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Santa Cruz Nomad unleashed

Yawning gap between Blur and VP-Free finally filled, plus demo day news

Posted: 15 April 2005
by Mike Davis
sc05_nomad_shiny_sml (8K)
Mmmm, shiny
 sc05_nomad_top_sml (8K)
The hydroforming machine's been working overtime
 sc05_nomad_front_sml (11K)
From the front

Those of you who saw our recent story on the new Santa Cruz Blur range may have wondered if there was more to come. After all, we've been waiting for a bike to fill the gap between the Blur and the VP-Free for ages, and somehow the Blur LT didn't quite look like it. The LT's got 5.3in of travel, the Free's got 8.5 - that's still a pretty big gap.

Well, the wait is over - this is the Nomad, a 6.5in travel VPP bike that's intended to work as a long-travel, middleweight all-day trail bike or as a freerider for those who don't need as much travel as the VP-Free. Just add components to taste.

The Nomad follows SC's latest styling cues, with a distinctive hydroformed top tube and plenty of swoopy details. The bike pictured is a pre-production frame, but it's very close to the real thing. There's some impressive touches - the top VPP linkage looks massive but is actually two halves welded together to form a lightweight monococque-style link, the front shock mount is also a hollow unit and there's some very tidy tubework on the swingarm.

We've had a brief ride on this one, and our first impressions are that SC is on to a winner. The Nomad has the travel and stability to straight-line all sorts of nastiness, but also has the "kick" and agility to work the trail for extra fun. Want to launch off a little rock or ping off a root? Go ahead, the Nomad won't just suck your take-off from under you. On the other hand, if you want an easy time of it, the Nomad'll point-and-shoot with the best of 'em. This could be the bike to convince those that reckon that long-travel bikes take all the fun out of it...

Santa Cruz reckons that the Nomad will be available before the Autumn trade show season, so look at some time around August. Pricing is to be confirmed but we wouldn't expect any surprises - it'll be more than a Blur but not as much as a VP-Free. We dare say that more details will shortly be available on www.santacruzbikes.co.uk. Full test as soon as we can...

In other SC news, the Santa Cruz UK demo fleet is hitting the road to give people a chance to try the bikes out on real trails. The first one is this weekend (16-17 April) at Laggan Forest (contact Bothy Bikes 01479 810111 for details), then it's over to Glentress on 7-8 May (Hub in the Forest, 01721 721736). Next stop is Mountain Mayhem, Malvern Hills, 25-26 June, then Inevent's Big Welsh Weekend (9-10 July, er, Wales) and finally Kona Sleepless in the Saddle at Catton Park on 27-28 August.

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Discuss this story


naturalised welsh
well that's the whyte 46 on hold, until i can try out one of those shiney beauties. When will the review be do you think?
Posted: 15/04/2005 12:44


intense
So they finally sorted that swing arm out then (looks familiar).

Don't forget folks as with Blur's and Superlights You do the Demo testing to show up the frame breakages.

Could almost be as good as an Intense ;-)
Posted: 15/04/2005 13:47


David Arthur
I've gotta say, that top-tube isn't working for me. Hopefully it'll be a grower, a different colour might help, in different light.

Oh, just turn the lights out...


...that's better

;)
Posted: 15/04/2005 13:57


Mike Davis
It looks better in real life. I rather like it ;-)
Posted: 15/04/2005 14:01


David Arthur
It just looks... deformed to me

Like you say, it should look better in real life
Posted: 15/04/2005 14:03


John Gourette
Another expensive American machine in the BM news. 'Shiny' BTW.
Posted: 15/04/2005 14:03


Mike Davis
That's a mighty big chip you're developing on your shoulder there, John ;-)
Posted: 15/04/2005 14:31


Paul Aldridge 2
I'm game. Do I send my credit card details direct to Jungle? Anyone for a 2003 Patriot that has had a difficult paper round?
Posted: 15/04/2005 14:46


John Gourette
Just trying to provoke you into looking over the channel rather than the Atlantic Mike. US companies have big marketing machines that feed the media with easy to use copy. All that communication is reflected in the sale price of the bikes concerned.

