The new Nomad-c is the company’s fourth carbon fibre frame and in the Nomad has saved 1.25lbs (0.56kg) compared to the aluminium version. Santa Cruz cites increased strength and stiffness ‘by large margins’.
“The existing aluminum Nomad isn’t exactly a porker in terms of weight or a wilting violet with regard to strength,” says Santa Cruz, “so being able to reduce weight by that much and at the same time increase strength and stiffness, without skimping on any features, is about as much of a win-win scenario as we could hope for. It’s light. We are seeing frames weighing in at 6.1lbs with a RockShox Monarch 3.3 shock.
The frame has been made completely from carbon fibre using “three key aspects” which the company says “differentiates it from many others and at the same time allow us to achieve the strength (and stiffness) to weight characteristics that we are so in love with.”
Santa Cruz use a one-piece lay-up and curing process, making the front triangle as a single piece using continuous fibres throughout the frame. A proprietary manufacturing process allows the designers to precisely control both the outside and inside frame shape while compacting the laminate layers, which in turn results in better stiffness and strength while eliminating excess material. The pivots, disc mounts and ISCG05 tabs are moulded into the frame in one process
“We don’t have any fancy acronyms for this, but it is unique – nobody else is making carbon fiber mountain bikes this way at this time. And, while we don’t have the selling power of a carefully focus-grouped nickname behind the process, the results are pretty enough that we are proud to show off what the insides of our frames look like.”
To ensure the frame can withstand rock strikes and harsh treatment, the underside of the downtube features five layers (two aramid and one 3K weave) of uni-directional carbon, and the chainstays also receive extra layers of carbon to improve resilience to impacts. There’s also a metal plate along the chainstay incase of chainsuck, and all cable stops for adjustable seatposts are integrated into the frame. Up front is a 1.5in headtube.
Two colours are available; white with black decals or a matte carbon with gold pinstripe decals. The Nomad-c will also be available for delivery starting mid-June, in all the usual build options which can be viewed on the Santa Cruz website. RRP £2,499 with Monarch 3.3. (DHX 5 Air and DHX RC4 Coil upgrades).
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