Racing The Stable - One Race, Four Bikes

I'm not sure when the idea popped into my head, but I figured I'd try something a little different for this year's TBF 50 Miler in Granite Bay.  Race four different Santa Cruz bikes!  I had three, just needed a fourth.  And talking with fellow racer Ryan Gibson after the Santa Cruz Super Enduro the week before I told him my idea and he let me borrow his Bronson C!  Awesome!  The plan came together and the race format made it possible to pull off this stunt and get a good comparison; four laps on a fast rolling course with plenty of short punchy climbs, twisting turns in the trees and a few small rock gardens.  It's a total pedal-fest and the trails overall aren't technically challenging by themselves, but riding them at race speed makes it interesting and would give me the opportunity to review each bike's pedaling capability, steering characteristics and overall "race-ability."  After some thought on the order, the line up would be Tallboy C, Bronson C, Tallboy LTc, and Highball C.  I would do my best to give the same perceived effort on each bike but really try to maximize time gain where each bike excelled.

The Tallboy would start off the shenanigans and I figured it would give me a good chance at staying with the front group while saving the speedy Highball for the end.

We started out at a pretty fast pace, trying to weed out the group a bit.  I hung on in the fourth spot for the first couple miles and made my way up into the lead just before we headed into the "winding woods" where I can really use this bike to its full potential.  I kept the hammer down and flowed through the turns slowly pulling away.  I could stay seated nearly everywhere, even up the rocky climbs, allowing me to both conserve strength and be fast at the same time.

It's set up with a 120mm fork up front (Fox Float 32 CTD w/ Trail Adj.) and it's still quick and nimble, never holding me back in the turns.  It pedals very efficiently once you get the sag set correctly in the "virtual platform" as I like to call it.  But this bike is all about momentum... it just carries any speed you're able to muster like no other.  The Tallboy really is a true all around racer and I set the fastest lap of the day at 45:56, about forty five seconds faster than I set last year riding only one lap as a four person relay.  I love that bike.  I had a good lead as I came around the final corner and through the start finish arch I could see Jen holding the Bronson and our friend Erin Upchurch in front of her to take my discarded Tallboy.  Sweet!

And I was off on the Bronson!  I grabbed a neutral bottle handoff to pocket (because even the XL frame doesn't have room for a bottle with the Fox Float X reservoir) and got my pedal on!  This would actually be my first ride on a Bronson, and first time on a 27.5" wheeled bike for that matter.  This Bronson was set up with a Fox TALAS 27.5 160 w/ remote which was pretty cool.  The dual cable remote controlled the CTD positions on both the fork and rear shock at the same time.  I started the lap off with the fork down in the low 130mm setting which surprisingly made the bike feel a LOT like the Tallboy I had just come from.  Both in handling and pedaling position.  Oh and pedaling... this thing can do it!  On smooth terrain and flats I really didn't feel like the bike was holding me back at all.  It had a nice firm platform and I could apply power efficiently.  Where I first noticed the extra heft was on the short steep climbs where it just didn't seem to power up quite as quickly or carry the momentum as well at the Tallboy.  But once I got into the turns is when I really noticed this bike excel.  "Playful" is the term that seems to fit how this bike felt.  It was noticeably quicker steering than the 29er even with the fork pushed out to 160mm.  And it mowed over anything as long as you had speed.

The Bronson hid its long travel well and never really felt like it was a "big bike" until it came to rocky climbing.  That's where this bike's weakness was, at least compared to the others.  I definitely noticed the smaller wheel size not rolling over things as easily and the slack angles causing a little bit of wander.  Throwing the fork down to 130mm helped, but I still had to dab in one tricky spot.  I found myself having to "aim" the front wheel when the climbing got slow which wasn't something I was used to.  And of course the 28lb weight and beefy, slow rolling tires didn't help the overall effort.  I finished up my lap on the Bronson with a respectable time of 49:36, ditching it to our friend Cabot and taking the Tallboy LTc from Jen.

