2013 Santa Cruz Nomad C Custom: MX CruZader
The MX Cruzader is a 2013 Santa Cruz Nomad V2 Carbon turned up to 11. Featuring a mixed wheel 27.5/26” setup that breathes new geometry into an older frame, 170mm travel up front, and 160mm of coil sprung Fox DHX RC4 action out back, it’s a party bike that’ll be as happy jibbing around as it is schralping berms and rock-gardening at your favorite bike park.
The custom paint work was designed to combine practicality with modern aesthetics. Satin-topcoated Chicago Yellow is interrupted in the lower central areas of the frame and rear triangle by a splatter-over-black motif that camouflages any dirt, scuffs, or scrapes that typically plague those areas. Nevertheless, it’s also completely wrapped in satin Scotchgard Pro Series paint protection film, with high-stress areas further reinforced with All Mountain Style clear frame protection. It’s a bike meant to be ridden - when you’re not staring at it.
Built between May 2020 and August 2021, each component was carefully selected to balance performance, aesthetics, and scarce availability. During the height of the global shutdown of 2020 bicycle parts were incredibly difficult to source. For example, the V2 Nomad Carbon frame has a now archaic (but husky) 1.5” head tube diameter, which makes fitting a modern fork with a tapered steerer a significantly more involved process. A Chris King Devolution headset saved the day, downsizing the upper headset cup to the 1 1/8 size of the Öhlins RXF steerer. The 165mm Truvativ Descendant 7k crankset helps avoid pedal strikes, and facilitates pedaling when seated, even with the dropper post lowered. Stan’s Sentinel 33mm internal diameter wheels were hand-built in house and then dished by the fine technicians at Trek Bicycles in Wayne, PA. From the black titanium hardware used throughout the bike to the yellow and turquoise Jagwire cables and hoses, the MX CruZader is truly a unique, custom dream(ish) build.
Tipping the scales at a very playful 31lbs, the MX CruZader is nimbler than its modern 27.5 or 29” wheeled enduro counterparts, and loves to be jumped, popped, manualed, and spun anywhere and everywhere.