Not content to be a one-trick pony, the Juliana Joplin 2.1 AL Mountain Bike Frame seamlessly transitions from grueling cross-country races to trail rides where sweeping berms, rock rolls, and elevated bridges pose a challenge to your skills. Although it could be categorized as a fast-rolling XC machine in 29er form, the Joplin 2.0 doesn’t like to be pigeonholed, defying its short-travel genre with progressive trail geometry, plus the ability to switch between 29-inch and 27.5+ wheels with its flip-chip linkage. This particular frame has aluminum construction for reliable strength without the higher price of its carbon brethren.
Taking design cues from Santa Cruz’s iconic Tallboy, the Joplin 2.1 blurs the line between razor-sharp XC scalpel and spirited trail bike with its 110-millimeters of VPP suspension paired with Juliana’s recommendation for running either a 120 or 130-millimeter fork (for 29ers or 27.5+). This combination of shorter travel out back with extra plushness out front makes it pedal with resounding efficiency, but with a bit more margin for error when you’re dropping into rocky descents and sending side-hits along the trail. Where the Joplin differs from the Tallboy lies within its female-specific shock tune. By tuning the Fox Float Performance DPS shock for lighter riders, it feels more active tracking over speed-sapping rocks and roots.
The VPP suspension gets 10-millimeters of extra travel over the previous Joplin 1.0, aligning the newest Joplin with the current crop of do-it-all trail rigs with approximately 4.5-inches of travel. Not only is the travel a bit more substantial at 4.5 inches/110 millimeters, but the revised VPP platform makes it perform better, so you can squeeze every last drop of bump-compliance out of the suspension. Juliana engineered it to be more supple off-the-top, meaning you’ll gain better traction when you’re riding over bumpy rock and root sections. The shock’s ramp-up arc remains more consistent until the end for a smooth, consistent feel, at which point it becomes progressive to resist bottom-outs on bigger hits and large rocks. This shock progression is especially important, as it allows you to use a 110-millimeter travel bike on bigger terrain where you’d normally blow through all your travel.
One of the Joplin’s best features lies in the ability to switch between high and low geometry settings, and in doing so, change the fast-rolling 29-inch wheels for the voluminous traction of 27.5+ wheels. The flip-chip rotates along the upper link, allowing the shock mount to migrate between high (29er) and low (27.5+) settings, but without a drastic change in the bike’s geometry. In fact, Juliana preserved the 68-degree head tube angle between both wheel sizes for confident descending when the trail turns steep and rocky, as well as keeping the short 17-inch chainstays and low-slung bottom bracket of 13 inches for nimble turning and stable handling.
If you’ve been a faithful rider of Yeti for some time, you’ll know that a short-travel 29er isn’t unprecedented in their line, seeing the previous ASR Beti Carbon occupied this same genre, offering cross-country racers the efficiency to blow the doors off the competition, but with a rowdy alter ego that made it far more capable than its limited travel figures would suggest. As such, you’ll find Yeti created the SB100 Beti GX Eagle Comp Complete Bike to fill the void left by the previous ASR Beti Carbon, but with updated geometry figures to make it far more confident over technical sections of trail, plus a compact version of their Switch Infinity suspension platform packing 100 millimeters of efficient travel that excels on climbs and across long distances seen in multi-stage adventure races.
We typically think of cross-country bikes as one trick ponies that barely trouble the scale which makes going uphill less of a chore but the sometimes anorexic build can be slightly unnerving and requires a good test of faith when pushed through its paces on technical descents. With the SB100, it has some pretty good lineage to draw inspiration from and even though the geometry and suspension have cross country riding and racing on its mind as the intended purpose, it’s hard not to notice the trail and enduro highlights that bled over from Yeti’s longer travel offerings.
The Switch Infinity platform, utilized on all Yetis all the way up to the EWS-winning SB6, has been redesigned specifically for 100mm of travel on this model. It’s light, and tucks behind the seat tube, sitting in its own compartment out of the way of wheel spray and errant trail debris. This design also allows the front triangle to accommodate a very large water bottle, the first we’ve seen from a Switch Infinity bike. We feel like this a move in the right direction even if it does come with a few added grams over the ASR’s single pivot, as every Yeti we’ve ridden with Switch has awesome climbing efficiency without infringing on its descending prowess. Yeti gets high marks for creating a very capable 100 millimeter travel bike, with a stiff and responsive ride that rarely feels out of place, short of trails where we’d don body armor and a full-face. Beefy pivots offer incredible lateral stiffness that tracks so confidently through blown out washboard trails and minefields that, in the back of our minds we have to remind ourselves that we are pointing and shooting on an XC bike. The Switch platform on this frameset operates in the same manner as on Yeti’s other bikes—meaning supple off the top while transitioning into excellent mid-stroke support before ramping up as you test all 100 millimeters on offer. Pair this action with the silky-smooth FOX DPS Factory shock and you’ll swear that the rear end is packing more travel.
The brief exodus from the XC scene allowed for a few reboots and allowed Yeti to truly build a no-compromise bike that could climb and descend, not just one that was great at one and mediocre at the other. A 67.8-degree headtube angle might look more appropriate on a trail bike and on paper it would appear that it would detract from the nimble handling and quick steering XC bikes are known for. Yeti has a few tricks up its sleeve and spec’d a FOX 34 Step-Cast fork with a 44mm offset. After a bit of experimentation, Yeti found this reduction in fork rake improves your weight distribution on the bike, offering a bit more downhill stability without compromising its ability to clean tight switchbacks on climbs and negotiate around trail obstacles at slower speeds.
