Santa Cruz Roadster

Got this old girl from a friend who's going to concentrate on MTB....

I'm not sure of the year, but it could be a 2003.




Mainly Dura-Ace, with Easton forks, seatpost and wheels.

I need to spend a bit of time getting the stem height correct before I cut the tube to length. ;-)

Nicely does it there!. I remember lusting after these way back when - Santa Cruz was the stuff teenage dreams were made of (bicycle dreams, that is ). Get that puppy out in the sunshine and get some detail shots for the nostalgia re-livers out there....me .

How's it ride? I heard these were rather unforgiving and harsh, any truth in it?.

EDIT: Thinking on it, I believe the Roadster wasn't produced for a great many years - I'm inclined to say '02 - '05? can anyone shed any light?.

RustyGold":8hljo82p said:

EDIT: Thinking on it, I believe the Roadster wasn't produced for a great many years - I'm inclined to say '02 - '05? can anyone shed any light?.

Click to expand...

I sent the S/N to Scott @ SantaCruzBikes..
It's apparently a 1999 model - the first year of production. Almost 'Retro'


My only previous experience of road bikes is my '09 Giant Bowery, with a very solid Ali frame.... This has a similar feel, but the carbon seatpost and fork legs take out a lot of 'chatter'. You can tell the MTB history as the chain stays look like they are made from solid bar! :shock:

Entirely awesome

DaveP_retro":3ajm13o7 said:

RustyGold":3ajm13o7 said:

EDIT: Thinking on it, I believe the Roadster wasn't produced for a great many years - I'm inclined to say '02 - '05? can anyone shed any light?.

Click to expand...

I sent the S/N to Scott @ SantaCruzBikes..
It's apparently a 1999 model - the first year of production. Almost 'Retro'

Click to expand...

That's good to know, I hadn't remembered them being around from the late-nineties. I'd love to get my hands on one someday and given the 'extra' handful of years on production that I omitted, means I've got an even better chance . Any ride report/pictures in the pipeline, Dave? *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*

RustyGold":27oxd9m5 said:

Any ride report/pictures in the pipeline, Dave? *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*

Click to expand...

I've ridden it for my commute a couple of times and it's damn quick.... Just wish I could keep up with it!
Hit a few PB's on Strava. ;-)


Apparently the first owner was the guy who runs Stif in Leeds, who import SC bikes, and the second was Matt, their graphical designer (who I got it from). So it has a fair bit of SC provenance.

Santa Cruz don't do the stickers any more, so I'll not be re-spraying it. :-(

I'll post some better shots at the weekend. Anything anyone wants to see?