Reach and Stack of a Santa Cruz V-10

It's impossible to judge precise bike fit using measurements only. You'll never know how the bike fits until you get on it. This is especially true for downhill bikes. These bikes are intended to have a very small fit so you can let the bike react to the rough terrain while you float over the bike. Recently, a new measurement pair has come along that promises to help this problem - Reach and Stack.

In essence, these new measurements draw a right triangle using only the center of the bottom bracket and the center of the top of the head tube. The idea is a wonderfully simple one. Your feet are attached to the pedals and your hands are attached to the handlebars. Regardless of whether you are standing up bombing down a downhill run or seated grinding out gears in a cross country race, you're always attached to the handlebars and pedals.

2010 has seen a significant increase in the number of manufacturers publishing Reach and Stack data for their bikes. Santa Cruz is not one of them, though. I own a Large Santa Cruz V-10 and thought I'd measure and publish the Reach and Stack for my bike.

The bike is running 26" wheels front and rear, Maxxis Minion tires front and rear. The front fork is a Fox 40 with a Fox drop upper crown (because the head tube length + FSA PIG DH Pro headset stack height is too tall for the stock flat upper crown).



To start with, I used a four foot level to ensure that the tires' contact points on the ground were perfectly level.



Then I setup a self-leveling, cross-hair laser level aligned to the center of the bottom bracket and center of the upper head tube openning.

I measured the Reach to be a little under 16 inches and the Stack to be a little under 24 inches.

For a bike that touted to be one of the largest downhill bikes on the market, I was very surprised at how small the bike measured. It does confirm how cramped I feel on this bike. It also gives me a useful measurement with which to compare different bike frames.

Cleaning Anodized Frames

Both my downhill and cross country bikes are black anodized aluminum frames. When it comes to cleaning them, I long for a clear coated painted bike. Nothing shines when clean like paint. The process of anodizing aluminum is dipping the bare metal frame in acid and letting the acid etch the top layer of metal. During that process, the color of the acid is impregnated in a very thin, very hard upper layer of the metal. It's resistant to scratches and holds up very well over time. However, there's never a "showroom shine" thanks to all those little pits etched into the metal.

Since the top layer of metal isn't smooth, when oily, slick, wet clay coats the frame, the pores in the metal are filled. Washing the bike off with a soft brush, rag or sponge doesn't dig deep and pull out that crud. The bike looks great when wet, but once dry, you can see the mud splatter design in the anodized aluminium.


I did some research and tried some new products this weekend to help spruce up the apperance of my bikes. The first product is Tutle Wax ICE Car Wash - a new "2-n-1" pH balanced car wash. Having a pH balanced wash is important because if the wash is too acidic, it can fade the anodized paint over time. This wash foams up very well and cut through the grime on my bikes without a problem.


However, once dry, the bikes still looked splotchy. So after drying the frame, I tried Tutle Wax ICE Liquid Polish. This is a new, gentler, silicone-based wax. It comes with a foam applicator and a microfiber towel. I made sure the frame was dry before applying the wax. It went on very easy - it's a clear liquid that's maybe a hair thicker than water. I wiped it on generously making sure to catch any runs or drips. I waited 5-10 minutes and used the supplied microfiber towel to wipe down the whole frame. It looks great! I've had the bike for over nine months and now the bike finally looks clean.


Not only does it look clean, but it should be easier to wash the bike next time since the frame is covered in a wax. Oh, the wax is a UV protectant, so that will help keep the anodized color from fading.



Two thumbs up!

Update on Things

It has been a while since my last update. I thought I'd take a few minutes to post a Winter 2009/2010 update.

Injury

On 16Nov2009, I managed to sustain a serious injury while biking on a paved greenway. I was coming in way too hot on a hard left-hand turn. The back end washed out and I crashed. I instinctively put my left foot out to try and catch myself, but I was moving too fast. About the only thing I remember from the crash was seeing my left foot up by my left elbow. Ouch! That's what snapped my MCL. The PCL snapped when my upper tibia slammed into the ground as first point of contact.

The orthopedic surgeon decided to let things heal on their own and see how things felt after two months rest and two months of physical therapy. I'm coming up on five months post-injury and things are looking very well. My knee joint is still weak and aches at some point every day, but I'm stable and I have no problem riding as hard as I want.

Cross Country

I'm still enjoying the Niner RIP9. I rode it about 3-4 times a week all Summer and the first part of Fall. The Niner has been the workhorse of my rehab from my knee injury. The first post-injury ride was 01Jan2010. I stuck to gravel roads for two months. On 01Mar2010, I ventured back on single track. I've been on the bike 3-4 times a week since then. Ah how I've missed single track.

Downhill

2009 saw an unprecedented four trips to Snowshoe, WV. The first trip of 2009 was with the Big Hit. The last three trips were on the v-10. When I last blogged about the v-10, I mentioned that I was disappointed with the Reach of the bike. I had done a ton of research and found that the v-10 was about the biggest DH bike they make (without getting a custom frame).

I'm still disappointed and feel a bit out of control on the bike. For someone 6'3" or less, I think it's an amazing bike. The rear travel is endless and super plush. I love bombing down the mountain on that bike. However, as the speed ramps up I begin to lose control. It's like I'm falling off the back of the bike. I've got some thoughts on this and will save them for a later post. Let's just say that I really wish the bike fit me better.

So that brings you up to date with me. Other than the injury, it's just more of the same.