The 74 to 74.3-degree seat tube angle (depending on size) puts you on top and in control of your bike and offer maximum pedaling efficiency for marathon 24-hour stretches or for those lucky enough to have the time off work, a stage race. The wheelbase also walks the tightrope of being nimble and offering stability so you can blitz through the techy bits without wondering if you’ll blow it through the berm on the next turn. A departure from the ASR, this rear end is updated with Boost spacing, which allows for wider hub flange spacing and better bracing angles to stiffen things up. It also allowed Yeti to hack off a little length on the chainstays and they now sit at 17.2-inches, so you have plenty of rear wheel traction for competent climbing while remaining agile through tight singletrack. Other notable frame features include internal tubed cable routing for silent operation and easy setup and an uninterrupted seat tube allowing for maximum dropper post compatibility.
This SB100 is built using Yeti’s lower spec carbon, which offers nearly the same stiffness and strength as their top-flight TURQ carbon. The main difference between the two frame materials lies in its slightly heavier weight, with this particular SB100 Beti frame weighing about 7.2 ounces heavier (that’s approximately 205 grams) than TURQ carbon frames. The payoff is a significantly cheaper price point, which helps you save funds for bike upgrades down the road, trips to iconic trail systems, or even fees to enter that multi-stage race you’ve been dreaming about for the past few years.
Besides the bright coral colorway typical of Yeti Beti bikes, Yeti chose to retain all the characteristics that make the regular SB100 such an outstanding choice for XC and trail riders, including the same geometry specs, proper 760-millimeter bars for aggressive riding, Fox 34 Step Cast Fork for a supportive feel over bigger obstacles, and beefier 2.3-inch tires for plentiful traction on the trail. However, this SB100 Beti does have a custom shock tune, which makes the rear end of the bike all the more sensitive for lighter female riders pummeling over rocks and roots on the trail.
This GX Eagle Comp build comes with carefully curated components chosen for a mix of cross-country racing and spirited trail riding. SRAM’s workhorse GX/XO1 Eagle groupset offers plenty of range for taming the climbs on 5-digit elevation days while having a tall enough gear to link up the paved sections between the trailheads. It’s finished with a dependably strong DT Swiss M1700 wheelset with 25 millimeter internal width, as well as tried-and-true Shimano XT brakes for powerful stopping force.
From challenging and unfamiliar enduro tracks to the flowy singletrack at your local trail network, the Roubion redefines expecations of what a 150mm travel bike can do. For this third generation of the bike, Juliana listened to the calls of their dedicated female riders and created a machine that’s more composed at flat-out speeds across rugged terrain, but doesn’t give up the versatility that’s made the bike so successful and popular. The redesigned Roubion Mountain Bike Frame sees a reconfigured VPP suspension inspired by the Strega, a longer travel 160mm fork, a slacker head tube angle with an adjustable flip-chip, and a longer reach measurement for a roomy cockpit that inspires confidence on steep, technical descents. This particular Roubion features an aluminum frame for dependable strength at an affordable price.
The most noticeable change to the latest Roubion lies in a reconfigured VPP suspension platform. Instead of relying on the traditional upper-link driven design, the third generation Roubion enjoys the increased bump compliance and glued-to-the-trail traction you’ll experience with a VPP suspension driven by a lower-link mounted shock that’s inspired by the latest Strega. This lower-link driven VPP suspension platform is something that’s reserved exclusively for the Roubion and Strega, seeing the need for increased bump compliance, better support, and higher levels of traction for all-mountain, enduro, and freeride disciplines. To best match the increased performance capabilities of this lower-link driven VPP, Juliana spec’d a RockShox Super Deluxe shock for a more supple feel that tracks to the ground noticeably better and resists heating up on those scintillating descents over thousands of vertical feet.
The next significant change to the third-gen Roubion lies in a longer, slacker geometry that pushes it deeper into the gravity end of the riding spectrum. However, this redesign doesn’t significantly alter its all-around versatility, meaning it’s still great for the rider that desires the monster-truck plushness of a slack, long-travel rig while having fun on trail systems with big climbs and blistering descents. To be specific, Juliana lengthened the reach by approximately 15 millimeters per size for a more confident, comfortable feel at higher speeds, plus a centimeter lower standover height for a better fit with shorter riders. The head tube angle drops from the previous generation’s already slack 66 degrees to an even slacker 65.4 degrees in its highest setting, complete with a flip-chip that slackens it out even further to a bike park-friendly 65.1 degrees. These were numbers that you’d only see on a freeride or mini-DH bike just a few years ago, meaning you’ll have tons of confidence bombing those technical descents littered with steep drop-offs and nasty rock sections.
The last major change implemented on the third-gen Roubion is the ability to clear massive 2.8-inch tires if you prefer the voluminous support of plus-sized tires. However, we’d recommend sticking with tires in the range of 2.4 to 2.6 inches, as we find the larger 2.8-inch tires hold back a bike as capable as the Roubion, seeing they squirm under hard cornering and have a tendency to pinch flat while riding at full blast over technical terrain.
Thankfully, one thing that didn’t change for 2019 is Juliana’s commitment to delivering an optimal fit and riding feel for female riders, thanks to a lighter shock tune that’s developed exclusively for females, seeing they’re on average 30 pounds lighter. There’s also an extra-small frame size available for even the shortest of riders, meaning you’ll finally have a bike that’s custom tailored to your shorter stature without having to ride a larger bike and make major compromises. What they haven’t done is water down their dialed geometry with a swooping top tube, higher front end, and shorter reach like much of the competition, which only leads to major compromises in ride quality and handling when you’re actually riding hard and fast on the trail.
