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Cotic Sam kindly came to the Mendips to let us play on the new fleet yesterday - Thanks Sam.
Anyway, it's my first experience of new skool forward geometry and I was impressed overall.
Unlike Alex's thread from the other week, I'm looking for a big-ass mountain day ride and bike park slammer that can also be co-opted into trail days. It this respect, the Mendips is a little under kill for a bike of the Rocket's capabilities, but we've got enough lumps and bumps the get the flavour. It was stable, poppy, faster than its weight suggested and stiff as **** laterally. Decent climbing traction too.
There a picture of me looking like a **** (normal) on the large somewhere. If it turns up I'll post it for communal derision.
I took one for a test ride a few weeks ago. I was also impressed, and with the Flare Max also, but I like to be overbiked and have a bit of extra travel beneath me for the odd occasion I need it. There is no real disadvantage in carrying it around. And today I took an SC Hightower for a test ride for a comparison - and honestly, as awesome a bike as the Hightower is, the Cotic Rocket/Flare Max is just as awesome. The Hightower was a little lighter (not much at all) but really rode very similar to the Rocket and Flare. It's convinced me that you don't need to spend top notch dollar to get a top notch ride.
I went with my mate with his Flare Max so we were swapping the bikes between us and the biggest difference really was due to the 650b+ tyres. I really wan't keen - they really to too good a job of ironing out the trail, there is very little if any feel from them. It's like riding on a magic carpet, and though they felt faster as they were so smooth, they were definitely slower as I got off and repeated the same run on the Flare Max.
So as good a bike the Hightower is, it is nowhere near worth the extra money, and I just don't want one enough to justify the additional significant expense, so for me I think i'm definitely heading for a Rocket Max. Well done Cy!