Santa Cruz Bicycles

Nomad Carbon CC Mountain Bike Frame

The Nomad Carbon CC Mountain Bike Frame is one of our favorite places to start when piecing together a dream build for enduro racing or gravity-fueled riding. The V6 Nomad utilizes a 29in front wheel to roll over tricky rock ledges and angled root sections with ease, while the 27.5in rear wheel provides enhanced maneuverability for riders who like to get playful. Its 170mm of VPP travel is controlled by a Fox Float X2 Factory air shock that provides a wide range of adjustments to help us get the bike dialed on race day. We really value the Glovebox in-frame storage compartment on a bike like this because it lets us bring everything we need without the need to sacrifice our mobility by wearing a pack.

The 63.5-degree head tube angle (low position) mimics the stability of a downhill bike for straight-lining gnarly sections of trail, while the 77.6-degree seat tube angle (low position, size large) provides an efficient climbing position. This frame utilizes the Carbon CC frame construction from Santa Cruz which offers an industry-leading strength-to-weight ratio that’s truly bomber. Santa Cruz tests their frames with size-specific stiffness standards to ensure identical ride quality across all sizes. Adjustable flip-chips let us fine-tune the bike’s geometry depending on our preferred terrain or riding style, while size-specific chainstays find the happy medium between plow and play. Santa Cruz revamped their suspension curve on the Nomad with lower anti-squat to limit harshness from square-edge impacts, which in turn also improves climbing efficiency.