Hardtail

The Twostroke 01 is a progressive, compliant and confidence-inspiring fast hardtail. Its TCC-designed carbon frame has radical geometry for steep and loose terrain, wide tire clearance, integrated fork stopper and frame protection, plus internal cabling and provision for a dropper post. The combined SRAM X1, NX, SX and GX 12-speed drivetrain is paired with Shimano Deore brakes, SHL280S wheels and RockShox Recon RL fork in this inclusive build.

Wide open, dawn to dusk. The Highball is our race-bred XC hardtail. When the trail (or the competition) calls for the direct drive efficiency that only a hardtail can offer, the Highball is the choice. It looks straightforward but that belies the high-tech features and design hidden within. This is a modern take on the simple machine that many still choose to put battery acid in their thighs and fire in their lungs in order to conquer something. Whether you’re chasing medals, personal demons, or just some riding buddies, this is a hardtail you’ll be happy to log long hours upon. Hard on the throttle, soft on the body Hardtails are about as subtle as bikes come, and in the case of the Highball, simplistic refinement belies engineering effort. We’ve learned from our road biking pals that a great deal of a hardtail’s compliance comes from the Seatpost: the smaller the diameter, the softer the feel, and with more seat posts exposed to daylight, more compliance is had— which is the reason the Highball features low slung top tube and the smaller, 27.2mm diameter post. But you need not be sitting to recognize the ‘soft’ feel of the Highball— the dropped seat stays are made of custom laminate, finely tuned here in Santa Cruz for vertical compliance— and they’re oriented to isolate the top tube from high-speed trail chatter, reducing feedback to the, uh, engine.

RESPONSIVE RIDE QUALITY AND MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY ON FAST, FLOWY SINGLETRACK. THIS LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE HARDTAIL IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR XC RACING OR KOM CHASING. KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS Lightweight and responsive A handcrafted Advanced-grade composite frameset offers XC racers and riders a competitive advantage for climbing, accelerating and sprinting. XC efficiency The frame is engineered with a high stiffness-to-weight-ratio, which translates to efficient pedaling power and precise handling on the trail. Custom compliance Each frame is custom-tuned based on its size. Individual composite lay-up schedules are created to optimize vertical compliance to produce a smoother ride quality on XC terrain.

With raucous off-road ability and a Sherpa-like carrying capacity, it’s ready for expeditions in the high mountains. The Cale AL is the aluminum alternative to its steely Cale partner, ready to conquer the mountains as sold. Not scrimping on off-road potential nor cargo-carrying capability, this bike can handle your local trail center or the high peaks in its stride with ease. Fast-rolling 29" wheels plus the chance of using oversized 27.5"+ tires give you the option to experiment with home-based modifications. As if these features were not already enough to hit the trails, the bike comes with a dropper post and suspension fork, avec plaisir.