Down-country bikes have been one of America’s coolest exports for a few years now, combining short travel with relaxed geometry to create a new sub-niche of XC bikes that rip (or trail bikes that pedal). Joining pocket rockets like the Transition Spur, Specialized Epic Evo and Mondraker F-Podium, is the new Juliana Wilder and Santa Cruz Blur, and both promise to deliver both confidence on the descents and a flagrant disregard for gravity on the climbs.
The Wilder is part of a new three-bike line-up from Santa Cruz – including a new Blur – with all models sharing the same frame and rolling on 29in wheels. The Blur is a full-suspension XC bike with 100mm travel front and rear, while the Wilder and Blur TR are more trail-bike orientated – the shock stroke has been extended to deliver 115mm travel, and it’s matched to a 120mm fork.
This story is from the Summer 2021 edition of Mountain Bike Rider.
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This story is from the Summer 2021 edition of Mountain Bike Rider.
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