Some US/Canadian bikes merit the hype, some don't. Count up the number of continental MTBs that have made the BM news in the last year (Nicolai, Univega and Vario). How about a bit of research rather than relying on press releases. I notice because the guys I ride with don't ride the bikes in the BM news. It's as easy to buy from Euro Internet shops as from CRC but they don't advertise on here - yet. Besides I'm feeling left out because I haven't ridden any of the bikes you're all talking about.

I thought I left the chip on my shoulder behind when I left England - is it really growing back?
Posted: 15/04/2005 14:55


Mike Davis
The thing is, we're a UK-oriented site, so we cover bikes that you can buy in UK shops. I honestly don't believe that all that many people are going to buy expensive and complicated bikes from companies without UK distributors. And I'm sorry if we're not proactive enough for you, but it's enough of a job to keep up with the stuff that people can be bothered to tell us about without searching out obscure French shop brands. It's certainly not about American companies having bigger marketing budgets - if it was you wouldn't be seeing the likes of Cotic, Pastey and Dialled on here...
Posted: 15/04/2005 15:31


John Gourette
Explanation accepted.
Posted: 15/04/2005 15:35


Paul Aldridge 2
Mike -does it have the immediacy of the Blur in use or is it a bit wallowy?

For what it's worth I wouldn't persoanlly import a bike without a UK importer as I break on average 1.5 frames a year. Effective warranty has a value to me.
Posted: 15/04/2005 15:36


David Arthur
That's not a 1.5" headset is it?
Posted: 15/04/2005 15:49


John Gourette
You're not importing from the Eurozone Paul, the UK is part of the european free trade zone ;^)
Posted: 15/04/2005 15:50


Paul Aldridge 2
Nah - some years it's one frame, some years it's 2 frames. Don't count the twisted road frame that has been straightened and resprayed. Only things which snap count.

1.5 inch frames - not had one yet.

Eurozone? Been trying to import direct form Lupine in Germany and it has been a right old palaver.

If anyone stumbles across a package with 2 helmet mounts and 2 Li-Ion batteries it's mine. Luckily I've paid for it, mind. Hence the reservations about personal import, but don't let me stop you.
Posted: 15/04/2005 15:57


Mike Davis
It's not at all wallowy, feels very like a Blur (only higher up) to pedal but more capable on big stuff.
Posted: 15/04/2005 16:13


Paul Aldridge 2
'Nuff said. I'm having one.

My mate Dave was sooooooo excited he's already tried to order one from Stif. September they reckon, earliest

Look forward to the full review in a slightly over eager stylee.
Posted: 15/04/2005 16:22


John Gourette
Another victory for the blue spectacled advertising copywriters. I'm off skiing.
Posted: 15/04/2005 16:34


Paul Aldridge 2
I have a Blur - it rides superbly on such nonsense as the Meridas, off road C2C and the Alps. Have ridden and owned enough other suspension layouts to be happy with VPP. Being slightly petulant, it's my money and I want one.

For Heaven's sake man - it's damn shiny, there's loads of travel and the suspension design rocks.

Shame about the Dairylea bottom pivot bearings, but nothing's perfect.

Have a good ski.
Posted: 15/04/2005 16:42


George T. Badger
What shock is that on it? Is it a new Fox shox, or just an old design with new stickers? I take it that it has got pro-pedal because the VPP design relies on having a stable platform shock in its longer travel guises.
Posted: 15/04/2005 19:03


kato
Fugly
Posted: 15/04/2005 19:12


Four Assed Monkey
Yep, fugly and over-stated. Surely there can't be any structural point to the curved top tube. Looks like a dog having a shit.
Posted: 15/04/2005 19:41


Shaun Murray
Yeah, where's those Lampiere and Hurrycat linkage fork reviews Mike you lazy slacker?

