Santa Cruz Stigmata CC in Review

With the Santa Cruz Stigmata CC, the US company wants to offer a bike that bridges the gap between cyclocross and gravel. Find out how this mustard yellow race machine fared out on the gravel.

Click here for an overview of the best gravel bike 2020 group test.

**Santa Cruz** Stigmata CC | 8.10 kg (size 56) | € 6,199

For the second generation of the Stigmata CC, the engineering team at Santa Cruz made some careful but significant changes. That means the carbon frameset now has clearance for tires up to 700 x 45C or 650 x 53B, mounts for a third bottle cage and a reworked carbon layup that promises more comfort. The tidy design language, as well as the high-quality finish, make an excellent first impression. Our test bike was equipped with a 1×12 drivetrain consisting of a mix of SRAM Force eTAP AXS shifters, cranks and brakes together with a SRAM X01 Eagle eTap AXS derailleur and 10-50 t cassette. The 440 mm EA70 AX bars and the EA90 aluminium stem along with the zero-offset EC70 seatpost all come from Easton. The 700 x 40C MAXXIS Ravager tires have a pronounced tread and are mounted on Santa Cruz’s own Reserve 22 carbon wheels. As the name suggests, the internal rim width of 22 mm is supposed to offer good support for up to 45 mm tires, while the 24-spoke build is designed to tread the line between comfort and stiffness. Refreshingly, there are no unnecessary nods to aerodynamic performance here, with comparatively shallow rims. The 8.10 kg weight in size 56 is only 20 g higher than that of the lightest bike in our group test, the Trek Domane SLR 9 eTap. In this component spec, the Stigmata CC costs € 6,199.

**Helmet** KASK PROTONE | **Glasses** Pit Viper The Originals | **Jersey** Morvélo Foliage Overland SS | **Shorts** Giro Ride | **Socks** Giro HRC Team | **Shoes** Giro Republic LX Reflective

The Santa Cruz Stigmata C in detail

Drivetrain SRAM Force eTap AXS with SRAM Eagle eTap AXS derailleur
Gearing 42 t and 10-50 t, 1×12
Brakes SRAM Force HRD, 160/160 mm
Handlebar Easton EA70 AX, 440 mm
Stem Easton EA90, 100 mm
Seatpost Easton EC70, 0 mm offset
Wheels Santa Cruz Reserve 22
Tires MAXXIS Ravager 700 x 40C

**Used look**
The brake hose left its mark on the head tube badge. #nogo

**Screwed not pressed**
The threaded SRAM DUB bottom bracket guarantees easy servicing.

**Good mix**
SRAM Force eTap AXS and Eagle eTap AXS components are the gravel dream team.

**Well-rounded**
The Santa Cruz Reserve 22 wheels provide good levels of comfort. The shallow, non-aero rims bring a breath of fresh air that we can only encourage!

Size	52	54	56	58	60
Seat tube	495 mm	520 mm	545 mm	565 mm	590 mm
Top tube	526 mm	545 mm	565 mm	572 mm	591 mm
Head tube	130 mm	150 mm	170 mm	185 mm	205 mm
Head angle	71.0°	71.5°	72.0°	72.0°	72.0°
Seat angle	74.5°	74.0°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°
Chainstays	425 mm	425 mm	425 mm	425 mm	425 mm
BB Drop	74 mm	72 mm	72 mm	70 mm	70 mm
Wheelbase	1,009 mm	1,015 mm	1,025 mm	1,034 mm	1,053 mm
Reach	372 mm	380 mm	388 mm	392 mm	405 mm
Stack	555 mm	576 mm	596 mm	609 mm	628 mm

The Santa Cruz Stigmata CC in review

The Santa Cruz storms forward when pedalling. While accelerating and going uphill it benefits significantly from its low weight and comparatively low rotating mass. It masters even the steepest ramps despite the 42 t chainring thanks to the massive cassette with its 500 % range. The pronounced profile of the tires is a big advantage on loose terrain but results in relatively high rolling resistance on compacted ground or the road. The riding position is pleasantly compact while the overall comfort level of the bike is good. It’s the mix of compliance from the seatpost and damping stemming from the frameset, tires and wheels that lead to a balanced overall level of comfort. However, what we didn’t like while riding off road was the nervous handling of the Santa Cruz.

**Tuning tip**
Improve your cyclocross skills and head for the mud

CC is denotes Santa Cruz’s highest-quality carbon construction, but it could also be seen as an indicator of the bike’s cyclocross heritage.

The incredibly agile front-end reacts to the smallest inputs, meaning you always have to pay attention. For cyclocross, where you’ll regularly take tight corners at slow speeds that kind of handling is definitely an advantage. However, it’s not quite as well suited to the demands of the gravel sector. The nervous front-end limits how stable the bike feels on the straights and reduces confidence as soon as you pick up speed. You’ll need to be experienced to be able to handle this bike well.

Conclusion

The Santa Cruz Stigmata CC accelerates very quickly with a high level of comfort and compact riding position. Unfortunately, the attempt to bridge the gap between cyclocross courses and gravel tracks is only a limited success. Experienced riders who want a direct handling and agile bike that excels on tight courses will find what they need here. Those looking for a more relaxed ride will find the nervous front-end tiring and will have less confidence in the ride. The Santa Cruz is a cyclocross bike with large tire clearances and far from a gravel all-rounder.

Tops

balanced comfort
well-considered component spec

Flops

very agile front-end
limited stability
lack of confidence at high speed

Riding Characteristics

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Fun factor

boring
lively

Value for money

terrible
very good

Technical Data

Santa Cruz
Stigmata CC

Size: 52 54 56 58 60
Weight: 8.10 kg
Price: € 6,199

Indended Use

Smooth tarmac 1

Allroad/Gravel 2

Everyday/Commuting 3

For more info: santacruzbicycles.com