While a Women’s bike line isn’t something new to Ridley’s lineup, we continue to be impressed with the company’s standards when it comes to equipping us with precision machines for our racing, or casual cycling, careers. This year’s Ridley Jane Ultegra Complete Road Bike is no different, pairing up geometry mirrored from the Noah, but with a few component tweaks to account for our narrower shoulders, and wider hips. This Jane comes to you equipped with Shimano’s Ultegra 8000 drivetrain, a compact 50 – 34t FSA Gossamer Pro crankset, and a lofty 11 – 30t cassette to offer a gear for just about any hill climb you encounter.
The Jane skips the downgrade attitude that women’s bikes often are treated with in the industry, instead setting you up with the same geometry as the Noah, and the same stiff and feathery light carbon fiber. Ridley holds itself to high standards when it comes to its carbon fiber layups, boasting use of aeronautic grade carbon to start, and high-modulous carbon layups ranging from pliable 24-ton carbon to ultra-stiff 60-ton. These different grades of carbons are combined and laid up methodically to create an ideal piece of machinery for you to toss a leg over. As with the original Noah, the Jane’s different carbon moduli are used in different areas of the frame based on desired properties of stiffness, weight, durability, and road-noise damping.
The Jane also features a tapered head tube for sharp tracking and efficient power transfer, and the PF30 bottom bracket, internal cable routing, and electronic group compatibility that are all but expected in frames of this level. As with the Noah frame, Ridley incorporates its Future Aero Speed Technology (FAST) F-Surface design into the Jane, which involves fluted channels running the lengths of forward-facing tubes to trip air into a manageable layer of turbulence. That tripped layer detaches later and more cleanly, reducing the frame’s wake and overall wind drag.
Built with some big updates that boost it into the modern world, the Juliana Joplin Carbon S Complete Mountain Bike has Boost rear spacing, and a new geometry, to push its boundaries from smooth and rolling singletrack to all-mountain trail riding. This is in part thanks to a slacker head tube that tracks with control through rocky sections, and a stiffer rear end that allows for flickable maneuverability. And not to mention 110mm of travel, allowing you to tackle terrain from the chunky rock gardens to long climbs loaded with tight switchbacks on this more-capable-than-ever XC and trail machine.
This year, the Joplin moves away from its XC race dedicated roots, and slides into a versatile all-mountain spot. By dropping the head tube angle a full 2.2-degrees, landing at the moderately slack 68-degrees, the Joplin feels more stable on descents than before, and with the addition of Boost spacing in the rear, you won’t find that agility is sacrificed for this stability. Boost spacing stretches the rear hub outward to 148mm, allowing for the rear end to be tucked up underneath the bike, shaving 13.3mm off of the chainstays, which gives the bike a lively and snappy feel when putting down power, or getting playful on rollers and roots. With the updated geometry, the Joplin now enjoys its ability to bounce back and forth from XC race day on rolling singletrack, to chunkier trails up higher on the mountain.
The Virtual Pivot Point suspension has also taken queues from all-mountain trail bikes, gaining an additional 10mm, which aligns the Joplin perfectly with the emerging crop of 4.5in, do-it-all bikes. Suspension also happens to be where we find the key difference between the Joplin and the Tallboy—the shock tune. Juliana’s market research finds that the typical women cyclist weighs in about 30lb lighter than men, and the shock was adjusted so that we can enjoy the same plush benefits of VPP as the guys. This model features a FOX Float Performance DPS shock, with a light shock tune that allows us to take full advantage of the 4.5-inches of travel. Despite the changes in tune, the VPP design is a carry-over from Santa Cruz’s re-worked frames like the Bronson 2.0 and 5010 2.0. It’s inspired by the enduro-roots of the Nomad, and as a result, the links stay out of the way, which allows the shock to nestle in its spot with room for bottle cages, and enabling more ground clearance with lower standover height.
The latest VPP’s changes aren’t limited to wandering links, though; the system’s tuning has also been tweaked. Where the old suspension curve described a deep “U,” the new VPP’s curve resembles a flattened check mark, with less dramatic ramping on either end of the arc and, as mentioned above, a lighter tune to give lighter riders access to the deep end. The results are that, during the initial and mid stroke, it boasts improved square edge bump compliance to keep the tires glued to the trail for more traction across lumpy trails and root latticed climbs. It also maintains its predecessor’s firm feel during accelerations, so it won’t dampen the Joplin’s spirited kick while rallying for position in a mass start or a finishing sprint. The shock’s ramp-up arc doesn’t dramatically alter as the shock compresses, so the pedaling platform stays consistent across travel, with less wallowing, bob, and bottom-outs, even while the Boost axle’s path turns rearward to absorb bigger hits deep in its travel.
Juliana’s industry-leading carbon fiber construction has made its way to the Joplin, although this version uses a slightly lower grade of carbon fiber than the top-tier Carbon CC frame. This requires more material to achieve the same strength, so it does carry a bit more weight, but in every other aspect it’s held to the same uncompromising standards as Juliana’s Carbon CC frames. The upshot is that you get a frame that’s every bit as stiff and strong at much more palatable price point. The frame’s two carbon triangles are built as whole pieces rather than glued together from disparate bits, a method that saves weight and increases structural integrity by allowing Santa Cruz to wrap carbon continuously through and around key junctures. This process reinforces the frame with less material while eliminating the artificial stress points that result from bonded construction methods. Finally, the carbon is also compacted from the inside and the outside for a more even finish that avoids any structural defects, excess material build-up, and resin pooling for (you guessed it) even more weight savings.