;-)


Posted: 16/04/2005 13:28


Hungry monkey. (formally Marv the...)
have to say, i think it looks like a dogs dinner.
Posted: 16/04/2005 14:22


Baron Von Grinder...(master of reasonable force)
F*cking Fugly more like.
Posted: 16/04/2005 14:31


Mike Davis
"What shock is that on it?"

RP3.

"I take it that it has got pro-pedal because the VPP design relies on having a stable platform shock in its longer travel guises."

Oh, does it? No-one told me, I rode it around with the ProPedal turned off (or as close to off as is possible) ;-)
Posted: 17/04/2005 21:33


Christie
totally agree fugly!

thought the sh*ting dog comment hit the nail on the head!
Posted: 18/04/2005 18:19


Tim Cave
NONSENSE

shes a beauty. i want!
Posted: 18/04/2005 19:33


George T. Badger
"Oh, does it? No-one told me, I rode it around with the ProPedal turned off"

I thought that was why all the VPP bikes have pedal platform shocks, but then again I suppose it's hard to find a bike that doesn't have one nowadays.
Posted: 18/04/2005 19:36


Goognoog
Boooo ti full.

Posted: 18/04/2005 19:49


You're on my line fatty...
Isn't the whole idea of the S axle path designed to resist bob and hence should work just as well without a platform shock? eh? hhmmm?

Thank god John Gorette doesn't live in this country anymore.
Posted: 20/04/2005 09:46


Mike Davis
"I thought that was why all the VPP bikes have pedal platform shocks"

The Blur didn't originally. I honestly don't know why they come with them now, probably just because the RP3 is pretty much the "standard" shock. I certainly can't see the point of putting a "proper" platform shock like a 5th on there, except that you get some more tuning options.
Posted: 20/04/2005 10:03


John Gourette
Yes fatty (Guru M) thank god - and Norman Tebbit :)

Welcome back after two years without posting (unless you've got more than one pseudonym). I hope you're as pleased with the Transition as with the Patriot.
Posted: 20/04/2005 11:33


You're on my line fatty...
Well done Jon have a cookie.
You appear to have issues with BM reviews + Mike Davis?

Now back to the matter in hand, you do pay more when distrubtors are involved but you then have a point of contact who hopefully carry replacement stock should a warranty claims be made, speeding up the claim, at least thats the theory.
Posted: 20/04/2005 13:07


John Gourette
I thought the matter in hand was VPP and the need for platform shocks rather than distributors.

"Issues" implies conflict. I haven't got issues with Mike. He's the public face of BM who posts some of the most informed and reasonable stuff on here. It's pretty sad if I can't comment on the bias I perceive without upsetting people. I thought "explanation accepted" made that clear.

As for VPP and platform damping I don't mind bounce and bob and get along quite nicely with a 'faux bar' so I'll observe and learn rather than contribute on this one.
Posted: 20/04/2005 14:11


Free Wheelin' Franklin
Lol @ shitting dog.

Very good!
: )
Posted: 20/04/2005 14:19


anyhojoe / joedaho
I'm glad a few people agree that the hydro-forming whatever top tube is f*cking hideous, it seriously spoils the looks of a good few of the makes bikes ... and if I had the green to but a Santa Cruz I would be wanting it to be pretty as well as functional as they are...
Posted: 20/04/2005 23:22


George T. Badger
Having seen the bike in white on Pinkbike.com and have no re-adjusted my rating from 'fugly' to 'Not too bad'.
Posted: 20/04/2005 23:47


Damian the Alien
I'm sorry but that is one UGLY bike. Similar top tube to the SC Jackal dirt jump bike. Why would you want a great big nut anvil to separate and flatten your plumbs if you should fall forwards onto the top tube?

Still it'll be leagues ahead of the 46 the first guy mentions. He should get a 575 if he wants the best ride in the long travel / enduro market.
Posted: 21/04/2005 23:35


Mike Davis
Unless he wants a full 6in of travel, of course ;-)

Posted: 22/04/2005 09:00

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