This weekend, the Downieville Classic mountain bike race returns for its 28th year. This iconic race is one of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s (SBTS) biggest events, and just one of the many ways the group raises funds to support its trail maintenance and construction projects. Another way SBTS raises money is through Five Bucks a Foot campaigns, where every five-dollar donation gets you a chance to win a unique bike tricked out by the group’s industry partners. 

Over the years, we’ve seen lots of interesting bikes in SBTS’s Five Bucks a Foot fundraising campaigns. The latest is built around the brand-new Santa Cruz Tallboy frame in Gloss Midnight Violet. With 130mm of rear travel, a 140mm fork, and 29” wheels, the sixth-generation Tallboy is positioned as the ultimate, do-it-all trail bike. That frame is draped in top-of-the-line components from SBTS’s industry partners, including Fox, Shimano, Paul Component, Reserve, White Industries, OneUp Components, WTB, and Better Bolts.

$5 a Foot Tallboy Specs

• Frame: Santa Cruz Tallboy, Gen 6, Glass Midnight Violet (winner picks frame size)
• Fork: Fox Factory 36
• Shock: Fox Float X Live Valve Neo
• Drivetrain: Shimano XTR Di2
• Cranks: White Industries (headset, bottom bracket, and chainring, too)
• Brakes/rotors: Shimano XTR 
• Wheels: Reserve Carbon
• Tires: WTB Peacekeeper (grips and saddle, too)
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer Neo
• Stem: Paul Component Polished Boxcar (and topcap)
• Handlebar: OneUp Components V2 Carbon

How it Works

Every $5 donated between now and August 24th, 2026, gets you one chance to win this beautiful and unique mountain bike. Not only could your generosity potentially win you a bike, but all of the proceeds from this fundraising campaign go directly toward the construction of new singletrack throughout the Lost Sierra. Numerous projects are already underway or shovel-ready, and these funds will help support the work of the organization and its Pro Trail Crew as it continues its ambitious Connected Communities Project.

Want to give to trails and possibly win a Tallboy? You can donate here. Want to know what types of projects SBTS is working on? Check out this short video showing some of the work taking place on the East Zone Connectivity project along Verdi Ridge between Reno, NV, and Truckee, CA. 

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To donate to the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and enter to win a Santa Cruz Tallboy, click on this link. To learn more about the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, its mission, and past, present, and future trail projects, head to the SBTS website.

sierratrails.org