Mountain Biking - Pics of my 08' Santa Cruz Nomad......

Hey everyone about 2 weeks ago I wrote asking about forks for my Nomad welp I'm done building it and here's some pics of my Sexy Little Vixen, Hope you like it...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1323.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1324.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1346.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1338.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1344.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1339.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1340.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1342.jpg

It's all 08' parts and questions on specs I can provide later...

Looks pretty good, kinda like an All mountain bike. Half freeride half XC.

Not my first choice of bars, but none the less nice. You will enjoy it.

Or he could jut like it that way?

Hey guys thanks for the comments. The frame is a large. I'm VERY Green to MTBK's. Very New... This is my First ever full suspension frame. The headset is from the hardtail in the background till I figure out how I like it to ride. As for the seat position I just set it there for wheelie's. I'm from a solid BMX background usually stand to ride type of person. I just had no real Idea where ot set the thing..

well you may want to use the seat to pedal on the full suspension. they will usually bob worse when your standing

I forgot to mention I'm thinking about a Bashguard and Dualrailler system, do you think thats a good way to go? And I'm looking for a good set of bars and neck to swap out I just need my christmas bonus check.. Any sugestions on those also would be apprectiated.. I plan on doing mostly single lane trail rides with 5-8 foot drops 30% of the time, Wide Dirt mountain trails (fire-roads) 60%, Street and biketrails 10%... I'm 6' even and 163lbs...

Upper trails of Alum Rock Parks, Eagle Rock side.. Open the gate just beyond the split and follow it up up up.. Theres some great trails that go to the levy and other places if you go far enough i've been told. I just barely started to explore them, since all I had before was a HT and that was definatly not the bike to go exploring those trails with... I used to go up the back way with my BMX'r along time ago but erision has made that impossible now. Then there is Skyline Trails in saratoga - los gatos area, those are some great trails and there adding little extra's to the trails all the time.. thats about it other than that I'm looking at tahoe area when the snow melts....

You're braver than I am for running azonic handlebars.

To be honest, the stem really looks out of place. I would look for a stem that is at 50-70mm with 0 degrees of rise to it.

For saddle positioning, slide the saddle forward and point the nose up so that it is at least parallel to the top tube. Ideal with a shorter stem will likely be somewhere between the black markings on the saddle rail. As it is, the saddle is too far to the back and has the nose pointing down, which makes for a very uncomfortable ride on flat ground, will be ok for climbing, but it will simply suck pedalling on flat ground and descending. When it's at least level with the top tube and putting sag into play the saddle positioning will be more neutral meaning that it will be more comfortable climbing riding on the flats and will make it easier to get your rear over the rear wheel when braking or going down steep terrain. If you still feel like you need to get the saddle further back, thomson makes a setback seatpost.

For the stem I'd look at thomson X4, Gravity Lite OS, Race Face, SunLine.
Since most of the offering are going to be oversized, matter as well up to an oversized handlebar.(Eliminates that goofy azonic bar and the crush you sternum crossbar.) I'd look at Gravity Lite, Easton, Race Face, Sun Line, Titec, FSA.

Oh and ditch that eskar front tire and get a kenda blue groove up front.

Other than that nice bike.

Ok I got some new Bars & Stem, I also moved the seat forward like 2 feet (haha), like suggested.. I got a Race Face Diabolous Stem and a set of Specialized Bars.. Here's some pics now..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1350.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1349.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1348.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v423/ThaCrow187/IMG_1347.jpg

So how's she look now??...

Much better.

10x better.

Looks great! But more importantly, how does it feel?

how does it ride .. before and after ?

You're braver than I am for running azonic handlebars.

I never had a problem with my Azonic bars, probably one of my favorite bars I've ever ran:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/wethepeople101/103_1675.jpg

Wow, you've got a whole lotta brake line there.

Yea it all needs to be re trimmed since it was made for the other stem and bars. But Thanks! Everyone, For all your Help, Advice and Comments...

Oh and as for the feel, I havent taken it to my normal stompin grounds yet since I only put the new equipment on this afternoon, BUT I did ride it around the street here and it definatly does pull the front end off the ground easier, and the worries of hitting my knee's were crushed because I still have tons of leg room. I still feel very secure and solid in my control of the bike the couple of curbs I jumped. I think it will work better this way. I'll have to tell you after this Sat's morning and evening rides are done.

I was refering to this photo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/wethepeople101/103_1675.jpg

The brakes were off of my Demo Nine.

With the investment you have in the bike. I cannot stress more how valuable a professional fit will be for you.
-You will be more comfortable over linger rides
-You will not feel too upright, stretched out, cramped, or behind the saddle
-Your front end will not want to rise on climbs
-Your pedal strokes will be more effecient
-You will not spend any more time on the trail fiddling with positioning issues