I’m writing about the Santa Cruz Hightower for three reasons:
First, it’s one of our top-end bikes in this year’s [Rim Tours rental fleet](https://rimtours.com/bike-and-gear-rentals/).
Second, [Bike Magazine](http://snip.ly/knxf7) just posted a nice review of it.
Third, I have a major case of *Hightower envy*: the Hightower replaces the widely lauded Tallboy LTc, which was one of the first long-travel 29ers on the market, and which is the bike I ride. As soon as I’m ready to upgrade, I’m getting a Hightower! (The problem is, I *love* my TBLTC!)
To quote the [Bike Mag review](http://snip.ly/knxf7): “We loved how the Hightower made easy work of rough, high-speed descents.” I think it’s one of the reasons The Hightower is such a great fit for our fleet here at Rim Tours.
Many of our multi-day tours feature numerous long stretches of *fast* and *rough* downhill, such as The 5-day and 6-day [Maze tours](https://rimtours.com/tours/the-maze-5-day/), with the seemingly never-ending thrill ride down The Flint Trail that connects straight into the amazing Golden Staircase.
Riders descend the Flint Trail on a 5-day mtb tour in The Maze, Canyonlands NP
It just goes for miles and miles with you racing as fast as you dare let her go. A bike like The Hightower gives you the stability to stay off the brakes, even when the road gets crazy rough and you are really flying.
Another big plus: The Hightower can go both ways. Whether you prefer the rollability of a 29er, or the greater manauverability of the boosted 27.5, you can choose, or even switch back and forth.
> > > The Hightower’s full-carbon frame is built around a refined Virtual Pivot Point suspension design, features Boost front-and rear-hub spacing and is compatible with both 29-inch and 27.5+ wheels and tires. A geometry flip chip in the link that drives the shock allows the frame to accept both wheel sizes, while keeping geometry consistent. > > >
