Santa Cruz Bicycles
Santa Cruz Bicycles is a manufacturer of high end mountain bikes based in Santa Cruz, California.[1] They sponsor the Santa Cruz Syndicate, a downhill racing team. The company moved premises from 104 Bronson Street to 2841 Mission Street in 2013 .[2] On July 3, 2015. Santa Cruz bicycle was sold to Pon Holding, a family-owned Dutch conglomerate with a bicycle division including brands such as Cervélo, Focus and Royal Dutch Gazelle.[3]
History
Santa Cruz Bicycles was founded by Rob Roskopp, Mike Marquez and Rich Novak in 1993.[4] Roskopp had spent many years as a professional skateboarder, and Novak's Santa Cruz Skateboards company had put out a special "Roskopp" model before the two met. Roskopp and Novak went into partnership with bike engineer Mike Marquez, who had particular experience in bicycle suspension, and Tom Morris, a designer, to build some prototypes.[5]
Their first bike, in 1994, was a full suspension bike called the Tazmon. It had a 80 millimetres (3.1 in) travel single pivot design,[6] the first on the market.[1][4] It was followed a year later by the 100 millimetres (3.9 in) travel Heckler, a model that was discontinued for the 2016 model year.
The company acquired the patents for their Virtual Pivot Point (aka "VPP") from Outland Bikes around 1999.[4]
Models
The company manufactures around a dozen models of mountain bikes made of carbon fiber and aluminum, ranging from $1500 to over $10000 retail. Their bikes are suited to a wide range of mountain biking disciplines.[1] Frame fabrication occurs in China or Taiwan, but all bicycles are assembled in Santa Cruz, built to customer specifications just before being shipped out.
In 2013, a single model, the "Juliana" was spun off as a stand-alone brand and range of mountain bikes for women, designed by and named for Juli Furtado.[7]
Current Santa Cruz/Juliana Production Models[8][9]
- 5010/Furtado - 27.5" wheels, 130 millimetres (5.1 in) VPP Travel,
- Tallboy/Joplin - 29" or 27.5"+ wheels, 110 millimetres (4.3 in) VPP Travel
- Bronson/Roubion - 27.5" wheels, 150 millimetres (5.9 in) VPP Travel
- Hightower - 29" or 27.5"+ wheels, 135 millimetres (5.3 in) VPP Travel
- Nomad - 27.5" wheels, 165 millimetres (6.5 in) VPP Travel
- V10 - 27.5" wheels, 216 millimetres (8.5 in) VPP Travel
- Highball - 29" or 27.5" wheels, hardtail bike
- Jackal - 26" wheels, dirt jump frame
- Stigmata - 700c wheels, cyclocross/gravel bike
Discontinued Models[10]
- Bantam
- Blur
- Blur LT
- Blur XC
- Blur 4X
- Bullit
- Butcher
- Chameleon
- Driver 8
- Heckler
- Juliana Cushtail
- Nickel
- Roadster
- Super 8
- Superlight
- Tallboy LT
- Tazmon
- VP Free
Santa Cruz Syndicate
Santa Cruz Syndicate is a sponsored downhill team affiliated with the company. Current riders are Josh Bryceland, Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar.[11]
References
- 1 2 3 Santa Cruz Bicycles COMPANY
- ↑ Video: A visit to the Santa Cruz Bikes factory - BikeRadar Magazines
- ↑ Santa Cruz Bicycles sold to Pon Holdings, the owner of Cervélo and Focus
- 1 2 3 Interview: Rob Roskopp, Owner Of Santa Cruz Bicycles - BikeRadar
- ↑ History Of Santa Cruz Bicycles | LIVESTRONG.COM
- ↑ Santa Cruz Bicycles - Tazmon 1
- ↑ Introducing Juliana Bicycles
- ↑ Santa Cruz Bicycles Model Range
- ↑ Juliana Bicycles Model Range
- ↑ Santa Cruz Bicycles Model Archive
- ↑ Santa Cruz Syndicate