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Looking to build myself a do it all 29 with gears and bouncy forks. Anyone had the opportunity to try both these frames. Nothing in it £££ wise, just after the better ride. Any other similar options considered.
I've owned both.
Swift felt slightly less stiff and slightly lighter. I didn't actualy weigh either or mount strain guages so can't confirm that scientificaly. The El-Mariachi isn't heavier enough to make it difficult climbing (just feels more solid, it's probably more related to the stiffness than actual weight), and the swift isn't noodley enough to be apparent on it's own (it just feels more like a steel bike), but back to back they're subtley different. But both equaly good at the end of the day. I only replaced the Swift with an El-Mariachi as I wanted a large frame and it's what happened to be on Ebay going cheep, if a Swift had cropped up I'd have had that.
Either SS option works well, never had the EBB slip or the alternator dropouts move.
The El-Mariachi has a tapered headtube, looks less retro, but takes tapered steerer. Glad for that now as I picked up some cheep 80mm 29er forks with a tapered steerer. If it wasn't for that the swift might edge it.
Cotic Solaris?
Note the current El Mar has a kinked seat tube that allowed them to shorten the chainstays.
That Cotic looks nice, not seen that. Thanks