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First new bike in a few years for me, brought on by enjoying bimbling around back lanes and bridleways more than proper mountain biking these days, wanting something a bit beefier than the gravel bike, and Cotic selling off XL stock at a reduced price...
I had a LONG chat with Paul @ Cotic regarding sizing and various component options, he was brilliant, as Cotic always are, and I bit the bullet, how could I not when an 853 frameset with a fork was almost £100 less than the next cheapest steel frameset in inferior grade steel.
I've used some parts from stock, but wheels are second hand Hope Pro4/WTB via eBay, groupset is all new Deore (11 speed) via sales and @breninbeener, and tyres were £16 each in a sale, so I'm giving them a punt. It shouldn't work with drop bars, but I might give it a try with a super short stem in the future as despite this being an Xl, I'm running a 70mm stem with flat bars and the saddle all the way back on the rails. Will add a dropper at some point too.
My dog, sort of my barn wall, both need some attention.
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Not my kind of bike at all. But that's a nice looking bike that is.
Have fun.
That looks great.
I want something similar - but with h-bars and set up for some on and off road touring and commuting.
Ooooh that is nice.
XL on sale you say, hmmm 🤔
Great bikes, they don't ride as heavy as they feel when you lift them over gates!
Sadly @superstu , I think they might all be gone, worth double checking though!
I've had rigid bikes and XC 29ers before and not really got on with most of them for some reason or other, including an old Solaris with very similar geometry, but I think the problem was more what I was trying to use it for. I'm going to try some H bars or similar in time, but the Renthal's were in stock and it was meant to be a budget build...
I like the versatility, so many build options, and can take a 100mm sus fork, I think this one will stay for a very long time.
Sadly @superstu , I think they might all be gone, worth double checking though!
There's was a slightly used XL on FB marketplace yesterday...
I had a demo on one and it was lovely, so well balanced but I just couldn't get on with the drops. Still have it on my list as H bars would probably fit well instead of drops.
The name I've never heard of tyres that were on it were brilliant in the snow as well, I've never been on a bike that climbed as well even in deep snow!
I like that - reminds me of my old Genesis Fortitude Race - which were really popular on here.
That wasnt a mountainbike, it was just a 'bike not made for roads' and it was just lovely.
That wasnt a mountainbike, it was just a ‘bike not made for roads’ and it was just lovely.
That's probably the best description I've seen for the Cascade.
They're great bikes. I've tried mine with flat bars but currently got massive flared drops (Ritchey Beacon XL) which might as well be flat as the drop is so little and the flare so wide!
They're great, aren't they?
I've only had mine a few weeks after moving from a a flat-bar similar bike with the same build (apart from the shifters/mech). XL with very wide, flared, shallow drops and a 150mm dropper post. Works great for me.
<p style="text-align: left;">I'm waiting for the limited edition to version.</p>
No idea if they're planning one though.
They might be comforable, but those flared bars are bloody ridiculous. How do you use the brakes and gears from the flare on that?
Nice looking bikes apart from that.
They might be comforable, but those flared bars are bloody ridiculous. How do you use the brakes and gears from the flare on that?
No issues for me in the slightest. No issues braking or shifting (or dropping the dropper using the LH lever!) from hoods or riding in the drops. I tend not to ride holding the tops of the bars. Perhaps mine aren't as flared as others? First dropbar bike I've had though so I've very limited exposure to the nuances of them.
TBH I don't even know if I've positioned the levers correctly on my bars. I'm that much of a dropbar newbie.
I quite like the look of those drop bars, they look better from behind than the side, I like the hand position options drops give. I have been looking and Jones H/loops and the various copies, don't think I want the back sweep/45° angle of the full Jones though.
I like that description of this type of bike as a "bike not made for roads", I've also heard them called "shit mountain bikes" but won't reveal my source... Both are fairly accurate for me, they make tame local trails/paths fun, challenging, comfortable, and worry free, and mine feels surprisingly fast on road, even on the Ground Control tyres which are hardly XC race spec.
I did own a Genesis Fortitude Race very briefly, I rode it once and didn't like it, the front wheel felt like it flip flopped around, due in part to the fork offset, and trail figures I think.