Beautiful Bicycle: Ryan's Santa Cruz Blur 5

The all-new Santa Cruz Blur arrives at a time when the line between a cross-country race bike and a short-travel trail bike has become increasingly difficult to define. XC courses are rougher, riders are moving faster, and many people want one lightweight bike that can handle both race days and everyday rides.

Santa Cruz responded by giving the latest Blur 120mm of travel front and rear, more progressive geometry, and revised suspension kinematics. The goal is not to move the Blur away from racing, but to make it more capable when the terrain becomes technical and more enjoyable on the days between events.

Shop owner Ryan's custom build offers an early look at that broader direction. Starting with a Gloss Tart Cherry CC carbon frame, Ryan paired the new Blur with Öhlins suspension, Shimano XTR Di2, SRAM Motive Ultimate brakes, and Berd HAWK30 wheels.

Frame Detail

The defining update to the new Blur is the move to 120mm of travel at both ends. Santa Cruz revised the leverage curve to provide more support through the middle of the stroke, improve pedaling performance, and add greater progression near bottom-out. Despite the additional rear travel, the new shock uses the same dimensions and carries the same weight as the outgoing 110mm configuration.

The geometry has also become longer and more progressive, with a 66-degree head tube angle, a 75-degree seat tube angle, shorter seat tubes, and size-specific chainstay lengths. Ryan’s medium frame has a 450mm reach, positioning the rider more centrally within the bike. Every Blur now uses Santa Cruz’s CC carbon construction, while practical details such as Glovebox storage, top-tube accessory mounts, two bottle mounts, and full-length internal cable channels make the frame easier to live with beyond race day.

Drivetrain

Ryan’s Blur is built around Shimano XTR Di2, with 170mm XTR cranks, a 34-tooth chainring, and a 10–51-tooth cassette. It is a familiar, proven setup that provides plenty of range for steep climbs while keeping shifting quick and consistent.

SRAM Motive Ultimate brakes handle stopping duties. Together, the drivetrain and brakes create a lightweight, dependable package that suits the Blur’s cross-country focus without overcomplicating the build.

Wheels & Tires

The Berd HAWK30 wheelset is the most visually distinctive part of the build. Its white spokes stand out immediately against the black rims and red frame, giving the Blur a detail that separates it from Santa Cruz’s production configurations.

Ryan paired the wheels with 29 x 2.4-inch Maxxis Aspen AT tires. The Aspen AT provides a more substantial tread than a minimal XC race tire while maintaining the fast-rolling character that suits the Blur. It is a fitting choice for a bike intended to remain quick on climbs while offering more confidence on loose and technical terrain.

Cockpit & Contact Points

A OneUp V2 carbon handlebar and Race Face Turbine stem complete the cockpit. The relatively short stem complements the Blur’s longer reach, while the handlebar provides a more natural trail position than the aggressively low front end traditionally associated with XC racing.

A WTB Silverado saddle and dropper post complete the contact points. Together, they allow Ryan to take advantage of the Blur’s shorter seat tube and increased insertion depth when the trail turns downward, without compromising the efficient seated position needed for climbing.

Closing

The latest Blur remains a lightweight, responsive cross-country bike, but its additional travel, revised geometry, and practical frame details make it useful for far more than racing. Ryan’s custom build captures that purpose especially well: fast enough for the starting line, capable enough for technical trails, and distinctive enough to deserve a closer look.