Santa Cruz Bicycles

5010 Carbon C Mountain Bike Frame - 2015

The 2015 Santa Cruz 5010 Carbon C Mountain Bike Frame pairs with 27.5in wheels to hit the sweet spot between the lightning quick responsiveness of 26ers and the smooth rolling speed of 29ers. Its 127mm of rear travel occupies the apex of that space between short-travel race rockets and aggressive, gravity-focused whips, while neutral geometry allows it to climb, descend, and handle with the best.

The head angle sits at 68 degrees, one degree steeper than the new 2.0 version released for 2016. That's still slacker than most bikes in the five-inch range, so the extra degree doesn't significantly impair enduro-minded stability when compared to the slacker iteration, but it does make for more aggressive climbing and less wheel flop during low-speed maneuvers. The 5010's bottom bracket contributes to its aggressive demeanor, seating the bike nice and low so it's glued to the trail to help guide you through technical or sweeping lines. The 17.1in chainstays are also just shorter than those on Santa Cruz's six-inch Bronson, making for more agility while carving turns, better climbing grip, and increased power transfer.

The 5010's Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension platform is largely responsible for its versatility because of the two counter-rotating links that govern its travel. The upper link provides most of the rotation as the bike compresses into the sag point for a vertical wheel path that manifests as a firm platform for acceleration and eager small-bump compliance. As the bike compresses deeper, the lower link activates, moving the axle path rearward to lengthen the wheelbase and increase stability.

Santa Cruz's industry-leading carbon fiber construction surfaces in the 5010 Carbon C, although this version uses a slightly lower grade of carbon fiber than the higher-end Carbon CC frame. This requires more material to achieve the same stiffness, so it carries a bit more weight, but in every other aspect it’s held to the same astoundingly high standards as Santa Cruz's Carbon CC frames. The upshot is that you get a frame that’s every bit as stiff and strong with a much more palatable price tag.

The frame's two carbon triangles are built as whole pieces rather than glued together from disparate bits. This saves weight and increases structural integrity by allowing Santa Cruz to wrap carbon continuously through and around key junctures. This method reinforces the frame with less material while eliminating the artificial stress points that result from bonded construction methods. Finally, the carbon is also compacted from the inside and the outside for a more even finish that avoids any structural defects, excess material build-up, or resin pooling for additional weight savings.