Santa Cruz Nomad Announced

The Nomad's reputation is built on consistently pushing the envelope of how DH a bike can get while still remaining usable on most trails. With each iteration we nudge the travel and geometry further towards the outer limits, and each time we surprise ourselves at just how completely rideable the end result remains.

The fourth generation design sees a dramatic shift to the lower-link mounted shock configuration. This is the first time that learnings from years of V10 development have translated across to one of our trail bikes.

Nomad Build Kits

The shock rate is now almost completely linear—which means feather-light small bump sensitivity right off the bat, a supportive midstroke and overall progression that you'd normally only experience on a DH bike. To keep the gravity vibe going we've ensured the Nomad can run both standard metric coil shocks and lighter air units to suit any preference.

Full shock compatibility creates challenges when trying to cram everything into the precious bottom bracket area. But the continued evolution of our carbon tech means we're able to create a svelt, strong, swingarm/front triangle combo that's as much art as it is engineering.

We even managed to squeeze in a flip-chip feature on the lower link too. Think of the high setting as "regular", the way the bike's mostly meant to be ridden, and the low setting as being closer to full on DH status.

To handle all this new-found capability the geometry has adapted too. It's longer and lower-slung than ever to ensure maximum stability and confidence on absolutely everything.

The whole package is crowned with a raft of subtle yet essential details. Bolt-on downtube protectors and shuttle guards act as a helmet for your frame—a replaceable front line against abuse. An integrated shock fender has also been added to keep crud out of the suspension.

The crowning glory of the Nomad, however, has been in the making longer than the frame itself: the all new Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels.  Spec'd exclusively on the Nomad for now, you can read more about how these wheels came into being right here.

Santa Cruz Nomad Features

• 148mm Rear Axle Spacing
• 170mm VPP™ suspension
• 27.5" wheels
• Angular contact bearings maximize stiffness
• Bolt-on shuttle guard and downtube protector
• Collet axle pivots lock in place without pinch bolts
• Double sealed pivots for long bearing life
• Forged upper and lower links
• Full carbon frame and swingarm
• Internal carbon tubes ensure precise and hassle-free routing of derailleur and seat post cables
• ISCG-05 tabs for chainguide compatibility
• Molded rubber swingarm and downtube protection
• Recessed lower link protected from rock strikes
• Single grease port on lower link for swift and easy maintenance
• Threaded Bottom Bracket

Santa Cruz Nomad Features

Santa Cruz Nomad geometry

Santa Cruz Nomad V4

Ibis Mojo HD4 Announced

The Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team*--currently the #1 team in the Enduro World Series standings--has been giving us feedback and recommendations for the last couple of years on what they want to see in a next-generation enduro bike. Our engineers, mechanics and designers have been working with the team to realize these goals, and we are pleased to announce the 4th generation of the Mojo HD, which we're dubbing the HD4.

• The HD4 features a completely redesigned geometry with a focus on stability and speed
• You can expect excellent big hit performance through increased progression in the shock tune
• After much experimentation and real-world testing, we've landed on a 64.9 degree head tube angle
• Reach has increased across the board (up by 4mm on small, to 34mm on XL)
• Compatibility with the longest droppers
• 30% stiffer upper link, 40% stiffer lower link
• Refined carbon layup yielding greater frame stiffness overall
• Features dw-link v5 kinematics, Dave’s most efficient system to date
• 27.5" wheels, up to 2.8" tires
• Available in Fireball Red, or Añejo Silver & Lime

"The new bike is inspiring to ride. I felt like I knew what it was going to do as soon as I hopped on it for the first run. When the trail points down hill and things get steeper, the bike is easy to move around, giving me that extra bit of confidence. After testing the bike for months, I am so happy we finally get to race it because it loves to go fast!"

