Woot! My Juliana just came in.

[Nick]

Thanks, ladies -- I agree that the color is really nice. It looks even better "live" than on the Santa Cruz website pics.

Well, my inaugural trip ride had a bad ending -- as you'll see from my other thread. This was my first time going clipless with the Candy 3 pedal, and I had a couple of falls, the second one being quite nasty. But, I think I'm OK. Bruises I can handle... So, this was all due to the pedals, at a near standstill, and not the bike's fault.

Once clipped in, smiles, the Juliana handles beautifully. I did my easy loops rather than the more challenging trails - in order to get a feel for the bike (and learn to ride clipless). The Juliana's twin brother is the Santa Cruz Superlight, and she certainly feels feather light compared to my hardtail (which isn't a heavy bike). She is very nimble and responsive -- I could feel the bike molding to cues from my core even before I made turns or nudged in a direction. I can feel a difference in the cornering and the handling from the Gary Fisher (which, though old, is a wonderful bike). Within one short loop around I felt comfortable in handling the bike.

It took me a couple of stops and investigation (following cables with my hands to find where they connect, lol) to figure out the gears -- the Gary Fisher uses a different type of switching mechanism. Once I knew what connected where, and realized that I had two switches per hand/gearset, I soon had her set her in comfortable gears. I didn't have much need for braking other than a couple of brief slow downs and my stops at the Jeep to practice clipping in and out (I did that between every loop). But, when I did brake they were remarkably silent and smooth.

It'll take me a while to get used to the "bouncier" feel of full suspension, as well as the additional height fs gives on the bike. And I'll have to see if I stick with clipless or go back to a flat pedal... All in all, really pleased with the Juliana. She was voted 2011 editor's choice of women's trail bike by Biking Magazine: http://www.bicycling.com/mountainbik...kes?page=0%2C3

[Catrin]

The color is just awesome, and she looks like she is tapping her front wheel in impatience to hit the trails

I've only ridden FS so have no idea how the ride compares with a good HT, but I have to say that I love my Jamis Dakar and I actually don't notice bouncing on it - other than when I am getting started and stopping. Granted, I am only on the very easiest of trails right now. All I notice is a very comfortable and very smooth ride regardless of surface. My LBS certainly has dialed in the suspension perfectly for me

For comparison's sake I rode my Gunner on some grass the other day (1.5 inch tires) and got rattled to death...very glad I am not using it for light mountain biking which I COULD since the only thing on that bike that isn't mountain is the road fork...

[Hound Dog]

Congrats on the Julianna. I have one and absolutely love it! Have fun!

[emily_in_nc]

Stunning color! Jealous!

[Ja Da Dee]

Congrats on your bike, she's a beauty!! I love my Juliana too!!