Juliana

Furtado Carbon 27.5+ R Mountain Bike - Women's

Wanting a steed to climb the steeps with the cross-country rigs, and hold onto the back wheel of enduro machines on descents is a lot to ask of a bike. That is, unless that bike is the Juliana Furtado Carbon 27.5+ R Mountain Bike. The Furtado is a trailblazer, which shouldn't be a surprise given its namesake's reputation for paving the way for women who ride worldwide, and this generation packs in slacker geometry than ever, upping its capability for all-mountain shredding, while the lively 130mm of VPP suspension in the rear keeps the nimble, playful feel that we've always coveted from the Furtado. Starting last year we saw a shift in geometry that allowed the Furtado to sport wider tires, and this model takes full advantage of that space with 27.5+ hoops that offer extra root-grabbing traction when you're rolling through loose and slick trails of the PNW, and locked-on connection on desert trails that are laced with dusty, blown out corners with high consequences if your tire lets loose.

As you'd expect with the Furtado, it retains the high degree of pedaling efficiency and bottom-out resistance of the previous version. This VPP platform neatly tucks the lower link above the bottom bracket to protect it from rock strikes and damage from flinging trail debris. The upper portion remains attached to the top tube with a new stiffer box-section upper link. While other DH-oriented frames in the Juliana line have moved to a lower-link mounted shock, the Furtado retains its upper link-mounted shock, as to not lose the pedaling efficiency and bottom out resistance needed for the reduction in travel. That being said, it's spec'd with a FOX Float Performance DPS shock for a supple feel with improved traction while pedaling over bumpy trail sections, as well as greater resistance to heating up for more consistency on those long descents. Juliana tuned the shock specifically for lighter, female riders, so this bike complements your riding style in a manner that maximizes sensitivity and response without sacrificing power.

The Furtado's headtube is slacker than ever, kicking back to a 66.5-degree head tube angle in its high setting and a more DH-friendly 66.2-degree head tube angle in the lowest setting. The inclusion of the flip-chip allows for this subtle change giving you the ability to tune the bike's geometry for different terrain and riding styles. Looking to hit the lifts or shuttle and let gravity assist your day's riding? Go low. Planning on knocking out that 6-hour pedal fest deep into the woods you and your buddies have planned out for a bit? Go high, and you'll be treated with a bike that pedals well and doesn't flinch in the face of technical trail problems on steep, rowdy terrain.

As noted above, the flip-chip not only allows you to ride with a couple of geo options, it also provides the clearance needed to run wider tires up to 2.8 inches in width. Juliana outfits this particular Furtado with their 2.6-inch tires, which deliver all the traction and bump-smoothing benefits of a traditional 2.8-inch tire, but without feeling bouncy, slow, or excessively heavy. This 2.6-inch tire really gives you the best of both worlds, traction and plushness over the rockiest stretches of trail, but without the rolling resistance or tire squirm under braking and hard-cornering like a larger 2.8-inch tire.

The other exciting news about this Furtado is its slightly longer reach that's grown by around 15 millimeters across sizes for a bit roomier feel in the cockpit, as well as increased stability at higher speeds. To keep efficient pedaling in check, the seat tube is a full degree steeper placing you in an optimal pedaling position while you're climbing those thousands of vertical feet where the fun begins or simply muscling up a short, punchy climb with rocks and roots standing in your way.

One thing that hasn't changed is Juliana's carbon layup. This particular frame benefits from the resounding stiffness and strength you've come to love from the Northern California brand's Carbon C layup. This high degree of stiffness translates to lightning-quick acceleration when you're accelerating out of a corner or hammering up a steep, punchy climb on the trail, as well as allowing you to hold your line over rugged stretches of trail. Additionally, you'll find the Carbon C frame pairs nicely with SRAM's NX Eagle group, providing you with the range needed for all-day rides and a great value. The frame is backed by an amazing lifetime warranty, so you'll have peace of mind for riding hard and fast out on the trail.