosh: copy paste copy paste copy paste
  • 2 0
 The best bongs in life are free.
  • 7 0
 Sickest character in MTB... Huge fan and always stoked to follow him on any bike or endeavor!
  • 19 12
 santa cruz just got a whole lot more specialized
  • 18 2
 If you listen to the interview with Rob Roskopp about this, you'd know you were dead wrong.
  • 5 1
 @ka-brap: I still love santa cruz and specialized, they both offer amazing bikes and at the end of the day, to me, that's what matters. Im sure there is more to the story, also not tryna poke anyone the wrong way so please dont take what I say too seriously.

From the surface they are loosing a rider that for the most part adds and embodies the spirit/soul of the brand, im sure they will carry on fine and do their best to keep that energy rolling forward but thats does'nt change the fact that its a bummer and changes the brands image in my eyes.
  • 4 8
flag chrismac70 FL (Sep 27, 2018 at 12:42) (Below Threshold)
 @ka-brap: given he sold out to pon he is no position get misty eyed when the new owners change things
  • 7 0
 @chrismac70: That you think Pon is behind this just shows that you have no idea how brands operate.
  • 1 0
 On Vital @hexhamstu:
  • 4 0
 @BOOTAKIS: I agree that it does change the brands image to an extent, but you have to consider that maybe Josh wants to do something else and it's his decision. It isn't always the brand's fault when a rider moves on.
  • 1 1
 @ka-brap: I think we all wish Josh the best moving forward, but i'm referring to what the effect of them parting ways has on the perception of the brand.

Regardless of the conditions for him leaving the result is that the brands image has further shifted in my eyes.

Such as if your cooking your favorite dish and leave out a key ingredient, its not going to taste like the same dish, and I guess that's my take away, its starting to taste a bit like a different dish and that's okay, its the reality of the situation.
  • 20 7
 @BOOTAKIS: when did Bryceland embodied the spirit of Santa Cruz? They are posh bikes like Intense, Yeti or Ibis, just a tad more accessible. Minnaar and Peaty embody SC. In public, they are as close to golfers as a dh rider can get. I say it in a neutral manner , they can be who the hell they want. But Ratboy? He would fit Sick Bicycles, BTR, murmur or Swarf.
  • 5 0
 @WAKIdesigns: it always made me laugh a bunch of rum lads from the Peak District sponsored by Santa Cruz.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: if he did or did not is subjective but im probably not the only rider who feels like he was part of the image of sc.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: Jeeeesus can you imagine Ratboy on a Pinner?
  • 3 0
 Trek has a bunch of riders that do little other than shred, but bringing on one more seems excessive. YT also already has a few brand ambassadors. Maybe Canyon? Cannondale possibly wants trying to replicate the Kurt Voreis/Niner vibe.

It's hard to imagine a smaller brand supporting a rider that doesn't compete in any world cup events.

Haibike?
  • 2 0
 YT and Canyon's rosters are already stacked.... Cannondale seems like an odd choice, it would literally take someone like the Rat to make their brand interesting again. I can see it though. Somewhat of a gap now with JC mixing things up, but i think he's still on as an ambassador/do-what-i-want kinda gig. Plus the mid travel bike pie is quite large and the only Cdales i see on the trail are their xc bikes.
  • 8 7
 I would love for Ratty and anyone else for that matter not to go to YT.

They're literally named "young talent" but insist on sponsoring all these guys who have been around for years and twist the words to make it fit. It's bull. And just cuz the bikes are affordable doesn't make them the best thing ever.
  • 9 0
 @Artikay13 l suppose Vali is quite young and talented
  • 4 0
 @Artikay13: I personally hadn't heard of Angel before he joined the MOB.

