Sick New Bikes Coming from Santa Cruz!

Santa Cruz just did a press release on some awesome new additions to their line up. Here they are:

Spring 2011 Blooms New Bikes!

It is springtime, and just as sure as the blossoms are going to get blasted from their trees by violent sideways rainstorms here in coastal California, this is the season we love most, because it means one thing – New Bikes

We'll keep this short for now, since we've got a bumper crop of two-wheeled mountain bike goodness to show off. If you want to get more details on each of the bikes featured below, click on the pics.

The sales staff will be ready to start taking orders on these bikes April 4th, and we expect to have bikes shipping out from here toward the end of May. US pricing is included in the individual model breakdowns.


Blur TRc

An entirely new addition to our family, the Blur TRc is a fresh take on the broadly defined trailbike category. Crafted from carbon fiber, featuring our proprietary lay-up process, the frame weighs a scant 5 pounds with shock included. Patented VPP suspension offers 5 inches of travel, smack dab between our existing Blur XC and LT models. The inherently flex-free VPP design combined with the carbon fiber frame results in chassis rigidity second to none. The top tube length and riding position are evolved from our climb-happy xc bikes – a bit more stretched out than on our longer travel rigs – but mated to a relaxed head angle that is sure to make any dedicated gravity fiend weep with joy.


Highball

There are still those times and places where the best way to light the fuse and blow everyone else into the weeds is by riding a hardtail. Bigger wheels have revived the venerable double diamond design, and by mixing the smooth rolling hoops with a feathery 2.4-pound carbon fiber frame, we've come up with a potent race weapon. Anyone who complains about a bad day climbing while riding this bike needs to find another sport. The Highball is insanely light, razor sharp, nimble but surefooted, stiff as a plank, and designed to do two things: 1. Race. 2. Win.

Tallboy Al



Tallboys have become mighty popular bikes in the relatively short time since we introduced them, and they have been getting rave reviews from the press and, more importantly, from the thousands of riders who've rolled off into the sunset aboard them. The pairing of VPP suspension and 29” wheels created a fast rolling, crisp handling, versatile bike that exploits the benefits of big wheels to the best of their advantage, at home anywhere from remote alpine singletrack to crowded jittery start lines. Now the tall can is available in aluminum – same geometry, same lines, same great suspension, teeny bit more weight, whole lot less money.

Dirty Duo 2011 :: Deja-vu!

The Santa Cruz Tall Boy was rocking the course! As my buddy Arthur says, it's the bike that allows you to bake your cake and eat it too. I have to agree.

This past Saturday March 12th was the 10th year of the Dirty Duo! I have done 9 in a row and loved them all. Well, I shouldn't say that as a few years ago I herniated a disc in the solo category and lost the feeling in my left leg...that year wasn't so fantastic for me. As with many previous years many years the snow cleared within days of the event and allowed for a nearly snow free course! There was a bit of snow at the top of Ned's but other than a slushy 100 meters of hike a bike, it was all ridable.

Mike Murpy won the solo division and Tom (runner) and I (biker) won the men's team division!

Kevin Calhoun ripped the course in record time after his finance tagged off from the 25k run 

Justin Mark rolled in after a 5 hour race time...this man pushed it to the max and beyond. If you know Justin, this photo says it all. Justin had been sick all week and lost over 10 pounds but still found the energy to show up on race day and put out a solid race time. Now that's dedication!

Tyson raced in the mountain bike division and pulled of a solid time!

Mike Murphy won the Solo division and his run was the fastest in the course history of 2:08. 

Jamie Biluk hammered off the line of the 30k bike race only to break his chain
in the first few kilometres and drop out.

First place in the Bike Race Division!
Serious racer Arthur Gaillot destroyed the course in 1:43 and showed us how it's done. Not only does he ride the coolest bike around (Santa Cruz Tall Boy), he also wears Icebreaker wool, which is the newest trend in cycle wear (did I mention we just picked up the line?). 

Here Arthur cools himself at the finish line! My Hero!

Ahhhh, Kimbo at the finish line, after a two hour lap of the mountain. Good times!

A Merry February

It is now March. Time has been moving quickly; maybe I had better have one less coffee each day. Of course if it means cutting out my post-ride frappacino, I think not!

February gave us a great variety of weather. We had rain (no surprise), snow, and... sun! Yep, there were some great sunny riding days in February and I am currently longing to re-create them.

Getting out for rides in February was easy! People were more than up for riding any day of the week and we would go and ride for hours until there was no more light. Right now, with the cold weather, rain, and snow it's not so easy to push your self to get outside and ride in the slop!

Sitting outside and sipping on coffee in the February weather was a great way to spend the afternoon.

I was stoked to ride even after riding! If a buddy like Jeff came along and was headed for a ride, I was always game to keep going.

The trails were damp (but not wet) and the forest was bright and green. Who wouldn't want to keep riding?

It's fun when people are up for taking photos too but it's not always easy to stop riding and capture what we're doing.

So basically it's March and it's cold; snow is on the ground, and riding is crap.

And now I have pictures of the sweet days of February reminding me of how badly I want to ride my bike. Come on March, are you really going to let February put you shame like that. Let's see some sun!

Until the weather shapes up I'll be at Whistler in search of pow on my days off. That said, I need to get on my bike! The Dirty Duo is only a couple of weeks away and I need to be in shape and get rid of this cough.

Looking at pictures is not helping.

In hopes of sun,

Scott