Just recently, we had the opportunity to ride the Santa Cruz in the last So. Cal race of this year. Here’s Ed Arnets’ report on the bike. Also, there is a brief shootout between the Epic and the Epic. MBAs Top Ten Southridge Challenge race results.
VIRTUAL POINT
Eddie Arnet
Santa Cruz’s answer to Specialized Epic, the Blur is their answer. The Virtual Pivot Point swingarm is responsible for the Blur’s stable pedal platform. It is easiest to visualize a monoshock swingarm floating on a pair swing links. The swingarm moves the rear axle vertically along a narrow S-shaped path. The shock sag can be adjusted so that it places the rear axle in the bottom. After the forward swoop, the S, the chain tension will pull the wheel forward, locking it in the center of the curve. Only when the shock is hit by chain torque or back off the pedals, will it compress.
RACE-SETUP
Santa Cruz’s elite XTR Kit was included with our black anodized Blur. It also came with a Fox Forx100R. The kit comes with an XTR Dual Control drivetrain, XTR Center Lock discs, Easton Monkey Lite CT2 bars, EA50 stem, and EC70 posts. Notubes’ modified Specialized Roll X tires were used in my race preparation. This gave me a race weight 11 kg. even.
A SMART SWINGARM PIVOT
The Fox Float R shock does not respond to pedaling, other than settling into its suspension sag. You may feel a slight movement from the virtual pivot if you ride on a smooth surface. It is not discernible and the amount of movement you feel depends on how fast you pedal.
11th Annual Southridge Challenge
After some rain, the Southridge layout was in perfect condition. Although the bike was in perfect condition, I had to abandon a one-minute lead and take second. The bike got a great workout.
The Virtual Pivot Point is a stable and desirable pedaling platform in cross-country. The Blur’s sound quality and excellent handles make it easy to push hard on descents. The Blur’s 10 cm rear feels like 13 cm of bump-soaking action.
One peculiarity of the VPP I don’t like is the swingarm movement that can be felt when you tempo pedal. It creates a soft feeling at the pedals, making the bike feel slower and heavier than it really is.
DUAL CONTROL AND CENTER-LOCK
The new discs from Shimano are amazing. The carrier-mounted rotors spin perfectly straight and there is no pad rub. The lever feel and force modulation are exceptional. Although we have yet to test the 03 products, these discs could be among the most superior on the market. The XTR Disc system weighs only 30g less than the XTR V brake setup, for those who are serious about gram counting.
The Dual Control is now available. Santa Cruz uses the official Shimano XTR group, which combines Dual Control with a Rapid Rise rear deailleur. Specialized opts for a standard-action XTR derailleur. Specialized’s success is likely due to what I have seen. The Rapid Rise’s lever action is not as intuitive and easy to master as the standard derailleur. It is easier to flip the lever down to get a bigger cog when you’re riding your bike on technical terrain.
The hydraulic discs were my last issue with the Dual Control Blur. There is no lever dead stroke (free-play) adjustment. You must use reach adjustment in order to position the lever so that it feels the best when the discs engage. You can do this, but it is important to remember that Dual Control allows you to adjust the lever reach to allow for fingers to move below, behind, and above the levers in order to control the shifts. To shift DC levers comfortably, I needed a lever reach that was further from my grip than I wanted. This is not an issue with DC levers or cable brakes but it is an oversight on Shimanos’ part.
MINI SHOOTOUT EPIC vs. BLUR
The Blur, which we tested, retails at 105kg.
The S-Works Epic can be purchased at dealers. With the same race prep, the Epic suddenly sounds heavy at 112 kg. Only anodized black is available for the assembled S-Works Epic. Santa Cruz offers seven powder coat colors and four anodized options. (One of these options is the same ugly black that Specialized uses.
Which bike do you prefer to race between the Santa Cruz or Epic? The Epic. The Epic feels solid on the pedals, especially when sprinting and climbing out of the saddle. Both bikes can be equally effective on the trail but it is hard to forget the feeling of invincibility that comes with descending the Blur.
The Blur is a race bike. I don’t know if it is possible to get past the feeling of the swingarm moving through the pedals. This is my opinion on Blur. The next issue will feature a complete test. Scroll down to see the Southridge Challenge results.
11th Annual Southridge Challenge
Fontana, CA
FASTESTXC EXPERTS (3 laps
1. M. Hileman 2. E. Arnet R. Bartlett 4. R. OBreyan 5. D. Medlin 6. R. Bonnin
TEN FASTEST TWO LAP XC RIDERS
1. D. KamSS 2. R. GagnonSpt 35 – 44 3. M. MalotSpt35-44 4. J. HammondSS M. PartaSpt 27-34 6. D. StowellSpt 35 – 44 7. K. BlueSpt 35-44.2 R. LoosSpt 27 – 34 9. C. GuillamondSS 10. C. GuillamondSS 10.
Fastest Clydesdale: C. Adams
Fastest 45+ Sport: R. Lierly
TEN FASTEST LAP XC RIDERS
1. C. BartonBeg 12-143 2. H. VidanaBeg 35-443 3. M. ThayerBeg 27-343 4. S. SoperBeg 27-343 5. B. OienBeg 12-144 6.
K. MyersBeg 27-344 7. G. ScheidlerBeg 45+4 8. V. BeingesserBeg 12-144 9. S. GilmoreBeg 45+4 10. B. MoatsBeg 35-444 TEN FASTEST DIVERSITY RIDERS
1. D. Klaassen Van OorschotPro 2. C. KeenePro 3. W. SmithPro 4. M. OhlakerVet Pro 5. T. MaddoxExp 27-34 6. S. PoissotSemi-pro 7. M. HelmsVet Pro 8. D. UmlandPro 9. B. CoghillExp 27-34 10 S. HerrmannSemi-pro
Fastest 19-26 Expert: D. Hammond
Fastest 35-44 Expert:
Fastest 12-18 Expert: K.Y. Adams
Fastest 45+ Expert: B. Bondurant
Fastest Expert Woman: H. Hagerman
TEN FASTEST DH RIDERS
1. M. MolinariSpt 27-34 2. J. MarxSpt 27 – 34 3. B. MattlesSpt 27 – 34 4. B. VigilSpt 19-25 5. D. SmithSpt 19-26-7 B. SimpsonSpt 19-25 7. T. LentSpt 35-44 8. R. FerrazSpt 27-34 B. JusticeSm 45+ J. MelroseSpt 19-25
Fastest 12-18 Sport: J. Howenten
D. Matyasovich is the fastest 50+ Grand Master Woman
TEN FASTEST BEGINNERS DH RIDERS
1. S. BaezBeg 27-34 2. D. ShawBeg 19-26 3. G. GonzalezBeg 27-34 4. J. LaosBeg 12-14 A. CaroBeg 27-34 6. B. LucioniBeg 15-18 7. R. RoseBeg 27-34 8. R. PosseBeg 27-34 9. J. GonzalezBeg 15-18 10. T. ChenBeg 15-18
N. Sunseri is the fastest Clydesdale
Fastest 45+ Beginner: G. Martinez
