So bitten by the XC bug lately I have been scanning the press for releases on new product and came across this release courtesy of cyclingnews.com. Santa Cruz really seem to be upping their game lately, firstly there was the spy release of the new Syndicate V10 which Steve, Greg and Josh will be piloting this season finally featuring a reasonable leverage ratio, now there is this, their first full carbon affair, the Blur XC:
By James Huang courtesy of cyclingnews.com
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Santa Cruz has taken its popular Blur XC in a new direction for 2009 with the introduction of an all-new carbon fiber frame. According to Santa Cruz PR man Mike Ferrentino, the new frame is substantially lighter, dramatically stiffer and yet even more durable than the outgoing aluminum version.
Claimed weight for a medium frame is now an impressive 1948g (4.3lb) including a RockShox Monarch 3.3 shock, down from 2359g (5.2lb) for last year’s model, and a complete bike with a not-too-exotic Shimano XTR build is supposedly just 10.15kg (22.38lb). In addition to the carbon fiber main frame and rear triangle, Santa Cruz also uses the material for the upper link, both rear dropouts and even the rear disc brake tabs.
Even so, Santa Cruz claims the new Blur XC rivals some of its big-travel bikes for strength – there is no rider weight limit – while the purported increases in rigidity (the company doesn’t say exactly how much but says it “blows away” the old one) should yield improvements in pedaling response and handling precision as well. All heady claims for sure considering this is Santa Cruz’s first-ever carbon bike and we’ll do our best to secure a test sample as soon as possible.
The decreased weight suggests a more race-oriented bike than before but the geometry numbers reinforce this notion even further. For comparable large-sized frames, the carbon model drops to 105mm of rear wheel travel (down 10mm), the shock stroke shortens to 165mm (down from 200mm), and the chain stays shrink a considerable 7mm to just 422mm (16.6″). In keeping with industry trends, head tube angles slacken a bit to 69.5° across the board for marginally more stable handling though and the head tube lengths have also grown a few millimeters. Geometry is optimized around 100mm-travel forks but 120mm ones will also work well.
As it has done with other new introductions, Santa Cruz will equip the new Blur XC with a second-generation VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension system. A more linear suspension rate and decreased chain growth (down to 15mm from 24mm) should yield improved pedal snappiness and less kickback under power in the bumps and all of the pivot points have been upgraded with angular contact bearings for much-needed improvements in longevity and side-load capacity. The lower link will come equipped with grease ports for easier servicing, too.
Santa Cruz will offer the new Blur XC in four sizes – small, medium, large and extra-large – and in either black or silver, available in the US around mid-March.
Interesting notes to me were the following:
Use of a regular style threaded bottom bracket as apposed to the forward thinking BB30 style designs as seen on many competitive XC frames entering the market.
The use of a full carbon dropout but the choice not to use postmount direct tabs, saving weight by losing the brake adapter and transferring braking forces more structurally soundly into the frame/ seatstay/ dropout area completely avoiding the shear load an IS mount places on both frame and hardware.
Finally however the Blur does look as though it will feature a replacable hanger as apposed to a full replaceable dropout as on previous models.
And look – It still takes a REAL HEADSET!!!!!
While I would agree it is interesting they are not going for the BB30 trend, I would argue the thinking behind your brake mount comment. A bolt, properly preloaded, will not take any of the shear load. Instead, it is the friction between the two materials determined by the amount of bolt preload that takes the shear load. Aditionally, I feel the amount of material shaved by making the brake mounts threaded bosses on the frame is offset by the headache caused when a ham-fisted owner strips out the inserts. Otherwise, I do feel its an interesting bike and its great to hear your commentary!
Cheers,
Colin, California