Mountain Bike: Santa Cruz Blur

For off-road triathletes who’ve been in the game awhile, the Santa Cruz name should be familiar— the company’s incredibly popular Blur line was the go-to for those wanting an XC race rig from a smaller brand. After a brief hiatus, the Blur returned this year with a full-carbon frame and geometry that tilts (and feels) only slightly more trail than XC—a good thing. For most off-road multisport athletes, a little more forgiveness is needed at speed and on descents, where a bit of precision handling can be sacrificed. The Blur’s effective linkage system nearly obviates the need for the dual shock lockout, putting power to the pedals while climbing and still absorbing as much as a 100mm-travel bike can, without bobbing or energy loss.

22.82 lbs. (size XL)