The Joplin’s reworked linkage means it’s one-by only, but with the huge gear range of SRAM Eagle, this built still offers you some easy-pedaling bailout cogs that might be missed in other one-by drivetrains. The threaded bottom bracket is another feature that we’ve come to just expect from the California-based brand, and it’s a strong selling point for those who don’t like dealing with the tricky tolerances and creaky interface of press-fit models.
Strega is the Italian word for witch, and we’re not sure if the folks at Juliana picked the name or designed the frame first. Either way, the bike lives up to its namesake; you’re in for a wicked good time as you get aggressive with the Strega Carbon CC Mountain Bike Frame’s slack angles and efficient yet plush VPP suspension design. The Strega packs all the features you’d want in a hard-hitting enduro bike and gives you all the speed you’ll need to keep from getting burned at the stake—err, off the line.
The big-hit Strega is easily the rowdiest, most capable women-specific enduro sled we’ve come across. The incredibly slack head tube angle is adjustable with a simple re-position of the flip-chip on the linkage, so you can customize the ride from a higher, trail-taming 65-degrees, to a DH-worthy 64.5-degrees. The DH setting also drops the bottom bracket and elongates the wheelbase, offering plenty of composition at speed yet staying agile enough to take anywhere. Regardless of setting, the steep 74.5-degree seat tube angle allows this bike to pedal well up sheer terrain. You can really get your weight forward, encouraging you to attempt the sharpest uphill switchbacks without resulting in extreme body-English while your power is right over the pedals.
The Strega’s VPP suspension design takes cues from the Santa Cruz V10 and Nomad with its lower link location. Nestled in the lower link is the RockShox Super Deluxe RCT shock, with nearly 7in of suspension, positioned in a way to keep the bikes center of gravity as low as possible. No detail goes unnoticed with the Juliana team, and the shock has its own fender shielding it from errant trail debris.
The shock location also creates the most sensitive VPP platform in the Juliana line-up, providing a consistent linear feel throughout the shock stroke and a quality of travel that can make some DH bikes green with envy. New eye-to-eye lengths afford the use of the metric shock standard, gaining increased bushing overlap for a smoother stroke that encourages descending with reckless abandon and still allows room for a full-size water bottle to sit inside the downtube. The shock also receives a custom tune for lighter—yet no less heavy-hitting—riders.
The frame is constructed from top-of-the line CC carbon in a manufacturing facility exclusive to Juliana and Santa Cruz. A one-piece carbon lay-up is used to eliminate overlapping joints, saving weight because there is no need for extra carbon to bond or wrap those joints. Instead, carbon is wrapped seamlessly between tubes for better distribution of loads and impact energy, resulting in a stronger frame. Frame strength is further enhanced by Juliana’s ability to achieve maximum compaction of the carbon layers. This prevents resin migration, resulting in a stout frame that is almost as smooth on the inside as it is on the outside. The lay-up also allows them to integrate full length tunnels for the internal cable routing, greatly simplifying the process of routing housing through the frame. A threaded bottom bracket further eases maintenance duties for the home mechanic and eliminates the BB creaks that often plague press fit systems. Finishing details include an integrated shuttle bumper to protect the frame when it’s slung over a tailgate for shuttle laps, a downtube guard to protect from rock strikes, and molded chainstay protectors to silence chain slap. To cap it off, Juliana includes a lifetime frame and pivot bearing warranty to the original registered owner.
It’s no secret the Furtado is the most popular bike in Juliana’s line, seeing its versatility lends itself to everyone from first timers just learning the ropes of mountain biking to seasoned trail riders sampling everything from backwoods singletrack to slickrock mesas. That’s why we’re a bit surprised to see it get a major redesign for the 2019 model year, seeing just how darn capable the bike already was. That being said, the clever engineers at Juliana have shown their deep expertise and foresight in the mountain bike world by consistently delivering better and better female-specific bikes, year after year. The newest Furtado is no different, seeing it represents the one bike that pleases anyone lucky enough to throw a leg over its top tube and pedal it down the trail.
For 2019, the third generation of Furtado is longer and slacker for better composure at high speeds—all without compromising its sharp handling characteristics that make it carve up tight trails with near-telepathic precision, seeing it retains a low bottom bracket just over 13 inches. New for this generation is the addition of a flip-chip, which gives you the ability to fine-tune its geometry to your particular riding style and local terrain at hand, as well as Juliana’s “new” 2.6-inch plus-sized tires for bump-smoothing plushness without excessive weight.
In the high setting you’ll find the geometry has slackened a touch, from the previous bike’s 67-degree head tube angle down to 66.5 degrees. If you desire an even slacker geometry for steep descents with intimidating rocks and roots posing a threat, you can slacken it even further down to 66.2 degrees. These slacker figures make it all the more capable on terrain that used to be a bit overwhelming for the Furtado, allowing this trail bike to drop into terrain where you’d normally want an all-mountain bike. Besides being slacker, the Furtado has a 15 millimeter longer reach for a better overall fit on a trail bike of this pedigree. And to compensate for the slacker, longer geometry, the seat tube angle is steeper by one full degree for an optimal pedaling position where you can really lay down power on long climbs.
Juliana now offers the Furtado in their “new” plus-sized 2.6-inch tires, which deliver all the traction and bump-smoothing benefits of traditional 2.8-inch plus tires, but without being overly vague in handling, prone to burping while cornering hard, and way too heavy for pedaling long distances on the trail. This higher volume 2.6-inch tire size really gives you the confidence to monster truck your way across the rockiest stretches of trail without worrying about the tire squirming while cornering and braking hard, which is something that’s posed a problem for larger 2.8 and 3.0-inch tires in the past.
