Horse for the Course: Santa Cruz Tallboy 2 for the Breck Epic

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=693%2C900 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=45&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-296828 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C723" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="My weapon of choice for the six-day Breck Epic stage race was the very capable Santa Cruz Tallboy 2 equipped with a handpicked assortment of components intended to make six days of stage racing as fun as possible" title="1439326595674-qbu21dt1nwm4-cf8695f" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> My weapon of choice for the six-day Breck Epic stage race was the very capable Santa Cruz Tallboy 2 equipped with a handpicked assortment of components intended to make six days of stage racing as fun as possible Josh Patterson / Immediate Media

Like many of my fellow participants in last year’s Breck Epic, I had no illusions of glory heading into the six-day stage race. I certainly posed no threat to the men’s overall champion Alex Grant . Sure, I could probably beat him at drinking or doughnut eating, but that’s not his game, nor was it mine for six days last August.

While my fellow tech head James Huang focused on making his Ibis Ripley as light and speedy as possible for last year’s Laramie Enduro , I took a decidedly different approach to the Breck Epic. My strategy was simple: ride strong, keep the rubber-side down and enjoy each and every mile of singletrack (and there were plenty).

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439329909559-gkinj4aoaq38-1000-90-9003b08.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C200, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439329909559-gkinj4aoaq38-1000-90-9003b08.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C400 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439329909559-gkinj4aoaq38-1000-90-9003b08.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C599 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439329909559-gkinj4aoaq38-1000-90-9003b08.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C200, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439329909559-gkinj4aoaq38-1000-90-9003b08.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C400 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439329909559-gkinj4aoaq38-1000-90-9003b08.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C599 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Make time to take in the expansive landscapes : There is plenty of time to take in the landscape while gasping for air on the high altitude climbs

With that in mind, I focused on building a steed that, while still completely race-worthy, placed a premium on fun, rather all out performance. In short, I measured my components by trail-induced grins, not grams.

Does this sound like your type of racing? Then read on, because even if you never toe the starting line at the Breck Epic (which you should) you might still learn a thing or two about building up a race bike that you look forward to riding when you’re not rubbing tyres and racing the clock in your superhero outfit.

The course: The Breck Epic , a six-day mountain bike stage race that totals 240mi in length and nearly 12,200m of climbing The equipment goal: A light, efficient and reliable stage racer that would see me through six days of racing The horse : Santa Cruz Tallboy 2 with a cherry-picked build kit intended to maximize fun and minimize suffering Frame: Santa Cruz Tallboy 2 <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-15jaoy61vjup0-1000-90-b01b67c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-15jaoy61vjup0-1000-90-b01b67c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-15jaoy61vjup0-1000-90-b01b67c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-15jaoy61vjup0-1000-90-b01b67c.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-15jaoy61vjup0-1000-90-b01b67c.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439326595674-15jaoy61vjup0-1000-90-b01b67c.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> The tallboy 2 is a true mechanic’s mountain bike – external cable routing, grease ports on the pivots, and a threaded bottom bracket shell make it very easy to maintain: At the heart of this project was a frame many riders — myself included — have come to love, the Santa Cruz Tallboy 2. It’s light (my medium frame with shock weighs 2.3kg), appropriately stiff and deftly straddles the line between cross-country racer and short-travel trail ripper, which suited my needs perfectly.

Furthermore, the Tallboy 2 is a true bike mechanic’s mountain bike. It’s incredibly easy to service, which also makes it a prime candidate for a grueling stage race with a reputation for wearing down equipment as well as riders. The externally routed cables are easy to replace should the need arise — no swearing while attempting to fish cables through tiny ports on the frame. The lower VPP linkage features grease ports that make it easy to flush contaminates from bearings to keep the suspension moving smoothly and silently. Last but certainly not least, the Tallboy 2, like all Santa Cruz mountain bike models, uses a traditional threaded bottom bracket shell. The significance of this feature cannot be overstated — when it comes to reliability, longevity and silence, press-fit bottom brackets still leave much to be desired.

Suspension: RockShox RS-1 fork and Monarch DebonAir shock RockShox has seriously upped its game in the past two years. The inverted RS-1 fork, with its carbon uppers and steerer tube, a new damper designed to better cope with repeated high-speed impacts, and a propriety hub interface to keep the front end stiff demonstrates SRAM’s collective engineering prowess in composites, suspension and wheel technology.

The Tallboy 2 was designed to accommodate 100mm as well as 120mm suspension forks. I opted to go with a 120mm RS-1. Prior to getting the RS-1 in for long-term testing, I ran a 120mm-travel RockShox SID RCT3. The difference in fore/aft chassis stiffness between the SID and RS-1 is dramatic.

While it’s a capable cross-country fork, the 120mm SID can get twangy during rocky descents, where the lightweight 32mm chassis succumbs to fore/aft flex. The RS-1 came with a 76g weight penalty and while this new wunderfork feels great when straighlining rockgardens, torsional flex was readily apparent when leaning the bike through unbermed turns and while descending through tight switchbacks.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439327127842-1n6qi8p90i31w-1000-90-76567a7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C168, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439327127842-1n6qi8p90i31w-1000-90-76567a7.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439327127842-1n6qi8p90i31w-1000-90-76567a7.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C505 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439327127842-1n6qi8p90i31w-1000-90-76567a7.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C168, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439327127842-1n6qi8p90i31w-1000-90-76567a7.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1439327127842-1n6qi8p90i31w-1000-90-76567a7.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C505 3x" type="image/jpeg"> I ran the rockshox rs-1 fork. if i could do it over, i would run a pike : While the RS-1 doesn’t offer much in terms of external damping adjustments, I did appreciate the remote lockout during the many long fireroad ascents that link together the singletrack that surrounds Breckenridge