Juliana

Joplin 2.1 Carbon C Mountain Bike Frame - 2018 - Women's

Packing trail-friendly geometry and the option to switch between 29 and 27.5+inch wheels, the Joplin 2.1 Carbon C Mountain Bike Frame offers near-effortless obstacle rollover, snappy cornering capabilities, and confident descending. In its 29-inch form, the Joplin 2.0 is a highly capable marathon XC whip, gobbling up miles of singletrack, while in 27.5+ guise, it's well-mannered on loose, technical trails. Either way, paring the correct fork length and flip chip location nets a slackened 68-degree head tube angle and longer front end to provide confidence in the rough while its shorter chainstays promote agile handling when you're picking across rock gardens and negotiating tight switchbacks. Female riders will appreciate the Joplin 2.1's lower standover height giving shorter riders more control and maneuverability than ever before.

This particular version of the Joplin 2.1 is built up just like its brother the Santa Cruz Tallboy, meaning you'll find the same flip chip mechanism that allows you to swap 29-inch wheels for the terrain-gobbling goodness of 27.5+ inch girth. To do this, Juliana recommends adjusting the fork so the travel is 120mm in 29er form and 130mm for plus. Switching between wheel sizes has virtually no effect on the Joplin 2.0's slackened geometry and nimble handling. To accommodate the wider 27.5+ wheels, the front and rear thru-axles benefit from the addition of Boost. Not only does Boost create ample clearance for the fatter tires of 27.5+, but more importantly, it rids 29-inch wheels of the extra flex exhibited by its predecessor.

Sitting at the heart and soul of this trail-taming machine, the Joplin 2.1 benefits from the reworked VPP suspension platform of its Santa Cruz brethren, such as the Bronson, 5010, and Tallboy. There's a stiffer box-style upper link and cleanly recessed lower link that prevents rock strikes when you're riding across loose, rock-strewn trails. Just like the newest Tallboy, travel is slightly increased to 110mm for better composure across the rough stuff, all without sacrificing go-fast efficiency during race scenarios. And because it's meant for females, the FOX Float Performance shock receives a special tune specifically targeted for lighter riders. This gives a cushier feel across rugged trails and harsh terrain, all without wallowing out during dips or bobbing during fast pedaling.

Juliana's industry-leading carbon fiber construction has made its way to the Joplin, although this version uses a slightly lower grade of carbon fiber than the top-tier Carbon CC frame. This requires more material to achieve the same strength, so it does carry a bit more weight, but in every other aspect, it's held to the same uncompromising standards as Juliana's Carbon CC frames. The upshot is that you get a frame that's every bit as stiff and strong at a much more palatable price point. The frame's two carbon triangles are built as whole pieces rather than glued together from disparate bits, a method that saves weight and increases structural integrity by allowing Santa Cruz to wrap carbon continuously through and around key junctures. This process 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, and resin pooling for (you guessed it) even more weight savings.