Santa Cruz Bicycles

Nomad Carbon CC X01 Reserve RCT Coil Mountain Bike - 2018

Reinvigorated from the ground up, the Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon CC XO1 Reserve RCT Coil Complete Mountain Bike moves further into the gravity spectrum with its lower-link mounted coil shock and adjustable flip-chip with high/low geometry settings. Frankly, we were blown away upon first glance of the fourth-gen Nomad with its V10-inspired chassis mated to an elongated wheelbase and super-slack geometry that screams of aggression. After a few minutes of further inspection, we were even more impressed with thoughtful details protecting the bike's sensitive regions—mainly with the cleanly integrated shuttle guard, but also with the mud-blocking shock fender and aluminum ear cover that protects the swingarm from dropped chains.

Seeing the previous generation Nomad aimed squarely at enduro domination, the newest generation 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 destroy lift-accessed downhills and park laps, then pedal along backcountry epics the next day. The 65-degree head tube angle (high geometry setting) and longer reach keep things calm and comfortable on wicked descents, yet the steeper 75-degree seat tube angle puts you in an optimal pedaling position, so you're never struggling to shift your weight forward on 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 high setting for a more efficient pedaling position or switch it to the low setting for even slacker geometry (head tube angle of 64.6 degrees) that's purely focused on gravity disciplines. Ultimately, its adjustable geometry lends the ability to push the bike to the absolute limit on downhills or retain more balance for earning your turns across large swaths of alpine terrain.

Moving to the revised shock placement, the engineers at Santa Cruz sought to achieve a more linear shock rate with the fourth generation Nomad, much like you'd find with the V10. The VPP suspension is driven by a lower-link mounted coil shock, marking a radical departure from the likes of Bronson or Hightower. This revised shock location 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. And even though its shock rate is more linear, it doesn't sacrifice support deep into the travel, meaning it never feels harsh on bigger hits and downhills.

This build comes with the massive range of usable gears of its XO1 12-speed drivetrain, complete with a 50-tooth bail-out for spinning up climbs. The Reserve status is marked by the introduction of Santa Cruz Reserve 30 AM Carbon Wheels, which are only available on Nomad Reserve builds at the moment. Santa Cruz decided to manufacture their very own carbon hoops after breaking countless offerings on the market, usually where the spoke nipple pulls through under pressure. To eliminate this problem, the Santa Cruz Reserve 30 AM Carbon Wheels are reinforced along this spoke nipple interface. Also, the wheel's rim beads are one millimeter thicker than industry standards, lending extra strength when you inevitably thrash these wheels on downhill runs and bigger jump lines.