I was recently leafing through the newspaper and came across a scientific study. It proves that first-person shooter games help people to make quicker decisions. So people who play shooter games find it easier to make decisions. I don't play games, so maybe that's why I struggle with decisions such as pizza or pasta, penny or supermarket, bike park or swimming lake?
I also had to ponder for ages when choosing a long-term test bike. A luxury decision - I know. But a decision nonetheless. After all, the bike I choose will be with me for a whole year. After all, I didn't have to think long about the bike category. Trail bikes are just right for me. They accelerate nimbly over tame trails and are powerful enough for freeriding despite their short stroke.
I can't stop proselytising: I'll spare you the thought process that led me to the 5010 from Santa Cruz. I certainly didn't regret the decision afterwards. The choice of frame size did. Although the large frame has a moderate reach of 445 millimetres, I fitted a stub stem from Renthal to give the bike even more playfulness. And lo and behold, the 5010 suddenly danced much more directly over the trail.
The bike can do everything a freeride trail bike needs to do. It is easy to pull onto the rear wheel, it is light enough to accelerate lively even on flat trails, and when performing stunts it impresses with the handling of a dirt bike - great! On mountain tours, however, the 5010 didn't feel quite in its element and required precise line choice in rough passages. Déja-vu: As in many tests, the Sram Guide brakes once again failed to convince me - the pressure point is simply spongy and it lacks oomph - and at 70 kilos, I'm a flyweight.
In addition to trail rides, I also used the 5010 as a commuter bike - almost 30 kilometres a day, even in winter through snow and mud. Of course, the bearings creaked at some point. Yes, unfortunately that happens even with a Santa Cruz. I can only blame the bike for this to a limited extent. The paint quality is a completely different story. Even before the onset of winter, the top tube was badly scratched - not cool!
Nevertheless, the 5010 is a very cool bike that I can recommend without hesitation - at least to the chief physicians, Lufthansa pilots and supervisory board members among you readers. Because this noble vehicle costs almost 10,000 euros.
CONCLUSION on the Santa Cruz 5010 CC
The Santa Cruz 5010 has a playful geo, is light and damn fun to ride. For me, these are the characteristics of a freeride trail bike. I'm reluctant to give the bike away. But I don't want to buy it either. The price is indecently high.
Technical data Santa Cruz 5010 ( L )
Price 9,699 Euro (5010 CC XXI Reserve)
Weight 12.3 kg
Spring travel 130 mm / 130 mm
Reach 445 mm
Stack 604 mm
Steering angle 67°
Info santacruzbicycles.com
PLUS Handling, weight, geo
MINUS Paint quality, price, brakes
Tester: Laurin Lehner
Age: 31 years
Height: 1.78 metres
...tried out the 5010 for the first time on a joint road trip with the 50-01 crew around Josh Bryceland. Laurin then ordered the model as a long-term test bike. Disappointing: Despite riding the same bike as Bryceland, Loosedog & Co., the tricks still don't really work...
Laurin Lehner
Editor