Features 

• Accepts 27.5" tires in 2.3", 2.5", 2.6 and 2.8" Plus size
• dw-link suspension, as always
• Boost 148mm rear/110 Front axle
• 6” (153mm) of rear wheel travel
• Carbon fiber monocoque frame and swingarm
• 160mm Travel fork recommended, approved for 170mm
• Weight for the frame and shock, size large, gloss finish: 6.6 lbs (2.98 Kg)
• 64.9º head angle
• Standard Shock: Fox Float 7.875x2.25" with custom damping settings (full specs on June 13)
• Upgrade Shock: Fox Float X2, with climb switch, 7.875x2.25", rider-tunable damping settings
• ISCG 05 compatible with removable adapter is available
• Threaded bottom bracket
• Super versatile internal cable routing including internal dropper routing
• Included polycarbonate down tube cable guard
• Chain stay length: 16.9"
• 160mm post mount, 203mm maximum rotor size
• Tapered Head Tube and Steerer
• Dual row angular contact bearings on the drive side of the lower link. Large 28mm x 15mm x 7mm radial bearings on the non-drive side for stiffness and long wear
• BB height with tire sag is the same with 2.3 - 2.8 tires

Suspension technology, drivetrain performance, materials technology, carbon frame construction techniques and especially wheel and tire technology have all enjoyed tremendous technological advances in the last few years. All of us who ride have benefitted greatly. All the technologies found in the HD4 are built to currently accepted state-of-the-art standards.

Specs

• Seatpost Diameter 31.6mm
• Front Derailleur Direct Mount
• Bottom Bracket 68mm (BSA) English Thread
• Rear Shock Specification 7.875" x 2.25"
• Rear Axle 12 x 148mm BOOST
• Rear Brake 160mm Post Mount
• Chain guide compatibility ISCG 05
• Max Rear Rotor 203mm
• Headset Mixed Tapered (ZS 44 upper / ZS 56 lower)

Progessive Geometry

One of the design goals of the HD4 was to enhance the bike's handling capabilities over rough and steep terrain. The Mojo HD and Mojo 3 have had a lot of overlap and geometry similarities, with the new HD4 we are interested in separating the two bikes and growing the HD4's capabilities. We have been riding geometry testing mules for almost a year now, sampling different angles and lengths to determine the right feel for this bike. We've test ridden extensively in Santa Cruz, Downieville, Northstar, and in the high Sierras to get a feel for different terrains and traction conditions and the particular needs of each. 

In dialing in the geometry, we gave ourselves free reign to figure out what would work best. Instead of choosing a geometry by committee or based on other companies' bikes, we chose our geometry based on what worked best when we rode the steepest and gnarliest trails we could find. In our testing, we were able to see what each geometry dimension actually did to help the rider. For example, by trying a number of head angles back to back to back, with all other geometry dimensions held constant, we were able to pinpoint some desirable characteristics. The obvious one is that with proper trail measurement, the bike’s ability to steamroll through rough terrain is greatly enhanced. Less intuitive, but borne out by testing is that reducing the head angle will allow the bike to achieve higher lean angles before slipping out. This change also makes the bike more stable as the trail transitions to off-camber, meaning it’s less likely to slip out or get pushed down by the trail. On the Mojo HD4 we set the head angle at 64.9 degrees to maximize the stability in off-camber sections, increase our maximum lean angle and allow us to carry great speed through the chunder.

Ibis Mojo HD4 Geometry

Reach

We have seen many consumers buying bikes that were a size larger than we anticipated, indicating that we wanted to grow the reach of the Mojo HD4 by at least that much. We rode bikes with different reach numbers and were able to find a nice balance between being long enough without going too long. Compared to the Mojo HD3, size by size we increased reach by one whole frame size then added a little more. This longer reach combined with the slacker head angle greatly increases the wheelbase and gives a very stable ride for the roughest terrain.

