I ride a Bronson C as my only bike and the future step bro in law recently demo'd a nomad C so we hit our normal forest run and swapped around a bit as he was trying to decide between the two bikes. I love my Bronson and is the best bike I've owned, been running it constantly for around 7 months and I dont have itchy feet yet which makes a change for me. The nomad weighed about half a pound more than my bronson with the setup and having compared his now nomad to my bronson I sitll won by I think about half a pound. It climbs just as well as the bronson on our local loop, i expected it to feel enormous and cumbersome but it didnt. It descends just as well but definitely swallowed a lot more than the Bronson does. Whether this is good or not depends on how you like your bikes to feel and where you're gonna ride them, jumpy and fun or fast and controlled really. For me the Bronson won as it has to cope with 100% of my riding where as SBIL has a hardtail for winter/local and a dh rig for the alps etc so it was a happy medium for him.
Thanks all, some really useful points made.
I'm quite taken my the blue/magenta of the Nomad and I'd be gutted if I can't get a Tennis Yellow Bronson - the new Bronson colours are a bit hmmm...
Not that I'm superficial or anything 😉
Thing is, you don't get owt for nowt.
To make a longer travel bike pedal well, you have to-
1) make it lighter, strength/stiffness could become an issue
2) give it a steep SA, for me if i want to get truly rad and not hold back, i need the seat out of the way like on my BMX, just cant get them as flat with a seat staying between my legs unless i get real far forward
3) something has to prevent the suspension squatting, this has to come from one of 2 places, the shock or the linkage design. Make the shock firmer at the beginning, you start losing the whole point of the extra travel and ending up with a bike that rides like a shorter travel one in the first place. If your "platform" is coming from the linkage, regardless of what magic linkage design you have, you start to compromise on wheel paths, hence pedal feedback and brake squat, the leverage rate too, in laymans terms you're making a bigger travel bike worse at what it's meant to be good for.
PS if you're going to start sweating over angles and comparative SC lengths etc, the static figures only tell a small part of the story, either ignore it, bliss in ignorance, or really go for it understanding the angles once the bike is sagged/being ridden.
the Nomad is too slack for my liking, on UK trails. But each to his own.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F3npN3SFndQsE1DQzO1TJ2KZCLaapjN8ta34p7zoBNw=w552-h414-p-no
Mine last night
looking good there timbo678, nice bike 🙂
in laymans terms you're making a bigger travel bike worse at what it's meant to be good for
I kind of have that impression too but the average punter seems to be happy. I also can't get my head around how a bike can be well suited to both a pro who runs 10% sag riding at considerably faster speeds and nastier terrain and a average Joe run 25-30% sag and considerably slower on more mellow terrain. The compromise seems to be for the average Joe while the Pro gets the great pedaling characteristics (10% sag on any length travel will pedal great) but they are still smashing everything on the way down and making full use of the travel left in reserve... whereas the average Joe is mincing and wallowing through everything... or the bike is designed for the average Joe to make a bigger travel bike worse at what it's meant to be good for as you say. God I'm so confused 😀 The marketing and pretty colours seem to have people convinced you can have it all... but I do agree that logically you can't have everything without compromise. I just can't work out where the compromise lies and for who! Depends on priorities I guess
Mine last night
That does look rather awesome 😀
timbo678 - Member
> https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F3npN3SFndQsE1DQzO1TJ2KZCLaapjN8ta34p7zoBNw=w552-h414-p-noMine last night
That does look great. I went for the blue but still love the stealth look.
Mine last night
Nice! 😀
a pro who runs 10% sag
Really? In what discipline? I know they tend to run a lot stiffer compression damping but I'd have though minimal sag would just mess up geometry and traction.
There was a good round up on Pinkbike of Pro set up at the end of last season... can't find it quickly but I'll have a look
Is that a 1x10 set up, smart move and probably saved some cash too? What front ring did you go for and did you do the dinner plate back cog?
PS if you're going to start sweating over angles and comparative SC lengths etc, the static figures only tell a small part of the story, either ignore it, bliss in ignorance, or really go for it understanding the angles once the bike is sagged/being ridden.
As much as I may not agree with your short Vs long travel points, this, along with actually riding them both is probably the most important thing. You can dissect the numbers until the cows come home, but only swinging a leg over can confirm a like or dislike for a bike.
FWIW, I like mine - it's not perfect, but it's not far off. I race DH on it, I race Enduro, i'll go & take in most of the fun stuff on the North Downs on it tomorrow, it's off to France to race the Mega in a week, and then i'm off to Whistler for 2 weeks riding, including racing the EWS when out there. There arn't many bikes that I can do all of that on (that wouldn't come back in more than one piece).