As you’d expect from a Juliana, the Furtado retains the high degree of bump compliance, pedaling efficiency, and bottom-out resistance of its VPP suspension platform. While others in the Juliana line have moved to a lower-link mounted shock, the Furtado retains its upper link-style VPP platform, seeing it’s not as gravity-oriented as the Roubion or Strega. This particular Carbon CC 27.5+ XO1 Eagle build benefits greatly from a FOX Float DPX2 Performance Elite Shock, which gives you a more supple feel with heightened traction while pedaling over bumpy sections of trail.
The carbon CC frame found on this particular build represents the top-of-the-line carbon construction, saving anywhere from 250 to 280 grams (we don’t have definitive figures on hand) on many of their popular bike models, but without sacrificing anything in terms of structural stiffness or strength. It’s even backed by an outstanding lifetime warranty, so you’ll have extra peace of mind while pummeling across rough terrain on the trail.
One thing that hasn’t changed for 2019 is Juliana’s commitment to delivering an optimal fit and riding feel for female riders with a lighter shock tune that’s developed exclusively for females, seeing they’re on average 30 pounds lighter. There’s an extra-small available for even the shortest of females, meaning you’ll finally have a bike that’s custom tailored to your shorter stature without having to ride a larger bike and make major compromises. What they haven’t done is water down their dialed geometry with a swooping top tube, higher front end, and shorter reach like much of the competition, which only leads to major compromises in ride quality and handling when you’re actually riding hard and fast on the trail.
Just one glance at the intriguing lines, flashy paint scheme, and gravity-inspired shock configuration of the Juliana Strega Carbon CC Mountain Bike Frame is all that’s required to evoke thoughts of scintillating downhill laps and epic rides over formidable alpine terrain. Fittingly named after the Italian word for witch, we’d be lying if we didn’t admit our spellbinding desire to the Strega’s gorgeous aesthetics paired with a mix of aggressive geometry, smooth suspension, and top-flight Carbon CC frame.
Juliana set out to create a bike without equal in the world of women’s market, throwing preconceived notions aside in favor of what women desire in a mountain bike with its 170-millimeters of VPP travel. That being said, it’s purely intended for the demanding rider seeking a long-travel bike to push their ever-progressing skills over no-fall lines, rowdy rock gardens, and seriously treacherous descents. Ultimately, it’s the type of bike for those pouring every bit of passion into their riding, regardless if it’s lift-accessed downhills on the weekends or self-propelled adventures deep into the alpine wilderness.
One of the first things you’ll notice with the Strega is the reconfigured VPP suspension, driven by a lower-link mounted shock that’s radically different from the likes of Roubion, Furtado, and Joplin. This shock takes cues from the Santa Cruz V10, which is renowned for its dominance on the pro downhill circuit. Translated to the Strega, the lower shock placement makes it feel more consistent and linear throughout its stroke, tracking to steep descents and dicey lines in a smooth, supple fashion much like a downhill rig. Another important detail, Juliana employs a custom shock tune for the lighter bodies of female riders, making it more responsive when you’re pedaling and descending over rugged stretches of trail.
Looking at the Strega’s geometry, you’ll notice its 65-degree head tube angle (in high geometry setting) makes it the slackest women’s-specific bike on the market. A couple of years ago, this would limit the Strega to lift-accessed terrain and shuttle runs like most gravity bikes. However, realizing that many female riders desire a long-travel bike that actually propels itself back uphill, the designers at Juliana engineered it with a pedal-friendly 74.5-degree seat tube angle (high geometry setting). In conjunction with its longer reach, you’ll find it’s able to power up steep, punchy climbs without struggling to weight the front wheel like many of the slacker rigs in the gravity category.
Since mountain bikes are best when customized to your particular riding style, Juliana engineered it with a flip-chip on the linkage that changes its geometry from its stock 65-degree head tube angle to a downhill-dedicated 64.6 degrees, as well as lowering the bottom bracket and slightly elongating the wheelbase for greater composure on downhills. Another cool detail, the reconfigured shock includes a special fender that blocks flinging rocks and kicked-up mud. Juliana didn’t stop there with the obsession to detail, hooking up the Strega with a custom shuttle guard, so your Carbon CC frame doesn’t get damaged from banging around on truck tailgates.
Speaking of its Carbon CC frame, this version of the Strega offers a significant weight savings over the cheaper Carbon C frame—all without sacrificing the legendary strength and stiffness you’ve come to love from Juliana bikes. Although we don’t have any real figures on hand for the weight savings, a typical Juliana Carbon CC frame weighs about nine ounces lighter than its Carbon C counterpart. Juliana achieves weight savings by using a lighter and stronger carbon fiber lay-up while trimming away strategic areas to reduce weight. And seeing it’s custom designed for hard-charging ladies, low standover heights (as low as 27.7 inches for XS) make the most of the bike’s aggressive geometry without compromising fit.
The Italian word for witch is Strega and we feel Juliana certainly picked an apt name for this bike as your riding game will surely transform, feeling as if you conjured up some witchcraft as you achieve faster speeds and tackle technical lines like never before. Designed to help in the progression of the modern female freerider, if you’re looking to upgrade your park and double black diamond trail game, the Strega Carbon C GX Eagle Complete Mountain Bike sports the slack geometry and efficient, yet plush VPP suspension travel for soaking up big hits without being a burden if the shuttles aren’t running. This build gets a custom curated kit that balances value and performance with a ride so addictive, you’ll keep coming back for more.
