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Santa Cruz Nomad
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BikeRadar verdict

45 out of 5 stars

"Frighteningly fast all-rounder that'll play in big terrain all day long"

By BikeRadar

On first visual impressions, you'll either fall in love with the Nomad's pressure formed S-curve top tube or, as one wag put it, think it looks 'like a dog having a crap'.

Either way, there's no denying that the Nomad is distinctive enough to make you stand out from the common herd - and, at a couple of pennies short of £3200, that's exactly what you'll be looking for in a bike.

Despite a couple of gripes with the Nomad in the middle and end stroke, the VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) system still managed to impress us, particularly when it came to steep, technical terrain. Pace's RC41 Fighter fork was super supple, with easy sag, good stiffness and big hit control, meaning that the Nomad stayed remarkably light and lively on the hills, where we shot up as if we were riding on Tarmac.

If you're brave enough to handle it, the Nomad will take you to places with your riding that you've never been to before. The mixture of a sublime frame, Hope brakes that promise to stop you on a Dime and a suspension setup that's perfectly balanced to let you concentrate on your line rather than whether or not you're about to fly over the handlebars, means that you're guaranteed to feel the need for speed on a regular basis.

The Nomad comes in a number of different setup options, so you're sure to find the perfect ride for you.

Manufacturers description

It's plain and simple folks. Here we've got two bikes for the price of one. On one hand, we've got a peach of a trail bike that will allow full immersion in your masochistic love affair with the climb without any bothersome bobbing or mushy feeling. On the other hand, we've got a rip-roaring, dyed-in-the-wool freeride bike that will devour any rock garden or log-drop like hotdogs at a Coney Island eating competition. Proudly possessing a full 165mm of rear wheel travel, room for a front derailleur, and a QR-ready rear drop out, you won't know if you're Mark Weir climbing, or Mark Weir descending.

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Specification

Name:
Nomad
Built by:
Santa Cruz
Price:
n/a
Bottom Bracket Model:
Shimano XT
Chain Model:
Shimano HG-53
Cranks Model:
Shimano XT
Frame Material:
Aluminium
Frame Weight (g):
3240 g
Front Derailleur Model:
Shimano XT
Front Hub Model:
XT Disc R
Handlebar Model:
Evolve XC
Head Angle:
68 Degrees
Headset Type:
Aheadset
Pedals Model:
M505
Rear Derailleur Model:
Shimano XT
Rear Hub Model:
Shimano Deore
Rear Shock Model:
Float RP23
Rims Model:
Mavic XM-317
Saddle Model:
WTB Pure V
Seat Angle:
71 Degrees
Spokes Brand:
Shimano
Seatpost Model:
Evolve XC
Shifters Model:
XT 9
Size:
19 Inches
Stem Model:
Evolve XC
Weight (kg):
14.2
Front Hub Brand:
Shimano
Available Colours:
Silver
Available Sizes:
L, M, S
Bottom Bracket Brand:
Shimano
Chain Brand:
Shimano
Cranks Brand:
Shimano
Fork Brand:
Pace
Front Derailleur Brand:
Shimano
Front Tyre Model:
Nevegal
Front Tyre Size:
26x2.1
Gearing:
22/32/44
Grips/Tape Brand:
Shimano
Handlebar Brand:
RaceFace
Headset Brand:
Aheadset
Pedals Brand:
Shimano
Rear Derailleur Brand:
Shimano
Rear Hub Brand:
Shimano
Rear Shock Brand:
Fox
Rear Tyre Model:
Nevegal
Rear Tyre Size:
26x2.1
Rims Brand:
Mavic
Saddle Brand:
WTB
Seatpost Brand:
Race Face
Shifters Brand:
Shimano
Stem Brand:
Race Face
Tyres Brand:
Kenda
Wheels Brand:
Mavic
Wheels Model:
XM819
Colour:
Black
Max. Fork Travel:
165mm
Handlebar Type:
Riser

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