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2006 Ventana El Saltamontes |
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2006 Ventana El Saltamontes
- Frame detail
- Stiffness: lateral, vertical – everywhere
- Dialed geometry: aggressive riding in each travel length (4”, 5” or 6” rockers available)
- Low compression ratio
| Features | Ventana El Saltamontes | Turner Flux |
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| Price | $1895 | $1795 | | Rear Travel | 4”, 5” or 6” | 4” | | Rear Shock | Fox Float RP3 (DSC includes) | Fox Float RP3 | | Front Fork | 100mm – 130mm | 100mm | | Head Angle | 70* (at 100mm) | 70* (at 100mm) | | Top Tube Length | 23.0” | 23.2” | | Wheel Base | 42.2” | 43.2” | | Pivot Points | HUGE double-sealed
cartridge bearings | Bushings | | Frame Weight | 6.25lbs actual (size 18”) | 5.5lbs claimed (?? Size) |
| LEFT: The head tube is rarely ever a hot spot for discussion, but that just goes to show you how rare of a manufacturer Ventana. Notice how thick the welds are? Thick, consistent beads that hardly resemble “gobs,” despite their added size and strength. The head tube offers more stiffness than ANY other XC or Aggro XC frame due to the brace that wraps under the top tube and then around the front of the head tube. I call this the “arm pit wrap.” Think you’ll get any flex outta this head tube? Yeah, I don’t think so Chubby! | | | RIGHT: Not a whole lot to say here, but nevertheless impressive. These new brake cable guides are showing up everywhere. Easy to use for hydraulic disc brakes, or simply run full length housing for your mechanical discs. The top tube is actually pretty burley with almost 2mm thick walls, and then nearly 3mm thick walls on the down tube. No need to go easy on this frame! | 
physician obstetrics work | 
Again, Holy Beadness of a Weld! This is a really intelligent BB shell. By creating flat welding surfaces for both the seat and down tubes, at these specific angles, the welds are much more likely to hold firm and less likely to crack. This BB shell design, eliminates the need for cutting the seat and down tubes in circular shapes to mate a circular BB shell. Instead you get a better welding surface with gorgeous beads!
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Yet another nice feature to this BB shell design is that it incorporates the largest, most important and stressed pivot point on the frame. This design eliminates any extra stress that that seat tube or BB shell would normally take on because it is directly connected with the seat tube and down tube, thereby distributing stress amon more frame members. Also take a look at that yolk! Extra wide for lateral stiffness, drilled out for weight savings and machined beautifully.
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| LEFT: Hands down one of my features to the Ventana El Saltamontes: low compression ratio of 2:1. In most cases a 4” travel frame will have 1.5” inches of shock stroke, placing the compression ration at about 2.66:1. Essentially this results in more shock stroke per inch of rear travel, making it significantly easier for the shock to perform at its optimal level without over stressing the valves or seals. The main benefit however is the amount of shock pressure you can run at. If you are a standard-ish 180lbs, you can run at a slightly lower air pressure and still have PERFECT performance, or if you are a heavier rider, you can set up the correct air pressure without having to pump up the air pressure extremely high just to get the bike to feel right. The ramp up rate seamlessly increases as you go through the travel in order to prevent bottoming this bottomless 4” pit. No seriously, just try to bottom it. | | RIGHT: Thick, solid dropouts keep the rear wheel tracking true despite the abuse you’ll be throwing its way. Everything on the bike has a clean line (except those beady welds of course) and the dropouts are no exception. Dropouts are rarely this clean. The nicest feature to show off here though is the derailleur hanger. Only a minimal amount of derailleur hanger sticks out of the bottom, making it barely noticeable. With reinforcement almost the entire length of the hanger drop down, you’re likely to never have to set it straight! The over-sized dropout bearings also enhance the rear stiffness and improve the degree of smooth movement experienced back here where a lot of torque from the chain stays force the seat stays upward. Again, stiffness is key. | 
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