Droppers

Like most people who ride aggressively on their trail bikes, we have really enjoyed riding with longer and longer dropper seatposts, especially as the terrain gets rougher and steeper. We recognized that having the seat completely out of the way made all the difference when things got really hairy. So we set out to give compatibility with the longest dropper posts available today, with enough room for adjustment to fit everyone. Compared to the HD3 we lowered the tops of the seat tubes roughly one size, so that a Large frame now measures 17.5" center to top. We also ensured the internal bore of the seat tube was deep enough. This allows riders to use the longest seatpost possible and still get their correct saddle height. On the Medium, Large, and X-Large sizes, almost everyone should be able to use 170mm dropper seaposts, while 150mm dropper seatposts should work for almost all Small size owners.

DW-Link

From the suspension standpoint, we absolutely love how the current Mojo HD3 pedals. We didn't want to mess with such a dialed suspension design so we left the kinematics the same for the Mojo HD4. What we did do, is engineer more progression into the shock leverage curve, allowing for more big-hit capability in very rough terrain. The travel went up a tiny bit, and it now has 153mm of rear travel. The bike is intended to fit a piggy-back rear air shock while still fitting a 22 oz water bottle in the frame. Coil shocks are not recommended, due to the clevis shock yoke extending the eye-to-eye too far to give a good bushing overlap ratio.

Travel

We think 6” of travel is right for most people's riding needs, we felt it struck the best balance for a climbable enduro style bike. With a longer travel bike comes the temptation to put 180mm forks on them, thus requiring heavier frame construction and moving the bike into a different category.

Variable leverage rates and shock tunes can make a 6” bike feel it’s got much more travel, or it can be the other way around. Since our dw-link bikes tend not to get stuck in the middle of their travel and have a very linear feel to them, the available travel feels consistent, predictable and more usable.

Another advantage of sitting a bit higher in its travel is that we can lower the bottom bracket height, making for a better handling bike, while not being prone to pedal strikes.

Linkage

With continued refinement, we've managed to eek 30% more stiffness out of the upper link as compared to the last iteration of the HD. This upper link is backward compatible to the HD3. The HD4's lower link's stiffness is increased by 40% compared to the links on the Mojo HD3 and is unique to the HD4. 

Find Out More On The Ibis Mojo HD4

Pivot Mach 5.5 Carbon Announced

Mach 5.5 Carbon Features

• 140mm dw-link™ rear suspension with Pivot’s mid-travel specific linkage design

• Designed for forks up to 160mm travel. All Pivot complete builds come with a 160mm travel fork

• 27.5” wheels with extra clearance for larger tire sizes

• Designed to fit 27.5 X 2.1” to 2.6” tires. Complete bikes spec’d with new Maxxis 2.6 Wide Trail Tires on 35mm wide rims

• Features Pivot’s new long and low geometry

• Short 430mm (16.9”) chainstays

• 12 x 148mm Boost rear spacing for maximum stiffness and control.

• 180mm rear post mount disk brake

• Every size clears a full size water bottle inside the front triangle

• Available in 5 sizes from X-Small to X-large

• Pivot Cable Port system for easy internal routing of shifters, brakes and droppers and full Di2 Integration

• Front derailleur compatible with Pivot’s stealth E-Type mounting system

• New ultra quiet low durometer rubberized frame protection

The New Mach 5.5 Carbon builds on the legacy of our renowned Mach 5.7 Carbon as the quintessential trail bike. With 140mm of dw-link™ rear travel, it sticks to and claws up just about anything, with unparalleled pedaling efficiency. On descents, the Mach 5.5 Carbon’s incredible square edge bump performance and 160mm travel Fox 36 fork enables you to conquer terrain that makes other bikes cower. It’s a bike that inspires you to climb while looking forward to the descents and that begs you to push your limits while putting a smile on your face.

FRAME DESIGN

There are several things that make the new Mach 5.5 Carbon truly exceptional. We’ve evolved our mid-travel link design, by utilizing the same rear shock pivot cartridge bearing design found in our longer travel clevis designs (such as the Firebird and Phoenix), to give the Mach 5.5 Carbon the unmatched small bump compliance and traction that Pivot is known for in a lighter weight and more compact design.

