Santa Cruz Bronson the Real Deal

2 weeks ago, I sold my 2 season old Santa Cruz Blur LT. It's the second of 2 Blur LT's I've owned since 2008. There was nothing wrong with the bike - in fact I thought it was a great bike, and I ride 200 days/season, so I spend lots of time on a bike that backs that opinion up. This spring, however, I was bit by the mystique of the new 650 b's and wanted more than needed to get a new bike. After a month in Sedona, AZ. riding in the shoulder season, I returned to my home town of Fernie, BC and was met in my local bike shop with the Santa Cruz Bronson Carbon in tennis ball yellow. I looked at that bike every day for a month, and finally pulled the pin 2 weeks ago, spent a huge amount of cash, and bought a new ride. I made some changes out the door - I got rid of the Sram 1x11 drive train - just not suited to Fernie where everything starts with an hour or more of climbing, and replaced it with a Shimano 2x10 drive train. I changed the 24 tooth small chainring to a 22 tooth, drop the 17 tooth cog out of the rear cogset, and added a 42 tooth granny. Then I went riding, and the new experience was amazing. 27.5 in. wheels aside, this bike has so many things going for it. First of all, for long steep climbs, you are going to want to add lower gear options - the bigger wheels take more energy to go uphill. That said they roll over stuff noticeably more smoothly. The big difference for me was the 73 degree seat tube angle. This put me farther ahead and I found the bike to be much more stable on steeper climbs. Once you get to the top, no faster, but more smoothly, and it's time to turn downhill, you flip the switch on the CTD shock to descend, and it's time to have some fun. The bike holds on corners very well, is less twitchy than my old 26er, tends to go faster because the bike likes to roll over stuff as opposed to going around it. Swine Flu, one of my favorite downhills in the valley, was a top to bottom 13 minute ride on my old bike. On the Bronson I'm about 2 minutes faster to the bottom, and I don't feel like I'm riding on the edge to go that much faster. If you are thinking about a new bike and can afford a carbon fiber frame for whatever rig you decide on, get it. Describing the difference in feel between it and an aluminum frame is discernible - I just can't put my finger on what it is - it just "feels" better. After 12 rides I still look forward to going out on this bike the next day - it's just that much different and more fun than any ride I've had.