Competitive Cyclist

SANTA CRUZ NICKEL (FOX RP23)

What happens when you marry a Superlight with a Blur LT? You get the Santa Cruz Nickel. The Nickel has 125mm of rear suspension travel, making it perfect for racing in rough terrain or just for cruising along in serene comfort on your favorite trails. It shares the simplicity and durability of the single pivot Superlight and the shock rate curve (basically what makes the suspension 'feel' the way it does) of the VPP Blur LT.

In actuality, the Nickel rear suspension relies on one pivot to define the axle path, to create its slight anti-squat properties, and to minimize its reaction to braking forces. The proprietary Santa Cruz APP (actual pivot point) rear suspension locates this pivot slightly forward and above the bottom bracket. The question could be asked -- if it's a single pivot, then how does it differ from the Superlight or Heckler?

The difference is the APP linkage's generation of a variable rate shock curve. If you've ridden Santa Cruz' VPP and single pivot bikes side by side, then you know that they each provide a different feel and experience out on the trail. Their single pivot bikes typically have a rising rate shock curve that translates into a fairly progressive feel as the suspension cycles into its range of travel. The suspension can be counted on to get stiffer and stiffer, the further the suspension gets compressed. Air shocks on these bikes sometimes lead to the feeling that the bike doesn't get all of its travel.

Santa Cruz VPP bikes, on the other hand, are well known to give a very different feeling. As the VPP linkages swing opposite to each other through the range of suspension travel, the shock rate goes from falling, to flat, to rising as you compress the suspension towards the bottom of the stroke. The feel is that you have a very supple initial bump response for smaller obstacles in the trail and that the VPP rear end is actively smoothing the trail for you, but the rising rate at the end gives you the bottom out resistance needed for ledges, jumps, and g-outs. The APP suspension 'feels' like the VPP suspension, giving you their high end performance with the value of their single pivot aluminum bikes.

The Nickel uses 15mm aluminum pivot axles in the main swingarm and at the APP link/swing link pivots. We like that they thread directly into the swingarm or link opposite the entry side. That threaded interface combined with locking collet heads on the other side makes for no wiggle or play and no chance for accidental loosening of the pivot axles as you ride. All of the pivots use angular contact bearings to ensure silky smooth suspension action.

The Santa Cruz Nickel is available in six powdercoated colors -- Black, Chocolate, Red, Seabright Blue, White, and Yellow. It comes with a Fox RP23 air shock, and is built to accept a mixed tapered headset -- 1-1/8" semi-integrated top and 1.5" traditional bottom and can be built with 120mm or 140mm forks depending on your preference. It takes a 34.9mm top swing/top pull front derailleur and a 30.9mm seatpost. It has an extra set of cable guides for a remote seatpost lever as well. And two water bottle mounts make good sense for long rides.

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2010 Santa Cruz Nickel (Fox RP23) Pricing