When engineering the ultimate trail bike chassis, weight matters. The Mach 5.5 Carbon matches Mach 6 Carbon durability while achieving Mach 429 SL Carbon weights and the perfect balance of frame stiffness and ride feel that Pivot frames are known for. The frame’s carbon structure features our proprietary hollow core internal molding process combined with a highly optimized lay-up design, utilizing lighter weight, high modulus materials that save up to a pound (.45kg) over other trail/enduro bike designs. The Mach 5.5 Carbon is available as a complete bike, with builds weighing under 27lbs (12.2kg) complete with dropper, and with frame weights as low as 5.2lbs(2.35kg).

TRAIL GEOMETRY

The geometry of the Mach 5.5 Carbon is tuned to support its well-rounded trail bike personality – the optimized long and low geometry with a 66.5-degree head angle provides high-speed stability, contributing to its amazing descending capabilities. Combined with short 430mm chainstays and relatively steep 73.5-degree seat angle, it absolutely crushes the steepest of climbs. The Mach 5.5 Carbon’s overall balanced geometry makes it the ultimate trail bike weapon.

We’ve taken this ultimate trail bike idea one step further by combining it with Maxxis’ new Wide Trail 2.6” Minion DHF/Rekon tire combination mounted on 35mm wide rims for maximum control and maximum fun in a wide variety of conditions. This wider 2.6” tire option gives you incredible traction and rollover advantages with nearly the speed of a full on enduro race tire set up. The Mach 5.5 Carbon can run any 27.5 tire combination, from 2.1-2.6, so your options are nearly unlimited.

Pivot Mach 5.5 Geometry Chart

ALL THE RIGHT DETAILS

Featured on the Mach 5.5 Carbon is Pivot’s ultra-clean, removable front derailleur mount. For riders that want to run two chainrings, this precisely engineered mount offers the best shifting performance you can get, utilizing Shimano’s new side-swing front derailleur system. For those who love the simple functionality of 1x systems, the removable front derailleur mount offers an incredibly sleek, clean installation with almost no evidence of the un-needed hardware.

The Mach 5.5 Carbon offers full Di2 electronic integration and easy, clean internal routing of shifters, brakes and droppers via the Pivot Cable Port system.

Other essential details include ultra-quiet, low durometer, rubberized frame protection in all the key places, 180mm rear post mount disc brake, and Enduro Max cartridge bearings throughout.

The Mach 5.5 Carbon is available in five sizes to fit riders from 4’11” to 6’7”+ from XS to XL. Every size clears a full size water bottle inside the front triangle.

PERFECT BUILDS FROM PIVOT

Pivot complete bikes are more than the sum of their parts - every single component is selected to give you the best experience on the trail:

Tires: For each of our bikes, we include the best version of every Maxxis tire model for each application – choosing rubber compounds, tubeless and sidewall technologies that are perfect for your specific Pivot.

Cockpit: Custom designed Phoenix Components work as a system to enhance cockpit comfort and control on every Pivot bike. To learn more about how these components enhance the quality of your ride, see here.

Wheels: Pivot bikes include the best wheel technologies available. DT wheels include the 36-tooth Star Ratchet hubs for immediate engagement off the line and the friendliest, most reliable tubeless system in the sport, with easy setup and inflation. Reynolds Carbon wheels feature industry leading composite materials and proprietary resins that give Reynolds rims the perfect balance of stiffness and ride-feel. Combined with the nearly instantaneous engagement and jewelry-like finish of the Industry Nine hubs and Reynolds’ new lifetime warranty, these Pivot-exclusive 36mm Reynolds wheels are the ultimate wheel upgrade for your new Mach 5.5 Carbon.

Saddle: Pivot bikes feature WTB saddles that are specially made with the best, most durable, memory foam and feature a special hidden cutout for long ride comfort.

We take quality and workmanship seriously at Pivot, and know that the details are what make a great rider experience. Every Pivot Cycles frame undergoes a 28-step assembly and quality control check to ensure that every ride on the Mach 5.5 Carbon exceeds your expectations.

FAQ

Which size bike should I purchase?

