Santa Cruz Bicycles

Stigmata Carbon CC Red Complete Cyclocross Bike - 2016

Don't be fooled by its cyclocross-specific name, the 2016 Santa Cruz Bicycles Stigmata Carbon CC Red Complete Cyclocross Bike is in it for the multi-surface party that is your life of taking the road less traveled. Whether you're in it for the never ending quest for inner peace and calming wilderness or aspiring for a never-before-seen #explorenewroads photo op, this bike is up to the challenge. Kitted out with SRAM's top-end Red groupset and double gearing range, hydraulic brakes, and go-anywhere Maxxis Mud Wrestler tires, this Stigmata is versatile enough for epic adventures while retaining a bit of edgy cyclocross flair.

The Stigmata's geometry enables its versatility beyond the mud and barriers. Modern dimensions like a 72-degree head angle, 73.5-degree seat angle (based on 56cm model), and a 69mm bottom bracket drop fall neatly between Euro-'cross high and road-racing low and caters well to a wide range of ride styles. In real world terms, the Stigmata is comfortable and stable without sacrificing surety of handling or responsive feel, and it has enough bottom bracket clearance to navigate bumps and other obstacles along the way.

This version of the Stigmata sports Santa Cruz's top-shelf CC carbon lay-up, which delivers robust strength and stiffness alongside lightweight efficiency. Up front, the Stigmata CC Cyclocross Fork uses this same high-end carbon for uncompromising stiffness and strength when you need it most.

While cyclocross racing has its limitations on tire width, venturing off the course opens up myriad possibilities of plush. With that in mind, Santa Crux designed the Stigmata to accept tires up to 41mm wide, allowing you to drop the pressure (especially when running tubeless) for a more comfortable ride when your day in the saddle involves dozens of miles of limestone gravel. On the flip side, you can also toss on a set of skinny road tires to throw down on the local group ride or noodle through the city on a Sunday social.

Thru-axles at the front and rear add poise and confidence for better tracking across rutted-out straightaways and sweeping switchbacks. Add in the ability to accept 140 or 160mm discs, and you get a sprightly ride that also slows down in a hurry when you need it to, no matter how mucky or wet the conditions. Internal cable routing cleans things up by running the brake and shifting cables through the fork, providing a bit of added cable protection and improved aesthetics over frames with external routing. For riders worried about future compatibility, the Stigmata's ability to run both mechanical and electronic drivetrains keeps it relevant in today's ever-shifting landscape of technology.