SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES

A NEW NOMAD

STOMP GAPS & STAMP PASSPORTS

April 14, 2026

Lighter. More refined. More smash. More fun. Nomad is built for riders who demand DH-level poise and performance but ride big days to earn big lines. We tweaked the suspension kinematics and put the frame on a weight loss program to make it more forgiving on hills and hits.

What we retained, however, was the Nomad’s familiar stance and the ability to stand up to season after season of the most aggressive riding. Nomad has always been the go-to bike for riders the world over who are in search of the best trails, and the new Nomad pushes that legacy forward.

DID IT FOR THE GRAMS

The new Nomad’s a bit lighter than before—86 grams, to be precise. A lot of that savings comes from the slimmed-down downtube, but we redesigned the layup throughout the frame. It’s not just weight savings for weight savings sake, though: reducing the amount of material in the downtube makes it more compliant, which makes it handle better on the roughest tracks, and leaves you feeling fresher at the end of a long descent. You’ll feel it in your hands and feet at the bottom, and feel it even more (less?) the next day.

TWEAKED AND TUNED

The new Nomad might look a bit like the older one, but sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. The head angle’s a hair slacker, and now matches the Bullit at 63.6 in Hi and 63.3 in Lo. We’ve also tweaked the kinematics on our tough, tuneable, VPP suspension to eke out even more performance.

Reduced anti-squat increases traction and pedaling efficiency while also improving performance over square-edge impacts.
Reduced anti-rise mitigates brake dive and helps the suspension do its job when you’re trying to keep things upright.

It took a lot of math paired with over 80 hours of tires-on-dirt suspension testing, but the result is a bike that gives you unparalleled confidence to let it run.

KEY FEATURES

One Frame, One Layup, All Drivetrains

Nomad frames are all made with our highest-grade CC Carbon to put maximum performance in the hands of every rider. And every frame accommodates mechanical drivetrain cable routing.

Glovebox V2

A better latch, stronger engagement, and new mounting process makes Glovebox more durable, quieter, and easier to live with.

Flip Chip

Hi for pedaling, Lo for sending. Dial in your preferred ride-feel without any fuss.

Accessory Mount

First used on our e-bikes, and a great place to mount a tube or multi-tool. More room for snacks in the Glovebox.

ISCG05 Minus 1

A simple, two-bolt ISCG mount (ISC05 spacing, but just two bolts) for your bash guard replaces the three-bolt ISCG05 mount, and is paired with a small top chainguide. Easier to install and replace, and saves some weight.