To ensure the best sizing, we recommend that you visit your local Pivot dealer to get a professional fit and refer to our geometry chart to check your measurements. We can, however, provide a rough guideline to get you started. These recommendations are based on our experience, athlete preference and customer feedback:

• X-Small: 4'11" – 5'4"
• Small: 5'4" – 5'8"
• Medium: 5'8" – 5'11"
• Large: 5'11" – 6'3'
• X-Large: 6'2" +

We suggest that you pick your Mach 5.5 Carbon size based on your riding style. The Mach 5.5 Carbon features trail bike long and low geometry with both shorter seat tube and head tube measurements per size – this geometry means that most riders can go up or down a size and should base their choice on riding-style, reach and stem length preferences. Be sure to also consult our dropper post fit guide when making your selection. You can always reach out to us on Live Chat for additional guidance.

What dropper post length should I use on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon features a low stand-over height and short seat tubes to allow the use of longer travel dropper posts and/or more flexibility for a wider range of rider sizes.

There are some limitations that each dropper post can accommodate for each frame size based on the individual rider’s saddle height, so it is important to check fit before choosing the travel and model of dropper post for your Mach 5.5 Carbon. Use the linked guide to find the right post for your bike:

http://www.pivotcycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Mach55Carbon-Dropper-Fit-Guide.pdf

How do I set the sag on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

We make it easy to get the best ride out of your Pivot bike with a simple sag indicator already installed on your bike, and this follow-along video featuring our own Bernard Kerr: https://vimeo.com/pivotcycles/sag

Can I run a water bottle on the Mach 5.5 Carbon?

Yes, the Mach 5.5 Carbon features 2 sets of bottle mounts on the Small to X-Large frame sizes. One mount is on the top of the down tube and the other bottle mount is underneath the down tube. Every size clears a full size water bottle inside the front triangle.

What hub/wheel spacing does the Mach 5.5 Carbon use?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon uses the Boost 148mm X 12mm hub/wheel spacing. This is a hub design with wider flanges so you cannot take a current 135mm, 142mm, 150mm, or 157mm hub and change end caps to convert an existing hub.

What is the thread pitch on the rear axle?

Pivot uses a 1.5 thread pitch on the rear thru axle. You can order one through our online store here:

http://www.pivotcycles.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=60&product_id=132

This is also the same thread pitch and axle length as the Shimano Boost 148mm X 12mm through axle so most Shimano compatible axle should work as well if you somehow manage to lose your Pivot or DT Swiss rear axle and need something compatible to keep you going.

What size seatpost does the Mach 5.5 Carbon use?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon frame uses a 30.9mm seatpost.

What size seat clamp does the Mach 5.5 Carbon use?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon frame uses a 34.9mm or 35mm (as some manufacturers call it) seatpost clamp.

Can I mount a chain guide on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

Yes. The Mach 5.5 Carbon features ISCG05 mounts on the frame. Most upper guides on the market will fit and you can either use the ISCG05 mounts or some of the more compact versions that attach to an E-Type front derailleur mount. For full upper and lower guides, we recommend the MRP AMG for the Mach 5.5 Carbon.

What front derailleur does the Mach 5.5 Carbon use?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon uses an e-type Shimano side-swing style front derailleur only. Shimano produces the new e-type side-swing front derailleur in Deore and SLX for 10 speed drivetrains and XT and XTR for 11 speed drivetrains.

What travel fork can I use on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon was designed for either a 150mm or 160mm fork. The maximum travel length that can be used on the Mach 5.5 Carbon is 160mm travel.

What is the fork offset on the Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The fork offset on the Mach 5.5 Carbon is 51mm.

How wide of a tire can I run on the Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon can run 27.5” tires up to 2.6” inches.

How large of a rotor will fit on the Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon was designed for a 180mm rotor and features a 180mm post mount design so you cannot fit a 160mm rotor on the Mach 5.5 Carbon.

What type of rear brake adapter do I need?

