Juliana Joplin C S+ - 2018

Born unto the world as a race-bred endurance machine, the Juliana Joplin has evolved into something more, finding its stride in a genre-defying category that includes all the best traits of XC and trail riding. The result is a bike that's composed on tricky descents, supple through bumpy flats, and strikingly fast when it's time to crank things up. Add the ability to run the stock 27.5-inch wheelset with fat 2.8-inch tires, or switch to 29-inch for speedy pursuits, and you have an unassumingly fun bike that allows you to ride wherever you please. Featuring a nice mix of performance-oriented components from SRAM, Race Face, and Fox, the Joplin C S+ is made for women who are ready to take mountain biking to the next level. And for this carbon C model, Santa Cruz used a slightly less-expensive carbon fiber to put top-tier performance within reach. The result is a frame that weighs just half a pound more, yet is every bit as stiff, durable, and fun as the Carbon CC version.