We announced the news about Wylder a few days ago, and we’ve
got some more details by illicit means.

Short version of the Wylder saga is that the company was formed in order to design,
market and distribute womens specific outdoor products.  Cycling components
will be our first focus. They have also teamed up with Santa Cruz Bicycles to assist
in designing womens specific frames.

Wylder entered into an association with Santa Cruz Bicycles to help design two Santa
Cruz /Juliana models that will be available this autumn.

To begin with, the Juliana will have much more standover height than any current
26″ wheeled ATB model on the market, along with additional frame geometry changes
to meet the physiological requirements of women riders. A bonus is that the frames
will be much lighter because the tubesets will be optimized for an average rider
weight of 140lbs versus the normal 175lb – 180lb male rider.

The full suspension model will be based on the Superlight frame but will come in
roughly 1/4lb – 1/2lb lighter!! With Jules’ (Juli Furtado) input, Santa Cruz have
shortened the top tube (to accommodate most women’s shorter torso length), steepened
the seat tube (to bring the rider compartment up and over the center of gravity of
the bike), slacked the headangle (to increase steering control), and increased standover
height substantially.  Three sizes (sm-14″, md – 16″, lg – 18″).
These three sizes, Wylder say will easily fit women from 4’6″ to 6′.

There will be two to three frame colors (TBD – more than likely a translucent purple,
metallic blue, translucent white).

Their intent is to offer a complete bike that truly is designed for women, with a
woman’s input (just so happens that Jules has a fair amount of time in the saddle).
Jules has ridden a Santa Cruz Superlight for the last three years; as you can imagine
she has been offered a ride on virtually every make of bike that exists. The fact
that she has chosen to buy and ride a Santa Cruz is testament to the fact that she
feels that these guys have the ability to transfer her ideas into the correct ride
for women cyclists. T

The hardtail model will see the same frame optimization as on the full suspension
model. Santa Cruz will sell framesets or complete bikes

The other products being worked on are a line of women’s specific cycling components;
bars (smaller diameter grip area than standard bars – from 22.2 down to 19mm,  narrower
width – 580mm), stems (size range from 60mm – 120mm x 5, 15 and 25 deg rise), saddles
(new design that Jules has spent many months refining), grips (smaller outside diameter,
26.0mm vs 30.0mm) etc.

All this will be released on their website <FONT
FACE=”Arial”>www.wylder.com shortly.

We will keep you all informed of developments as we have them.

For further info, contact Santa
Cruz UK