No brake adapter is needed for a 180mm rotor. However, many manufacturers make adapters for larger rotor sizes, in which case you would need a 180mm direct mount/post to post adapter.

What cranks will the Mach 5.5 Carbon accept?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon will accept all cranks designed for the BOOST system and compatible with a press fit 92mm bottom bracket. BOOST system means that the rear hub spacing is 148mm and the chain-rings have been shifted out approximately 3mm from where a tradition crank designed for a 142mm rear hub would be so that the chainrings will line up properly with the new position of the cassette on the 148mm rear hub.

Can I run non-Boost™ cranks on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

In some cases you can run a conventional non-BOOST 1X or 2X crank. The Race Face NEXT 1X and other Cinch system 1X cranks are dual compatible between standard 142mm and 148mm Boost rear ends. Some smaller chainring combination 1X (30 and 32T) Shimano XT and XTR 11 will also work. In some cases 2X standard cranks may also work with 24/34, 26/36 and 22/36 combinations. Shimano’s new 11 Speed XTR and XT standard cranks feature both 24/34 and 26/36 chainring options which work perfectly with the Mach 5.5 Carbon frame as Shimano’s chainline dimensions already tend to run wider than others in the market. There may be other 2X non- boost cranks available that will work although it is dependent on specific chainline and chainring size. If the chainline is not out far enough, the front derailleur clearance may be tight when shifting into the small ring as the front derailleur mount on the Mach 5.5 Carbon is also shifted outwards to accommodate the BOOST design.

Additionally, you cannot run cranks designed specifically with a narrower Q Factor such as XTR Race 158mm Q factor crank and the SRAM XX1 156Q crank (In fact, for any SRAM 1X cranks, you need to run their specific BOOST version of the crank).

What is the narrowest Q factor crank that the Mach 5.5 Carbon will accept?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon will accept cranks with a standard Q factor measurement as low as 163mm. You cannot run cranks designed specifically with a narrower Q Factor such as XTR Race 158mm Q factor crank and the SRAM XX1 156Q crank

What bottom bracket is used on the Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon uses a Press Fit 92mm BB. Some bottom bracket manufacturers may refer to it as BB92 of PF92 as well. Every crank manufacture offers Press Fit 92mm BB options.

What is the eye-to- eye shock length and stroke length on the Mach 5.5 Carbon?

The eye-to- eye shock length is 7.875 inches (200mm) and the stroke length is 2 inches (50.8mm).

If I want to run a different brand of shock on my Mach 5.5 Carbon, what else do I need to know?

The Mach 5.5 Carbon shock uses M8 through bolt hardware on the front and no hardware on the rear. Shock spacer dimensions are 36mm wide front. On the rear of the shock, the spacer hardware and bushing will need to be removed as the rocker mounts directly to the shock body. Some shocks may have a different spec then the Fox shock (that the Mach 5.5 Carbon is designed for) and may not fit properly. Also, as we cannot test every shock on the market, riders assume some risk if they choose a shock that does not fit properly or is not tuned correctly for the bike. The frame is designed around a large volume air can. We run medium compression valving and medium rebound damping.

Can I run a Cane Creek Double Barrel Air shock on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

Yes, as long as you order the correct eyelet size (15mm eyelet).

Can I put a coil-over shock on my Mach 5.5 Carbon?

You cannot run a coil-over on your Mach 5.5 Carbon! The Mach 5.5 Carbon was designed to work with the progressiveness of an air spring. A coil-over shock (even one with separate bottoming control) does not offer the progressive spring curve that the Mach 5.5 Carbon requires. Running a coil-over shock on the Mach 5.5 Carbon will result in hard bottoming and damage to the frame.

What are the torque specs?

A detailed PDF of the torque specs can be found under the "Tech Specs" tab.

Pivot Cycles owner and head of engineering, Chris Cocalis, and the legendary Aaron Chase took the new Pivot Mach 5.5 Carbon for a spin on Phoenix's famous South Mountain trail system. Renowned for its technical challenges, this is the perfect place to learn about what the Mach 5.5 Carbon has to offer. Riders looking for the ultimate high performance trail bike need to check this one out!

