Sarah’s Santa Cruz Highball

Having the luxury of beginning my mountain bike journey on a full suspension bike, I was always interested in trying a hardtail, sure for efficiency’s sake, but also for overnight trips on trails requiring a bit more than a gravel rig, but not quite all the squish. With 100mm of front travel and weighing in at a mere 23 pounds, I made the informed decision to try a Santa Cruz Highball.

It is an incredibly capable and fun bike. It climbs well, descends smoothly, and can even get a little rowdy on some jumps. I also find it to be an incredibly versatile bike. From hot laps at Meyer Broadway to bikepacking through sandy logging roads and sections of the North Country Trail, the Highball really held its own the whole ride. The bike exceeded my expectations as far as performance. I more than enjoyed my Highball summer and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, fast, multifaceted bike.