The big-hit Strega is easily the most aggressive women-specific freeride bike we’ve come across. It’s incredibly slack head tube angle is adjustable with a simple re-position of the flip-chip on the linkage, so you can customize the ride from a steeper, all-mountain 65-degrees, to an almost DH World Cup-worthy, slack 64.5 degrees. The DH setting also drops the bottom bracket and lengthens the wheelbase, offering composure and confidence at speed yet remaining agile enough to still be fun on tamer trails. Regardless of setting, the steep 74.1 to 74.5-degree seat tube angle lets this bike pedal well up sheer terrain. It places your weight forward, encouraging you to attempt steep, ledgy trails without having to resort to extreme Body-English as your power is right over the pedals.
The Strega’s VPP suspension design takes cues from the Santa Cruz V10 and its brother, the Nomad, with its lower link pivot location. Nestled in the lower link is the RockShox Super Deluxe R shock, with nearly 7in of suspension, positioned in a way to keep the bike’s center of gravity as low as possible for berm carving goodness and stability. No detail goes unnoticed with the Juliana team, and the shock even has its own fender shielding it from errant trail debris and mud.
The shock location also creates the most linear VPP platform in the Juliana line-up, providing a consistent feel throughout the shock’s stroke and an off the top sensitivity that rivals some DH bikes. A shorter eye-to-eye length relative to the stroke, afforded by the use of the metric shock standard, gains increased bushing overlap for a smoother stroke and more rear-end stiffness for a point and shoot riding style that still allows room for a full-size water bottle to sit on inside the downtube. The shock also receives a custom tune for lighter—yet no less heavy-hitting—riders.
SRAM’s GX drivetrain matches the value focus on offer from the Strega Carbon C frame, with a super wide-range cassette capable of taming any gradient climb while offering enough top-end to never run out of gears. A 170mm RockShox Lyric fork guides the bike with its beefy stanchions and simply refuses to deflect off of its line. The over-sized party continues upstairs with the Race Face 35mm Aeffect R bars and stem. Other touch points include Juliana’s own anatomic saddle and slim grips, also selected with the female rider in mind.
The Strega Carbon C uses Juliana’s second-tier carbon, which boasts identical construction to the higher grade CC carbon but uses a different modulus that adds a tiny bit of weight to save big on cash. The method remains the same, with unidirectional carbon plies wrapping between tubes, adding strength and long-term durability. An inner bladder applies outward pressure against the mold while the carbon cures to reduce resin pooling and virtually eliminate imperfections. This results in a frame that is so tough, Juliana backs it with a lifetime frame and bearing warranty.
Yeti’s flagship trail bike, the SB5, has long been coveted among the rip-anything crowd seeking a balanced rig that’s lithe and light on the ups, yet well-composed and confident charging descents and rallying across technical terrain. Seeing its well-balanced demeanor, it was only a matter of time before female rippers wanted in on the trail fun. That’s where the newest Yeti SB5 Beti Turq Mountain Bike Frame comes into play, fueling your riding addiction across everything from lung-busting climbs to wicked descents with uncompromising poise and lightweight agility for smaller riders.
Seeing it’s origins come from the male-specific version of the SB5, you’ll be pleased to find the SB5 Beti doesn’t rely on a “shrink it and pink it” design philosophy. To really make this bike shine for females, Yeti gave the Fox Float Factory shock a custom tune that’s more responsive for lighter riders. Another benefit to smaller riders is the leading stand-over height, which does away with awkward dismounts and unwieldy handling you’ve come to know from riding on male-specific trail bikes. Just to demonstrate how much stand-over there is, Yeti claims their XS frame can accommodate 4’11” tall riders, which is an impressive feat for the smallest of female riders.
Enjoying the feathery disposition and impressive stiffness of Turq carbon fiber construction, the SB5 Beti Turq Frame drops approximately 12.3 ounces from Yeti’s traditional carbon. This lightweight carbon frame is evident the minute you step on the gas, surging forward with rocket-like acceleration. Yeti’s engineers achieve this feat by using the highest quality carbon, which allows them to reduce the amount of material without sacrificing strength or stiffness. To protect this premium carbon, Yeti employs custom-molded down tube and chainstay protectors that fend off flinging rocks and chunky trail debris.
Not only is the SB5 Beti Turq impressively lightweight, but it’s packing 5 inches of Yeti’s famed Switch Infinity Suspension for a highly efficient pedaling platform with distinctive anti-squat characteristics and a surprisingly planted feel on the descent. Yeti achieves this balance through a patented translating pivot that switches its direction as the bike progresses deeper through its travel, hence its Switch Infinity namesake. And though it may seemed outgunned on paper with “only” five inches of travel, Switch Infinity makes the SB5 Beti far more capable than meets the eye, especially across stretches of trail where playfulness and pedaling efficiency take precedence over brute force and downhill destruction.
We’d be amiss to totally focus on the SB5 Beti’s feathery Turq carbon fiber and exceptional Switch Infinity Suspension without mentioning its subtle design tweaks for 2017. The geometry is slightly slacker than before, with the head tube angle measuring 66.5 degrees for greater confidence and composure on the descent. To compensate for its slightly slacker head tube angle, the designers at Yeti made the seat tube angle a touch steeper at 73.7 degrees (size small) for efficient power placement when you’re cranking uphill. Ultimately, this means you’ll reap the benefits of a well-composed trail bike that climbs and descends better without giving up its zippy feel the minute you step on the gas.