Back to a little bit more familiar feel of a 29er, it was nice not to feel like I was "perched" on top of the bike, but more a part of it.  And big wheels roll!!!  The LTc pedals just as well as the Tallboy C and Bronson (maybe a little better) but with more of a "monster truck" attitude.  So for example, in my own head I was saying "BRAP!!!" (but think two stroke... "Breep?") in and out of corners and jumping off things on the Bronson.  It's just playful.  But on the LTc I just say "BRRAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!" and laugh as it just mows over stuff!  It's just plain fun and nothing stands in your way.  Not even when climbing.  Techy, slow approach rocks on your climbs?  MUAHAHHAHA!!!  Done.  Next.  The LTc combines the "big bike" travel of the Bronson with the momentum benefits of the Tallboy C.  

If it has one weakness compared to the others it is that it is the slowest turning of all of them, requiring you to "guide" rather than "flick" through corners.  On it's own, it's really isn't that slow and has never been something I had noticed before (after over 1k miles on the LTc) comparing it directly to the Bronson.  Setup might have something to do with it as well: 20mm longer stem and 70mm wider bars on the LTc.  But as long as you get your approach right, and lay off the brakes, she'll roll on through.  

About half way through the LTc lap (lap 3) I still had a lead and I couldn't see 2nd place.  But I was catching lapped traffic so unless they were close I couldn't really tell who was back there.  I felt like I was still cruisin' well, especially when a guy on a road bike (just out for a ride) drafted off of me on one of the gravel road sections and complimented my pull as I peeled off on the course.  But the heavier bikes were beginning to take their toll on me, and I was feeling the heft on the climbs for the second half of the lap.  With about three miles to go for the lap I heard someone behind me, and there was young Justin Harrell on his hardtail.  He said "man it took me FOREVER to catch you! Highball next lap?"  "Yep," I said, as he stood up and pulled away up a climb.  "See you in about five minutes!" he said.  I laughed... "I doubt that!"  I was seriously starting to fade and he had probably put a good thirty seconds on me before I ditched the LTc to Mike Stinson and grabbed the Highball from Jen.  The Tallboy LTc had thrown down a lap time of 50:25, not too shabby considering my state of fatigue.

The Highball, the rocket, was to be my "closer" and allow me to catch anyone ahead.  The bike is unbelievably snappy and fleet, with loads of acceleration.  Even with the big wheels, it's super quick and nimble in tight turns and just a blast to ride.

It took me a few miles to get used to the hardtail especially after coming off of the big Bronson and Tallboy LTc.  It just felt weird at first, and like I was being bucked around.  I was having trouble putting power down but I eventually found my grove and remembered how to go fast on this racer.

As I made my way around the northern, most technical part of the course I was moving fairly well but the legs were burning up and starting to cramp.  To complicate my comeback I was catching lapped traffic at the most inopportune times.  At one point a rider fumbled climbing up a rocky chute and fell over stuck in his pedals.  That caused a bit of a delay until he got it sorted out since there was no way around.  But those issues were merely seconds and the biggest factor to my slow last lap (52:54) on the Highball was my fatigue.  I just couldn't lay down the power where the Highball excelled.  I had nothing left for the climbs and was just done.  I finished off with everything I had and came in 2nd overall.  

After I finished, totally cooked, someone in the crowd yelled "Time for a 5th lap!"  I laughed... and collapsed into my shoulders.  Not so much... time for some beer and bbq!  My experiment was done, and I would definitely call it a success.  Thanks so much to Ryan Gibson for the loaner Bronson.  To Kris and Patrick Morin for taking pictures out on course.  To Erin, Cabot and Mike for helping with my bike changes.  And of course to Jen for helping enable :-).  It was awesome to be able to compare these four bikes together in exactly the same race environment and what better way to cap off a great season of racing bikes than to race them all at once!

If I had to do this again, I would swap the order between the Tallboy C and the Highball.  Leading off with the Highball because it was very hard to go back to the hardtail after all the squish.  And after the race, people asked me which was my "favorite."  Well they're all my "favorite" for different things, but for this race if I were to pick one, it would be the Tallboy C... "comfy fast."  

And I'm out...