“The original Mach 5.7 Carbon was the most popular, best loved bike we’ve ever produced. We wanted to update the design, and knew that it had to be absolutely perfect for all the riders out there waiting for the next generation,” said Pivot Cycles President and CEO, Chris Cocalis. “The Mach 5.5 Carbon embodies everything that made the original rise above the competition, with key updates to make it a true next-generation trail bike – it features our trail-adapted long and low geometry, an evolved mid-travel linkage for incredible small bump compliance, an all-new carbon layup with lighter weight, higher modulus materials, and clearance for up to 2.6” wide tires.”

http://www.pivotcycles.com/bike/mach-5-5-carbon

Santa Cruz Is Making A 29" V-10

It's true. There's a 29er V10, and the Syndicate will be racing it this weekend at Lourdes. Although the move to 29-inch wheels has been riling comments sections and forums for months (#26isdefinitelydeadnow), the writing's on the wall. Tracks are faster, times are tighter, and eking another second out of a 4-minute track can be the difference between a World Cup win and missing the podium entirely. Keeping the Syndicate in the hunt every season takes a ton of time and energy, but downhill racing is not only the most exciting racing going, it's also where new products and technology are tested to their limit.

It comes as no surprise that Greg Minnaar was the driving force behind this project. "I raced the Hightower at the Enduro World Series in Finale Ligure, Italy, last October, and it just held so much speed," explains Greg. "That's when I knew we had to come back to the 29er V10 idea."

"I raced the Hightower at the Enduro World Series in Finale... I knew we had to come back to the 29er V10 idea."

Greg Minnaar

Jason Marsh, Greg's mechanic, points out that, "We'd looked at doing a 29er V10 a few years ago, but the fork options available at the time wouldn't stand up to World Cup racing. Greg's experience in Finale got the project off the shelf and back into development. FOX gave us a critical piece of the puzzle when they delivered a prototype 40 for us to test on a modified Hightower. Our first test session aboard that Hightower showed consistently faster times on the bigger wheels, we all decided we had to go for it. Then the real work began. We machined a few different sets of links, welded up three aluminum swingarms, and did more testing. As the riders got on terms with the new bikes, they got even faster. We played with linkages and shocks to achieve different angles, travel, and leverage ratios until Greg felt happy with setting everything in stone."

But ideas don't get set in stone around here. They get set in carbon. And in order to race a carbon bike at Lourdes, we needed to start manufacturing by mid-January. Nick Anderson, our head engineer, finished the design in early January and sent it to our carbon factory to get the tooling machined. "We're fortunate enough to co-own our own carbon manufacturing facility, which gives us bandwidth to indulge in this kind of project," Nick says, "I don't think it would have been possible without this kind of partnership."

"While the manufacturing was spinning up, we sat down with the Syndicate partners to make sure we could get the bits we needed by late March or early April." says Nick. "Fox had race-ready forks in the pipeline, and ENVE was on board to build some 29-inch M90s. Maxxis delivered bigger versions of the Syndicate's preferred tires, and Chris King's Buzzworks group whipped up some custom headsets to bring the geometry in line. It sounds simple enough, but the reality was anything but. The upshot is that, thanks to everyone's ability to move quickly on product development, we were able to go from frame concept to race-ready bike over just a couple months, with a few weeks left over for final testing." In one particular case, a technological leap by one manufacturer forced a quick counter by another. Fox altered the brake mount location on the 40's lowers to accommodate ‘Boost' flange spacing, which meant a standard 20x110mm DH hub wouldn't work—Chris King machined a one-off design they call ISO-AB (Asymmetric Boost) to get everything in sync.

"We were able to go from frame concept to full-carbon race-ready bike over just a couple months"

Nick Anderson

Although it seems like the new race bike is a radical departure, the intent is the same as it ever was. Every iteration of the V10 was built to be faster than the one that came before, and the results began to speak for themselves during testing, to the disbelief of one of the new recruits.

