Santa Cruz Nomad R 2018 Review

The 2018 Santa Cruz Nomad R slays the burliest downhills with an outrageous level of composure. Two testers pushed this bike up and down brutally rough and steep local downhill trails to see how this reworked classic fares in the wild world of long-travel bikes. The Nomad V4 features 170mm of travel, a relocated shock mount with a lower center of gravity, and adjustable geometry. It is absurd how confident and calm this bike is through nasty terrain at high speeds. Climbing abilities are capable but far from efficient or pleasant. One uphill pedal stroke makes it very clear that Nomad V4 is a very different animal than previous iterations. Still, with a lot of hard work and a little bit of patience, you will get you to the top of any climb as long you’re willing to work for it and aren’t in a rush. This is a niche bike and caters to a narrow market of riders. Riders who always favor downhill performance and make use of lift-service or shuttles regularly will love this bike.
REASONS TO BUY