Update: March 14, 2012

We shipped our Blur TRc to Laguna Beach and it was outfitted with the newest dropping post called the Kronolog.  It also got the latest Crank Brothers wheels and parts. The trails were unfamiliar to us as Hans Rey and Richie Schley took us around.  But the Kronolog complemented the TRc perfectly. The TRc has a steep seat angle and it pedals well but the rider is a little bit forward on steep  descents. But the dropping post puts the rider back down in a very comfortable position to tackle the unexpected.

Check out our riding video on the great San Juan trail of San Juan Capistrano, Southern California.

Skip to 5:08 for the TRc riding footage.

This review is a collaboration between Francis Cebedo and Ron Aclan. - Francis is more of an XC, singlespeed rider while Ron can air it out and ride manuals all day long.

The Bike Reviewed:
Model: Santa Cruz Blur TRc SPX XC kit
Price: $5099
Frame Price: $2699
Frame Weight: 4.77 lbs in medium
Bike Weight: 24.7 lbs without pedals

Test ride video added Dec. 19:

What you need to know:

This is the prototype for the modern trail bike. It features 5 inches of plush travel with a Fox Kashima shock. It is ultralight at 4.77 lbs frame weight but stiff, strong and efficient. It has the latest evolution of the trail bike geometry  with a slack head angle for control, a steep seat angle for pedaling efficiency, low bb for handling and short stays for climbing. What you’re left with is an incredibly versatile bike that can be a 22 lb. race bike or a 27 lb. do anything ride.

Downsides:

The frame is not cheap at $2700 and the kits Santa Cruz offers are not very imaginative with triple chainrings and ultralight front tires. This bike does not embrace the modern technologies like rear post brake mounts, rear maxle or oversized bottom brackets. This bike sticks with older but proven concepts and focuses on frame construction design and manufacturing techniques.   Also, the BB is low at 13.1 inches so while it’s ideal for some areas of the country like the West Coast, it may not work out everywhere.

Features, Design and Ride:

• Geometry, geometry, geometry – slack head angle, steep seat angle, low BB
• Simply amazing range from XC to All Mountain duty
• Beautifully designed, full carbon, lightweight (4.77 lbs.) frame including the super stiff Carbon Link
• Clean lines with cool, understated graphics in matte black and green
• Matte finish on the green black is very current and seems to look better with age.
• Grease ports and leading edge frame bearing design – no creaks!

Geometry Notes:

• 16.9″ chainstay vs. 17.0″ on the Blur LTC
• 23″ Top Tube vs. 22.5″ on LTC
• 68 degree head angle vs. 68.1 on LTC

Build Notes:

• The build SPX XC build is very light and suited for cross country racing. It has a triple front chainring and ultralight tubes and Maxxis Crossmark tires. The bike weighed in under 25 lbs without pedals.
• Fox RP23 rear shock with Kashima is coating ensures an active, plush, and smooth like Irish Butter action
• Fox Fit RLC 130mm travel 32mm stanchion Fork
• Mtbr put a shorter stem, some Michelin Rock’r tires, a Specialized Blacklite dropping post and a Purely Custom bash ring in place of the big chain ring.

Video Overview by the Manufacturer featuring Mike Ferrentino