Santa Cruz rides the Radquer

Santa Cruz Bicycles is launching the "Stigmata" cyclocross bike designed for disc brakes and the new version of the "Highball" hardtail in two wheel sizes, 27.5 and 29 inches. Both bikes are available in different colors and equipment variants.

The Californian luxury forge Santa Cruz Bicycles presents a new bike with 700c wheels: the carbon cyclocrosser "Stigmata". Made from lightweight CC carbon fibers, the new frame is designed for disc brakes. It offers Maxle thru-axles from Rock Shox at the front and rear and elegantly routes cables and hoses through the inside of the frame. In addition to five frame sizes, Santa Cruz offers a choice of two colors and three equipment variants as well as a frame kit. Designed as a versatile cyclocross racer, the Stigmata also cuts a fine figure on forest and dirt tracks as well as on asphalt.

"Our stated aim was to create a modern cyclocross racer that is versatile enough to be used in races or beaten over forest and dirt tracks. If you put slicks on it, the bike is even suitable for riding on asphalt," explains Santa Cruz product manager Josh Kissner. "If there is such a thing as a 700c bike for mountain bikers, it should be the Stigmata."

If the model name Stigmata sounds familiar, it's because Santa Cruz had a cyclocross road bike of the same name with an aluminum frame until 2007. According to Kissner, however, the new bike has hardly anything in common with its predecessor. "The name is about the only thing we've taken over from the old Stigmata," says Kissner. "The new frame is also designed for the use of electronic gears."

Technical

The new Stigmata is versatile: if required, the frame offers space for tires up to 41 millimetres wide - even in mud. However, the handling is flawless even if you put on slick tires to go scrubbing miles. The Santa Cruz engineers have also installed a PressFit 30 bottom bracket shell for the first time. There are several reasons for this: firstly, this size is compatible with all road bike cranks and secondly, it makes the frame lighter. And without compromising on strength and durability, two features that are rightly expected from Santa Cruz.
Complete bikes are available from CHF 4690, while the frame kit including fork and headset costs CHF 2490.