"Greg practically forced me to try the bike" reveals Loris Vergier. "I tried it once in testing, but went straight back to my original 27.5 inch bike because that's what felt fastest across the length of the test track. But Greg insisted I give the 29er another shot. So I did, and I felt like it was still slower. The clocks don't lie though, and I was consistently posting quicker times on the new bike compared to the old—and this was on my local track! That's when I realized the new bike was deceptively quick."

"I was consistently posting quicker times on the new bike compared to the old—and this was on my local track!"

Loris Vergier

In contrast, Luca Shaw took straight to it. "Psychologically I think it really helped that the bike already looked refined, straight off the bat" says Luca. "The swingarm and links are custom, and they're mated to a production V10 front triangle. Loris and I are riding bikes with 190mm of travel, and Greg's got 210 because the XXL frame has more room."

While the guys were testing, Nick was working through the final pieces of the puzzle. "We needed to sit the bike into the travel to compensate for the BB height change created by the larger wheel diameter, and the guys at Chris King were able to make us a Buzzworks headset that then corrected the resulting change to the head angle" he says, "We also had to reduce the travel to maintain tire clearance at bottom out, which then meant we had to change the shock rate progression to maintain good suspension feel. The leverage curve is similar to the existing V10, but the leverage ratios have been modified slightly." Expect links and headsets to change over the course of the season as the riders keep working toward their ideal setups.

The V10 has racked up more World Cup wins than any downhill bike in history. It was the first full carbon fiber bike to win a World Cup, and ironically it was also the last 26-inch bike to win one, too. So where does that leave 27.5"?

It's still early days for 29-inch wheels in downhill and there will always be "horses for courses." At the end of the day, we want to win races. So if any of our riders feel more comfortable in particular conditions or on certain courses with 27.5" wheels that's what they'll ride. Greg, Luca, and Loris are riding the new bike in Lourdes on April 30th because that's what they feel most confident on. The V10 has always been about pushing technology in pursuit of speed, and we're simply continuing that tradition today. The new bike is another leap forward in the progression of carbon downhill bikes and we're excited to be leading the charge.

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2017 Marin Wolf Ridge Announced

For over 30 years, Marin Bikes has searched for perfection in our mountain bikes. Years have been spent riding, learning, and searching for the ultimate suspension design that could break down the barriers that define our rides. We found a technology partner in Naild that shared our quest for suspension perfection, and that’s when things got interesting.

The full unidirectional carbon Wolf Ridge is built around the revolutionary 160mm travel Naild R3ACT – 2 Play suspension system, producing a bike that has the widest range of climbing to descending efficiency on the market, making it so you no longer have to compromise on suspension travel in search of pedaling efficiency. Countless late nights in the engineering department and early morning trail sessions combined to unlock mountain bike suspension perfection.

In development for nearly five years, we designed the Wolf Ridge utilizing biometric data for the perfect rider fit, applied physics for ideal kinematics based on the rider’s center of gravity, and the desire to create a bike that addresses the holy grail of mountain biking — a full suspension rig that doesn’t make you miss your hardtail on the climbs, and one that you can confidently point towards technical singletrack for the descent. The Marin Wolf Ridge is one bike to rule all of the trails that you love to ride.

The Wolf Ridge defines a paradigm shift in thinking that will force the rest of the market to take notice:

Where travel does not define category

Where a bike can climb and descend equally well

Where a bike can be at home in any terrain, with any rider – through the fast and flowy, or the rough and tumble

Where the mountain bike experience is mind-blowing

Marin Wolf Ridge Features

The Wolf Ridge was developed to be the most well rounded mountain bike on the market. The frame is engineered and built durable enough for trail and enduro use, while being light enough for cross-country riding; Component spec follows suit. The Wolf Ridge was not designed, and is not equipped, for downhill racing or bike park use.

Marin Wolf Ridge Geometry

2017 Marin Wolf Ridge