[URL= http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w587/supremehobnob/Nom2_zpscdbffc25.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w587/supremehobnob/Nom2_zpscdbffc25.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Is that above Nomad a large or XL? I'm guessing large but not always easy to tell having such a sloping top tube.
Yay!!! Santacruz have finally brought out a long travel trail bike where you can get your weight over the bars (when the going gets really steep and loose) without going over them!!!
Plus they've actually got the weight of the carbon Nomad frame down to that of an alu Liteville 301!! 😀
Is that above Nomad a large or XL? I'm guessing large but not always easy to tell having such a sloping top tube.
Mine is a large. I could have gone either L/XL, but I didn't want the 48+ inch wheelbase of an XL.
Thanks for comments all, mine is the XL in reference to the above
Hob Nob, nice ride 🙂
Cheers Hob Nob - just found my next bike - that looks lovely!
Well, if we are getting all show and tell...
[img] 
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123500482@N06/14331558342/ ]image[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/123500482@N06/ ]tomhoward379[/url], on Flickr
Hob nob and tomhoward, i don't care how they ride, but they are things of absolute beauty.
Money well spent on looks alone 🙂
@ Hob Nob & tomhoward - what rims/wheels do each of you have and did you spec them on the bike?
I couldn't bear paying £6k+ for a bike ala Stif's offerings and it coming specced with WTB rims
The on,y thing new on mine was the frame. Everything else I had anyway.
My wheels are DT Swiss 240s built onto E13 TRS+ rims with DT Revolution spokes. No carbon rims for me, I want them to last, and if I break them, they arn't crazy money to re-rim.
Enve M70Thirty on hope pro 2 40t. From, erm, Stif...
Worth noting that you still get hope hubs as standard, the wheel upgrade is just the rims.
Cheers guys - anyone in Derbyshire and fancies letting me try one 😉
Are you guys both running the Vivid?
I am yeah. Really impressed with it so far, had planned to stick a CCDBAcs on there but there really isn't any need and I'm sure there's a phrase concerning fixing things that aren't broken...
Mine has the Monarch Debonair on it.
Vivid for me, free upgrade which was nice! Very impressed
[img] [/img]
😯
You have got to be freaking kidding me. I've never seen such a beautiful bike.
So, my 2c on this.
Mate of mine has a nomad. I have a bronson. Both carbon, both 650b, both size 'large'.
The nomad, I got on and went 'christ, this needs a longer stem' as the front end feels to flop over past 30-40 degrees turn. That said, nail it downhill and lean into things and that's just not an issue in the slightest. There's noticably more pedal bob than on my bronson but also it's noticably more composed when you're being an idiot bombing downhill.
My mate says the bronson feels like a bmx compared to his nomad and I can see why. It's a lot more flickable and feels more compact but this just makes it more fun for me. The bronson climbs considerably better than the nomad though and markedly improved on the downhill with swapping the stock shock for something like a float X or CCDB.
They're both 'too much bike' for either me, or the UK in general and I couldn't care less about that as I walk away with a smile on my face. I prefer the bronson as it's more capable as an all-rounder, my mate prefers the nomad as he can pay way less attention bombing downhill (though saying that did cut his knee up a treat in swinley on the blue route last weekend). Your choice will depend on what you enjoy doing.
Thanks gardron - as I'm currently riding a slack 160mm bike with beautifully plush Marzocchi suspension the idea of having something more flickable is very appealing 🙂
Good point about swapping the stock shock - I've never got on with RP2/23, they tend to always get swapped out. If I do go for a Bronson after my demo, a CCDBa is on the spec list 🙂
Those black Nomads are very lovely
So, my 2c on this.Mate of mine has a nomad. I have a bronson. Both carbon, both 650b, both size 'large'.
The nomad, I got on and went 'christ, this needs a longer stem' as the front end feels to flop over past 30-40 degrees turn. That said, nail it downhill and lean into things and that's just not an issue in the slightest. There's noticably more pedal bob than on my bronson but also it's noticably more composed when you're being an idiot bombing downhill.
My mate says the bronson feels like a bmx compared to his nomad and I can see why. It's a lot more flickable and feels more compact but this just makes it more fun for me. The bronson climbs considerably better than the nomad though and markedly improved on the downhill with swapping the stock shock for something like a float X or CCDB.They're both 'too much bike' for either me, or the UK in general and I couldn't care less about that as I walk away with a smile on my face. I prefer the bronson as it's more capable as an all-rounder, my mate prefers the nomad as he can pay way less attention bombing downhill (though saying that did cut his knee up a treat in swinley on the blue route last weekend). Your choice will depend on what you enjoy doing.
You have a Bronson and prefer it to your mates Nomad - he has a Nomad and prefers it to your Bronson? Wow STW shocker!