The Yeti Beti SB5 Carbon GX Eagle Complete Mountain Bike’s frame is identical to the SB5 with the exception of a lighter shock tune and touch points (saddle, grips, and bar) better suited for smaller and lighter riders. This bike is just as eager to hit up some hot laps after work as it is tackling that multi-day vacation to a mountain bike mecca that you’ve been dying to ride. Yeti did a masterful job of curating the spec on this particular build. On the SB5 Beti Carbon GX Eagle Complete Mountain Bike, all of the parts are high-performing and durable enough to get you through multiple seasons of use while coming in at a price that brings the idea of traveling to those far away trailheads a reality. FOX suspension handles the bounce on both ends and the SRAM GX Eagle provides a gear for every occasion.
Both the SB5 and the Beti version have received industry acclaim as a bike that can tackle most any trail condition you will face but still comes in at an impressive weight and pedals exceptionaly well. We attribute the excellent suspension performance to Yeti’s Switch Infinity slider. The system utilizes a patented translating pivot that automatically switches direction as the bike moves through its travel. This provides excellent anti-squat characteristics for superior pedaling performance and ideal suspension characteristics as it gets deeper into the travel. Inside are a pair of greased bushings that slide up and down on two Kashima coated rails co-developed with FOX Racing Shox. The fully sealed SWITCH INFINITY mechanism has external grease ports to lube the bushings and seals so maintenance is a piece of cake and you will be spending more time on the trail marveling the excellence of this 5 inches of travel instead of working on your bike or time spent in the shop.
We would be remiss if we didn’t speak of the two varieties of carbon used on Yeti frames. The TURQ series is a higher modulus carbon that allows Yeti to build a strong and stiff, very durable frame while using less material, dropping roughly three-quarters of a pound. The carbon series as we have on this build, comes in just north of 6 pounds with shock, depending on size, which still puts it on the lighter end of the trail bike spectrum without sacrificing any strength or stiffness to the TURQ frames. Available in sizes ranging from XS-Large, the low geometry while give you total confidence to test your limits and the tapered head tube and boost spacing front and rear give you all the feedback and stiffness needed when corning hard or pushing the pace through the aspens, pines or whatever indigenous trees you find yourself flying through.
When taking on trails that feature massive berms, tight switchbacks, long climbs, and solid descents, you need the nimble handling and playful suspension of the Juliana Furtado 27.5+ D Complete Mountain Bike. Don’t worry, its twitchy control and efficient climbing feel don’t sacrifice the strength and power you need to plow down technical trails at speed. From the 130-millimeters of VPP travel to the extended geometry that maximizes rider confidence and control, the Furtado is the quiver-killer that expands the classification of a trail bike. Updates include a slacker head tube, a lower bottom bracket—making this trail bike reach toward enduro style—and a WTB wheelset that uses SRAM hubs and Boost axles for a more efficient ride that matches the current industry standard.
The Furtado emphasizes surgical precision, especially on tighter trails where trees and rocks pose clearance issues. That being said, this bike doesn’t sacrifice much in the way of descending composure versus the Roubion—its enduro-bred, big sister—thanks to a reinvigorated geometry that’s longer, slacker, and low-slung. The sub-67-degree head tube angle keeps you confident and composed when you’re dropping into steep descents littered with rocks and sudden drops. Plus, it retains one of the lowest bottom brackets in Juliana’s line at a mere 13.1 inches, keeping you glued to the trail when you’re charging at high speeds and railing around corners. Another notable geometry number, the 16.7-inch chainstays are shorter than your average trail bike, making it quick to change direction around corners.
The inclusion of flip-chip technology allows for a subtle change from the 66.5-degree head tube angle in the high setting and a 66.2-degree head tube angle in its low setting. It not only allows you to ride with a couple of geo options, but also provides the clearance needed to run wider tires up to 2.8 inches in width. Juliana outfits this particular Furtado with their 2.6-inch tires, which deliver all the traction and bump-smoothing benefits of a traditional 2.8-inch tire, but without feeling bouncy, slow, or excessively heavy. This 2.6-inch tire really gives you the best of both worlds, traction and plushness over the rockiest stretches of trail, but without the rolling resistance or tire squirm under braking and hard-cornering like a larger 2.8-inch tire.
As you’d expect with the Furtado, it retains the high degree of pedaling efficiency and bottom-out resistance of the previous version. This VPP platform neatly tucks the lower link above the bottom bracket to protect it from rock strikes and damage from flinging trail debris. The upper portion remains attached to the top tube with a new stiffer box-section upper link. While other DH-oriented frames in the Juliana line have moved to a lower-link mounted shock, the Furtado retains its upper link-mounted shock, as to not lose the pedaling efficiency and bottom out resistance needed for the reduction in travel. That being said, it’s spec’d with a FOX Float Performance DPS shock for a supple feel with improved traction while pedaling over bumpy trail sections, as well as greater resistance to heating up for more consistency on those long descents. Juliana tuned the shock specifically for lighter, female riders, so this bike complements your riding style in a manner that maximizes sensitivity and response without sacrificing power.
The D build consists of SRAM’s NX drivetrain, which offers a great gear range and puts the final nail in the front derailleur’s coffin. The simplicity, weight savings, and reliability of a 1x is hard to argue. Other notable features of this build are the Rock Shox Recon fork with its reliably stiff chassis and consistent damping, the SRAM hydraulic disc brakes that provide confidence-inducing stopping power, and the integrated headset that provides a lightweight, simplified mechanism with decreased maintenance needs.
Please note, because the alloy version of the Furtado uses an integrated headset, the headtube measurement is 10 millimeters longer than what’s indicated on the geometry chart, as to match the same headtube measurement as the carbon frame with its external lower cup and internal upper cup installed. Other than this headtube measurement, everything indicated on the geometry chart is accurate.