The builds and bottom line:

Lap 1 - Tallboy C

Frame: XL 2013 Santa Cruz Tallboy c (matte carbon / red)
Fork: Fox 32 Float 29 120 FIT CTD w/ Trail Adjust
Shock: Fox Float CTD w/ Trail Adjust
Wheels: ENVE Twenty9 XC on Chris King 28h hubs
Brakes: Shimano XTR Trail
Shifters: Shimano XTR SL
Crankset: Shimano XTR - 42/30 Chainrings
Rear Der: Shimano XTR Shadow +
Front Der: Shimano XTR
Cassette: Shimano XTR - 36/11
Chain: KMC X10SL Gold
Seatpost: Thomson Masterpiece 30.9
Saddle: WTB Silverado Carbon
Stem: Thomson X4 90mm
Handlebar: Easton Haven Riser
Grips: ODI Flangeless Longneck
Tires: WTB Nano front and WTB Nine Line rear
Front Brake Rotor: Ashima Airotor 160mm
Rear Brake Rotor: Ashima Airotor 140mm

Bottom line: True "all-rounder" and the king of momentum.  Extremely capable racer but comfy at the same time.  Faster than it feels and a real energy saver over the long haul.

Lap 2 - Bronson C
Frame: XL 2013 Santa Cruz Bronson c (Tennis yellow)
Fork: Fox 34 TALAS 27.5 160 FIT CTD w/ remote
Shock: Fox Float X
Wheels: Un-branded carbon rims on DT hubs
Brakes: Shimano XTR Trail
Shifters: Shimano XTR SL
Crankset: Shimano XTR Triple
Rear Der: Shimano XTR Shadow +
Front Der: Shimano XTR
Cassette: Shimano XTR - 36/11
Chain: Shimano XTR
Seatpost: KS Lev Dropper
Saddle: Specialized
Stem: Thomson X4 50mm
Handlebar: Easton Haven Riser
Tires: Maxxis High Roller front and WTB Wolverine rear
Front Brake Rotor: Shimano ICE Tech 180mm
Rear Brake Rotor: Shimano ICE Tech 160mm

Bottom line: "Playful" bike that wants to be flicked around.  It hides its travel and pedals very well... but keep this thing pointed downhill to really see it shine.

Lap 3 - Tallboy LTc
Frame: XL 2013 Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc (Matte black / orange)
Fork: Fox 34 Float 29 140 FIT CTD w/ trail adjust
Shock: Fox Float CTD w/ trail adjust
Wheels: ENVE Twenty9 AM on Chris King 28h hubs
Brakes: Shimano XTR Trail
Shifters: Shimano XTR SL
Crankset: Shimano XTR 42/30 Chainrings
Rear Der: Shimano XTR Shadow +
Front Der: Shimano XTR
Cassette: Shimano XTR - 36/11
Chain: Shimano XTR
Seatpost: Fox D.O.S.S. dropper
Saddle: WTB Silverado Carbon
Stem: Thomson X4 70mm
Handlebar: ENVE DH Riser (cut to 780mm)
Grips: Grips: ODI Flangeless Longneck
Tires: WTB Vigilante TCS front and WTB Wolverine rear
Front Brake Rotor: Ashima Airotor 180mm
Rear Brake Rotor: Ashima Airotor 160mm

Bottom line: The "monster truck" that will eat any trail and is the most forgiving of the bunch.  Great combination of all day pedal-ability and fun factor.  Can't help but smile when this one takes you for a ride.

Lap 4 - Highball C
Frame: XL 2013 Santa Cruz Highball c (Matte black / silver)
Fork: Fox 32 Float 29 100 FIT CTD w/ trail adjust
Wheels: ENVE Twenty9 XC on 32h hubs.  ethirteen xcx front and DT 340s rear
Brakes: Shimano XTR Race
Shifters: Shimano XTR SL
Crankset: Shimano XTR 39/26 Chainrings
Rear Der: Shimano XTR Shadow +
Front Der: Shimano XTR
Cassette: Shimano XTR - 36/11
Chain: Shimano XTR
Seatpost: Thomson Masterpiece 30.9
Saddle: WTB Silverado Carbon
Stem: Thomson X4 90mm
Handlebar: Easton Haven Riser
Grips: ODI Flangeless Longneck
Tires: WTB Nano front and rear
Front Brake Rotor: Ashima Airotor 160mm
Rear Brake Rotor: Ashima Airotor 140mm

Bottom line: The "racer."  A true speed machine with amazing acceleration and climbing ability while also being nimble and quick in the turns.  Though very lightweight, it stays grounded and stable at speed also making it a good all day rider.