That said, their model shifted considerably from what it was when it started. Every model was offered in one build. It was basically "This bike is good enough to compete so shut up and just go ride the hell out of it." As this was the situation young riders are in. Competitive bikes were too expensive. This model allowed them to take advantage of the economies of scale, to order large quantities of components from the OEM suppliers and negotiate for the lowest price. And also to be able to shift to another supplier if the initial supplier isn't able to deliver. With all the differentiation between models nowadays, they can't do that anymore and it has become more like what the other companies are doing. Seems to work well for them. That said, I'd be interested to see what their bike would cost if they'd have stuck with the original business model. 'Cause at the end of the day I believe at that level, skill matters more than carbon bars or an X0 rear mech over a GX mech.
  • 4 0
 Wow, very surprised. Best of luck to the Rat in whatever he does, brother is a great rider and seems like a superb dude... I'd ride with him any day on any brand. It's not the bike that matters, it's the ride.
  • 8 2
 It was about time for him to go SOLO
  • 15 2
 He is a bit of a Nomad anyway. He Reserves the right to move on and build something new.
  • 16 1
 @hockeydavey: He‘ll adapt to any environment, just like a chameleon, I mean he already blurred the lines between WC racing and trail shredding, the fact he’s not racing anymore might be a stigmata to some possible sponsors, but he’s a tall boy and still fast as a bullet, I’d bet a nickel he’ll soon shed his past with Santa like a bad habit...
  • 5 0
 @FuzzyL: Well-played, sir! At least 4x as good as my response, you hunted those down like a jackal.
  • 7 0
 Long live RatBoy
  • 2 0
 Dunno if the cannondale rumours are true or not but it would be great to see him on a British brand though I can't see it happening! I'm going to put it out there that it'll be GT. Making some properly nice bikes and the thought of ratboy doing an ambassador role to get youngsters hyped to ride would be a very clever move.......
  • 2 0
 @BikesBoatsNJeeps: yeh that would be good. Same as it would if it was orange or even Stanton. But I think he'd be limited to how much traveling he could do. Like I said if he ended up with a British brand it would be awesome!!
  • 3 0
 marketing folks must luv to read this banter.
In the end it’s the threaded BB, less pivot bearings and warranty that made up my mind to get a SC.
Josh rides to have fun like the rest of us.
  • 1 0
 I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts Josh "LooseDog" Lewis will be heading the way of the Rat also.
Makes sense that Cannondale would pick them up due to the support they have received from Fabric.
Just saying. Sad to see the Rat leave SC though, glad he'll still be "loving back wheel" Reserve style.
  • 23 23
 On one hand Ratboy is a waste of talent. If he worked at it like Minnar or Gee he could have been an all time great. On the other, he is getting paid and making a living messing around on a bike in a way less stressful way and making the most of his talent in a low pressure way.
  • 18 3
 Why’s it a waste of talent? He’s been the best in the world and doesn’t want to do it anymore. If your hearts not in it your not going to win world cups so what exactly has he wasted?
  • 8 20
flag nismo325 (Sep 27, 2018 at 15:37) (Below Threshold)
 @thenotoriousmic: If you have the ability to win WC races and your not racing that is in my opinion a waste of talent. If he is happier not racing thats great for him but still doesn't change the fact he has a talent that isn't fully being used.
  • 6 3
 Yeah, don't you know you can't be remembered as being great unless you were a racer? Like who knows Danny Mac? Or Chris Vasquez? Pft, nobodies.