Strega is the Italian word for witch, and we’re not sure if the folks at Juliana picked the name or designed the frame first. Either way, the bike lives up to its namesake; you’re in for a wicked good time as you get aggressive with the Strega Carbon CC Mountain Bike Frame’s slack angles and efficient yet plush VPP suspension design. The Strega packs all the features you’d want in a hard-hitting enduro bike and gives you all the speed you’ll need to keep from getting burned at the stake—err, off the line.
The big-hit Strega is easily the rowdiest, most capable women-specific enduro sled we’ve come across. The incredibly slack head tube angle is adjustable with a simple re-position of the flip-chip on the linkage, so you can customize the ride from a higher, trail-taming 65-degrees, to a DH-worthy 64.5-degrees. The DH setting also drops the bottom bracket and elongates the wheelbase, offering plenty of composition at speed yet staying agile enough to take anywhere. Regardless of setting, the steep 74.5-degree seat tube angle allows this bike to pedal well up sheer terrain. You can really get your weight forward, encouraging you to attempt the sharpest uphill switchbacks without resulting in extreme body-English while your power is right over the pedals.
The Strega’s VPP suspension design takes cues from the Santa Cruz V10 and Nomad with its lower link location. Nestled in the lower link is the RockShox Super Deluxe RCT shock, with nearly 7in of suspension, positioned in a way to keep the bikes center of gravity as low as possible. No detail goes unnoticed with the Juliana team, and the shock has its own fender shielding it from errant trail debris.
The shock location also creates the most sensitive VPP platform in the Juliana line-up, providing a consistent linear feel throughout the shock stroke and a quality of travel that can make some DH bikes green with envy. New eye-to-eye lengths afford the use of the metric shock standard, gaining increased bushing overlap for a smoother stroke that encourages descending with reckless abandon and still allows room for a full-size water bottle to sit inside the downtube. The shock also receives a custom tune for lighter—yet no less heavy-hitting—riders.
The frame is constructed from top-of-the line CC carbon in a manufacturing facility exclusive to Juliana and Santa Cruz. A one-piece carbon lay-up is used to eliminate overlapping joints, saving weight because there is no need for extra carbon to bond or wrap those joints. Instead, carbon is wrapped seamlessly between tubes for better distribution of loads and impact energy, resulting in a stronger frame. Frame strength is further enhanced by Juliana’s ability to achieve maximum compaction of the carbon layers. This prevents resin migration, resulting in a stout frame that is almost as smooth on the inside as it is on the outside. The lay-up also allows them to integrate full length tunnels for the internal cable routing, greatly simplifying the process of routing housing through the frame. A threaded bottom bracket further eases maintenance duties for the home mechanic and eliminates the BB creaks that often plague press fit systems. Finishing details include an integrated shuttle bumper to protect the frame when it’s slung over a tailgate for shuttle laps, a downtube guard to protect from rock strikes, and molded chainstay protectors to silence chain slap. To cap it off, Juliana includes a lifetime frame and pivot bearing warranty to the original registered owner.
For many cyclists, Pinarello bikes represent the epitome of the premium race bike, often with a price tag reflecting it leaving us dreaming of the day when we can have our own. The 2018 Gan RS Easy-Fit Ultegra Complete Road Bike hopes to make that dream a reality a little sooner than later. Trading out the prestigious Dream Carbon found in the top-tier Dogma F8 for a more affordable carbon makeup, the Gan RS draws heavily on its pricier sibling’s design and technology to bring Pinarello’s renowned ride to a more attainable price point. Kitted out with Shimano’s Ultegra componentry, women’s specific cockpit, and Fulcrum Racing wheels, this build is chomping at the bit to jump off the line right out of the box.
The Gan RS presents the same eye-catching style as the Dogma F8, with its signature curves and aerodynamic detailing that make the bike just as stunning as it is fast. The main difference between the two frames is the type of carbon used to construct them. While the Dogma F8 features the best of the best Toray T1100 1K Dream Carbon with Nanoalloy Technology, the Gan RS consists of slightly more compliant T900 carbon that sacrifices a tiny bit of weight and stiffness but drops the overall cost significantly. While this carbon is slightly less rigid than the T1100 1K, it remains a high-strength, race-worthy layup designed to ride hard and fast.
As with the Dogma F8, this frame incorporates Pinarello’s trademark asymmetrical design for claimed improvements in power transfer and comfort. The asymmetry in the Gan RS’ seatstays is less extreme than in the Dogma F8, resulting in a slightly more compliant and comfortable ride while still providing benefits in responsiveness to keep you feeling powerful on your rides. At the top junction of the stays, a wishbone shape provides clean lines and aerodynamic protection to keep the rear brake out of the wind.
Pinarello also incorporates the Flatback technology found in the Dogma F8 into the Gan RS, with its oval-front and flattened-back tubing throughout the frame and fork creating an aerodynamic profile that slices cleanly through the wind without interfering with ride quality or adding additional weight. As an added touch, an integrated seat clamp and aero seat post add to the wind-cutting advantage and sleek appearance.
The Gan RS comes complete with carefully internal cable routing compatible with the mechanical groupset here and electronic shifting systems, if you choose so down the road, for an added dose of aerodynamics and crisp, clean lines for any setup. It’s finished with a threaded Italian bottom bracket, a trend that we’re happy to see resurfacing across the industry. The CNC threads provide a more consistent, solid platform for installation to do away with PressFit models’ creak and longevity issues.
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