Despite TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR's pointless comment, you've nailed it Gardon, its all about what you want most from your bike.
Both bikes are awesome and will do anything but nomad is more downhill orientated
I am sure Santa Cruz have sneaked the price up on the nomad. When I ordered mine I am sure the rrp was £2799 but the UK website now says £2849.
Can any one confirm if this has gone up? Or was I imagining the £2799?
You have a Bronson and prefer it to your mates Nomad - he has a Nomad and prefers it to your Bronson? Wow STW shocker!
Yes, I know - shocking isn't it - we bought bikes we liked. Seriously, if I didn't like it, I'd say.
So in the interests of openness and honesty; I was going to buy a 5010 but there was no stock for 6 weeks and ubyk (actually my lbs, which is handy) had a tennis ball yellow bronson in large in stock, so I got that. No other reason than I'm massively impatient. I knew it was more bike than I needed but I reasoned I was going from 150mm 26er to 150mm 650b and the difference was minimal. I see the 5010 as the bike that'd be ideal for most UK riding, the nomad as a proper daft downhill bike that doesn't complain when you point it uphill and the bronson as sitting in the middle of that. Given enough money & space, I'd probably have all three. Given more money & space I'd probably have the nomad and the 5010 - but I'm very constrained by space so the bronson is perfect as a general purpose bike (to my mind anyway).
Sizing on them is on the small side for both the bronson and nomad. I'm 5'10" and I'll normally ride a medium/17-18" frame but feel right at home on the large bronson and the large nomad. My mate with the nomad is 6' and prefers a smaller frame (hence the large) but can quite happily ride the XL.
Thanks gardron - anyone want post up their pics of blue/pink Nomads? Or Bronsons for that matter (any colour!)
I have owned both. If I had to pick one to do everything I'd buy the Bronson. Despite the Nomad been so so good I cannot see myself using it all the time. Its far too much bike for somewhere like degler if I ever went and I would not fancy doing a big ride on it either. I got the Nomad for places like the lakes and if I do any DH it will be on the nomad. Ive got a Solo on order so now instead of one bike to do most things I now have two ❗
My old Bronson:
[URL= http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/RickDraper/Cycling/IMG_3452.jp g" target="_blank">
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/RickDraper/Cycling/IMG_3452.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
My new Nomad (fork temporary until I can get a new 36):
[URL= http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/RickDraper/Cycling/BAB1DBE7-9897-4F7D-981D-8432DAC55706.jp g" target="_blank">
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/RickDraper/Cycling/BAB1DBE7-9897-4F7D-981D-8432DAC55706.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Thanks Rick, that's kinda how I feel about my Meta SX. It's super capable but rather than haul it around when I'm not doing DH I thought I'd go for a Bronson as a more do it all bike. Had my head turned at the last by the blue Nomad!
How did the Float X work out on the Bronson?
Float X was a good upgrade on the CTDK (I had it Pushed by FT as well and I'm sure a Pushed CTD would perform better than stock too) if I did it now I think I would buy a DBA CS. After trying one on my Nomad its a great piece of kit. With the Solo coming soon I have had the Float X modded to fit it but I am now thinking of getting a Inline.
As much as I want to like the blue Nomad, I can't get away from thinking it looks like a (little) girls bike. Black for me....
Thanks Rick - CCDBa CS is on my spec list for the Bronson
Having ridden solo, bronson and nomad. I've got a nomad, would definitely be better on a solo with DPA pikes. However the nomad is a ridiculous jolly, it makes me grin whenever I ride it. It climbs better than my hardtail (which has an alfine on it) and you just hit things so fast on it.
The only downside is that for really tight twisty stuff, like when you're running really narrow trails that are overgrown and off-camber, it's a bit of a struggle although i suspect that is as much to do with the wider bars as anything.
Regarding sag set up, I ride with an ex World Cup downhiller, ( bike is 5010XL), and I struggle to compress the forks particularly, and shock, the reason he rides it so stiff is to maintain the geometry of the bike so it doesn't wallow.
He also rides a lot faster than the average, pops the bike and floats over the trail instead of hitting it!!
He also take much bigger air time , than most would so needs to a avoid bottoming out!
So on that basis even with a Nomad, it would be set up very stiff, so until it was being ragged flat out downhill some of the suspension would hardly be used!!
Regarding sag set up, I ride with an ex World Cup downhiller, ( bike is 5010XL), and I struggle to compress the forks particularly, and shock, the reason he rides it so stiff is to maintain the geometry of the bike so it doesn't wallow.
Does this not mean that the bike is riding a lot higher than it's designed to be, which is at odds with the popularity of lower bottom brackets for better handling?