If there wasn't enough sarcasm in the above, please know you could not be more wrong. He's living life his way, f*ck off with your holistic attitude until you get to half his level.
  • 10 0
 If you listened to Kathy Sessler's podcast interview, she basically says that don't let the videos and the 50to01 vibe fool you, Josh works as hard as Greg. If that wasn't the case, he wouldn't have made it back in 2015 as quickly with the winning pace after he broke his foot in 2014.
  • 9 0
 He's a rider, not a battery chicken. Should we all squeeze ourselves dry to chase the biggest numbers or is there something deeper to aspire to?
  • 3 1
 @nismo325: Bryceland undoubtedly the most talented rider at the world cups but that’s not enough if your not absolutely committed to sending it down the worlds toughest tracks as fast as humanly possible your not going to win are you? So how do you think he’s going to do if he doesn’t even want to be there anymore?
  • 2 2
 @BenPea: We should squeeze ourselves dry to aspire to water. It's variably deeper. Will the Jekyll loaned to Mad Max (no relation) for 'Unleashed in Whistler' be prophetic? Ask a rail
  • 2 0
 @ceecee: I feel like I'm lacking some information, but we should all aspire, perspire and conspire to water.
  • 1 1
 @BenPea: You're as kind as Ratland's bud. Still 2x9? Difficult to tell from profile photos. Grenoble's environs are a dramatic backdrop for a nuclear power facility. My sponsors are water and black grips. Cuckoo!
  • 2 0
 @ceecee: I'll get back to you next time I'm having an acid flashback. Hydro power all the way btw.
  • 3 0
 He's fun to watch ride on any bike he's on. I hope he gets the deal he'd like.
  • 4 0
 Josh, we love you!
  • 1 0
 It says on vital that he’s looking to work with 2 young uk riders , so maybe the cannondale link makes sense, at the end of the day he’ll still be the rat!
  • 1 0
 Propain?
  • 3 0
 I hear his new bike will run completely on water
  • 4 3
 First 27.5 wheels, then Logan Peat, now Ratboy? Santa Cruz is giving up everything that made it cool. What next? No more 10 inches of travel?
  • 3 1
 Sarcasm? V10 has had 8inches for years.
  • 3 1
 So no "green" initiative? Damn...
  • 1 0
 He could always get that kynd sponsorship.
  • 2 0
 It'd be cool if he was actually going to Propain... just saying
  • 2 0
 Scott popped into my head.
  • 1 0
 THAT podium picture, josh, remy, and is that atwill? hahaha old times good times
  • 4 0
 Sambo Dale
  • 3 1
 Propain Bikes? He chills with Atwill a lot.
  • 2 1
 when is the Transcascadia day 1 feature going to drop w/ him riding his new bike?
  • 2 2
 Where ever it is SC have lost out Frown the rat is nothing short of a legend for is character and wild riding.... Long live the rat
  • 2 0
 Cannondale and Fabric with Reserve wheels ????????
  • 2 1
 Interesting that he was the guy they used to release the Bronson and now gone. Do they make another commercial?
  • 3 5
 Def one of my favorite racers but i'm just gonna go ahead and say it... since he's stopped caring and chooses to mess around and do tricks, i think Santa Cruz has a better rider for that... Danny MacAskill. Good luck Josh hopefully you find your way back to racing would love to see you smash times (not berms) again.
  • 3 1
 3 dumb bike is not a "current" Cannondale.....just saying
  • 13 13
 Thank god for that. Now I don’t have to want an overpriced and overhyped bicycle.
  • 14 0
 So you are confirming advertising and rider sponsorships work?
  • 4 1
 @bman33: well...yeah? Otherwise why would they do it? Or are you joking? Wait. I was just joking to begin with. Now you’ve really got me confused.
  • 2 0
 Selling 2019 Bronson! Lol
  • 4 1
 Does anyone drink Red Bull because it tastes good?
  • 1 4
 Would love to see him get on with Kona. But maybe he’ll land with Haibike. Seriously though, he’ll want a sponsor that will send him around the world so it won’t be that small of a company. Best of luck Josh, you helped SC launch the new Bronson nicely.
  • 2 0
 God save the Rat!
  • 2 1
 #GODSAVETHERAT

Hyper bikes?
  • 1 0
 whatever the new bike is Josh will make it look rad!
  • 3 2
 Idk wtf he’s been up to since he blocked me on ig
  • 1 1
 yeah that's what happens when u drop stupid comments
  • 3 2
 Ratboy to Haibike then?....
  • 3 1
 Y.T. = Yorkshire Talent
  • 5 0
 You do realise he's not from Yorkshire, don't you?
  • 1 0
 Wrong county mate!
  • 1 0
 @slimboyjim: I love people’s perceptions of the counties in the UK????
  • 1 0
 @Downhill1Enduro1James1: Luckily no-one will ever upset anyone by saying such a thing, eh? ;-)
  • 3 3
 What happened did he ask for mo money?
Why would Santa Cruz ditch such an inspirational individual?
  • 1 0
 He left them.
  • 1 0
 News on Vital says he's going to a New company.....
  • 2 1
 Yes, new brand, but maybe not new company or company owner as he will still run the reserve wheels.
  • 1 0
 my money's on him going to GT, you heard it here first.
  • 1 0
 29er turner dhr is coming
  • 1 1
 Reckon we might see him on a steel framed rig next... as green as they get.... crack a weld and have it re-done!
  • 1 0
 Sick bicycles would be...?.......Sick.
  • 1 0
 ratboys effects on yt; capra to chupacabra..
  • 1 1
 Bronson sales just plummeted.
  • 1 0
 Im going for gt
  • 1 0
 This guy!
  • 1 0
 #mtbisdead
  • 2 2
 Too much sponging Rat! You're fucken out mate...
  • 1 0
 Hes gone to cannondale ,
  • 1 1
 ...what about trek?
  • 2 0
 Trek working on there female rosters through all 2wheels disciplines mtb cross road
  • 1 1
 gone to cannondale
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