The 2016 Santa Cruz Enduro Challenge - Pro Bike Check

Cedric Gracia came down to Bright for the weekend on his Santa Cruz Highball. His bike has a custom paint-job with a leopard style print on the top tube. Cedric was running a DVO Diamond fork up the front, Magura brakes and a prototype CrankBrothers seat post he didn't want us taking photos of...

Jared Graves' new bike is a wonder of a bike - a size large Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper. Jared was running a RockShox 170mm Lyrik fork and a Monarch DebonAir shock in the rear. He was also running HT's clips pedals, some new prototype stages cranks, which track your cadence and watt usage, and is a separate crank to his other. Combined with a full XX1 drivetrain and SRAM Guide Ultimate's, it's no wonder Jared piloted this beast of a bike to victory.

Jared's new prototype Stages crank.

As we all know, Curtis Keene has been with Specialized for a while now. Curtis rode a 650B Specialized Enduro at Bright, with a beefy 180mm RockShox Lyrik fork and a Vivid Air shock. Curtis was running a prototype Specialized Butcher front tyre, just adding to the beefiness of the bike. Curtis was also running a prototype RockShox Reverb dropper post...

Ben Forbes rode a Trek Slash 9.8 this weekend with some fresh Zelvy wheels and handlebars. With a full XX1 drivetrain it's no wonder Ben is a competitor to be reckoned with.

Rocky Mountain had a big following up at Bright this weekend with Kane Cannon being one of the biggest representatives. Kane was riding a Rocky Mountain Altitude Rally Edition with a full Fox 36 set-up. His wheels were the super wide 31.8 internal BC wheels.

Dave Maud rode a Specialized S-Works Enduro and was pretty happy with the stock setup of the bike.

Shanon Hewetson rode an Intense Tracer T275 with Enve 70 rims and Enve bar and stem for his cockpit setup. His saddle is a prototype Fizik. He also ran an XX1 groupset for the weekend.

There were quite a few Devinci's up at Bright with Graeme Mudd on board the team it's no surprise they are occurring more and more on the Australian trails. Graeme was riding a Devinci Spartan with a 160mm RockShox Lyrik and a Monarch on the rear. Finished off with SRAM Rail wheels, Guide RSC's and an XX1 groupset.

Chris Panozzo, the man with the number one plate and the 2016 Troy Lee gear, was onboard a Trek Remedy with a full Shimano Di2 electronic drivetrain, one of the only ones at the park. For his suspension setup he had a modified rocker with a Fox Float X and a Fox 36 up front. He also ran XTR brakes and some limited edition Shimano pedals.

Nick Swayn was onboard an Intense Tracer T275 with a Pike and Monarch setup. The Pike and Monarch setup was definitely the most popular up at Mystic. He was running an XX1 drivetrain with an MRP guide and SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes. He rode some sweet Enve wheels and a Renthal Fatbar as well...

Jaclyn Schapel was aboard the only Juliana at Bright. Her Roubion CC was quite a head-turner, running a 150mm Pike at the front and a Fox Float X on the rear. Her WTB rims were matched with a loud Industry Nine hub, which a lot of the Santa Cruz demo bikes had on for the weekend. A pair of Next SL cranks, an XX1 drivetrain and SRAM Ultimate brakes finished off her bike.

Berend Boer piloted a Trek Slash 9.8 with a Pike and Monarch that ran really progressive suspension, with Bontrager looking after his wheels, bars and stem. He also ran a full XTR groupset. On his stem he had a ProMount Billet Garmin Topcap, used to keep your Garmin onboard with easy screw off abilities.