More down, less country. That's always been my motto. When I saw the reviews for the new Santa Cruz Tallboy, it immediately caught my attention. I've been in the market for a short travel, XC, down country bike for a while and decided I'd give this bike a shot. I demoed it a week after it's initial release, and fell in love with it. I can officially put my stamp of approval that the new Tallboy is the downhiller's XC bike!
I've been able to put 200ish miles on it before the MTB season was cut short by the early snowfall. I've been heading down to Southern Utah quite a bit this winter training for a 50-mile MTB race called True Grit. This bike eats up the trails. I feel like I can really push this bike to its limits and still get that short travel bike response I was looking for. I've never been the strongest climber, but this bike helps me push myself up mountains faster than I ever thought I could.
There are so many unique features with this bike. From the adjustable chainstay to the flip switch on the bottom bracket that can either steepen or slack the head angle, this bike has something for everyone. I almost always leave it in the lower setting because the slacker the better right?
Overall, I'm very happy with this bike. It checks all the boxes for me. Lightweight, playful, comfortable climbing position, quick descender, and poppy. If you're looking for a short travel playful XC bike you should definitely give the new Tallboy a ride!
Cycling is both a practical mode of transportation and adventurous physical activity. No matter your style or riding preference, finding a reliable local bike shop that helps keep you on the trails and roads is imperative.
At Thread + Spoke, our Bike Wars collection is a nod to this iconic series and band of unforgettable characters. As cycling and sci-fi fanatics, we hope that you, like us, enjoy seeing these familiar faces switching their ships, bikes, and hover crafts for some more traditional wheels.
While bicycles and art denote diversely different things depending on the experience and mindset of the participant, they both tap into what seems to be universal feelings of escapism, flow, individualism, mindfulness, and the ability to appreciate the beauty in the world around us.