Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 2.0 Carbon R2 Complete Mountain Bike 2017

Santa Cruz Bicycles' 5010 has long been a favorite an all mountain favorite, bridging the gap between enduro and trail with a versatility not often found in the wild. For 2017, the 5010 2. 0 Carbon R2 Complete Mountain Bike carries 2016's celebrated updates into a new year with new, typically imaginative colorways and kit. This particular build gets a double chainring and Shimano's workhorse SLX componentry itself the beneficiary of a recent re working for a wide range of precise gearing. 2016's 2. 0 updates touch on almost every important aspect of frame geometry. The biggest change is to the head tube, which drops one degree from 68 to 67. That's the same as the previous Bronson model, and it situates the 5010 2. 0 just this side of a slacked out enduro monster. The frame's reach and bottom bracket follow suit, with the former tacking on an additional 20 25mm, depending on size, and the latter dropping slightly. The combined result of these apparently minor tweaks is a longer, lower, more stable frame that eagerly attacks lines that the previous 5010 would have to think twice about. While the 5010 2. 0's front end and bottom bracket recline, the changes out back tighten things up for more pedaling efficiency and cockpit versatility. The seat tube is steeper, longer, and wider, which benefits the ups and downs of all mountain riding. While torqueing over the crux of a climb or grinding speed on singletrack, the steeper angle puts the rider in a more efficient pedaling posture, making it easier to stay on top of the pedal stroke. On steep descents, the shorter, fatter seat tube allows for more dropper travel, which nets increased stability when gravity dictates your speed and unruly trail furniture impedes you. The 5010 2. 0's chainstays are stubbier, reduced from the previous 5010's already impressive 17. 12in to an even stiffer, more agile 16. 8in. On the trail, this translates to increased power transfer when dropping watts into the pedals and nimbler dexte...