Santa Cruz Bicycles

Nomad Carbon CC XX1 Eagle Reserve RCT Coil Mountain Bike

Santa Cruz designed this latest version of the Nomad as a freerider's dream come true. It's truly at home ripping the steepest and gnarliest lines on the mountain, however its efficient pedaling behavior and relatively lightweight means that while on this fourth-gen version, it isn't a chore to get to those choice runs on your own. And if shuttle runs or lift access defines the majority of your riding, the progressive geometry instills unflappable confidence on jump lines, in the park, or on the burliest natural terrain. In addition to the longer, lower, slacker treatment, the Nomad gets a V10-inspired linkage that provides more small bump sensitivity and is designed to suck up the biggest hits and add tons of traction for a capable ride ensuring that every line is the right line. You'll also find thoughtful frame details throughout such as a cleanly integrated shuttle guard on the downtube, a mud-blocking shock fender, and a fully padded driveside chainstay protecting the Nomad Carbon CC XX1 Eagle Reserve RCT Coil Mountain Bike's carbon construction and allowing you to subject the bike to the conditions it's designed to thrive in.

While the previous generation Nomad was aimed squarely at enduro racing, the newest version is less of a dedicated race bike and more of a gravity/freeride rig that you can pedal uphill without struggling like other long-travel sleds. Think of it as a freeride bike for riders seeking one that's versatile enough to mob lift-accessed downhills and park laps, then pedal along backcountry epics the next day. The 65-degree head tube angle, in the high setting, and longer reach numbers will keep you calm and collected on wicked descents, while the steeper 75-degree seat tube angle puts you in an optimal pedaling position, so you're never struggling to get the power down or have to shift your weight forward excessively on the climbs.

The flip-chip integrated into the swingarm gives you the ability to fine-tune its geometry to your exact riding preferences and local terrain. Keep it in the stock high setting for a more nimble ride or switch it to the low setting for an even slacker head tube angle, 64.6 degrees, that's sole focus is plowing. Ultimately, its adjustable geometry lends the ability to push the bike to the absolute limit on downhills and retains more balance for earning your turns across imposing alpine terrain.

Delving into the revised shock placement, the engineers at Santa Cruz sought to achieve a more linear shock rate with the fourth-gen Nomad, much like you'd find with the V10. The VPP suspension is driven by a lower-link mounted air shock, marking a radical departure from the likes of the Bronson and Hightower. This revised shock placement eliminates the Nomad's previous tendencies to settle in the middle of its travel, meaning it feels more active and tracks to the ground noticeably better across steep descents and rugged terrain. Even though its shock rate is more linear, it doesn't sacrifice support deep into the travel, so it never feels harsh on bigger hits and steeper trails requiring most of its travel. The carbon rims drop grams and boost stiffness and simply make the bike handle better in every riding scenario. Just like the frame, there's no need to baby them and Santa Cruz is so confident in its strength, it backs them with a full lifetime warranty.