organ donor is such a terrible description of what is about to happen here, even if it is technically correct. after six years it is time for one of the most iconic bikes ever made to be retired: i am about to replace my original 2015 nomad 3, painted in the unmistakable ‘miami vice’ colours, aqua and magenta.
that is to say that not all the bike will retire: the frame will, as will the fork and the wheels, for reasons explained below. the rest of the components will move over to the new frame. i am pretty happy with the parts i have accumulated over a long period of time, and since most of them still fit the new bike i see no reason why i would not continue to use them.
the new bike is in many ways the logical evolution of the nomad. i know, santa cruz still produces a nomad – now as far as i know the fifth incarnation – but for some reason the company decided to stick with the smaller, 27.5 inch wheels. i’m not exactly sure why, maybe to retain the nomad’s playful character; 29 inch wheels are generally seen as faster and more stable, and they have become the de facto standard. so in essence i have decided to move with the times, stay with the brand, but not the type. let’s see how that is going to work out.