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I pre-ordered a SolarisMax frame a couple of months ago for December delivery. I've just had a mail saying it's delayed to end January into the UK which I guess could mean delivery to me into February.
I was going to use my next Cyclescheme window to buy components for the frame and build up hopefully during the Xmas holiday.
My idea was for a swiss-army-knife type bike that can cope with bridleways/canal path/rough commute riding, the likes of Sherwood pines with the kids and the odd bigger day out in the Peak district. My Alpine 6 is too much bike for this and the Orange Speedwork (that I'll be selling) is too little bike for it.
I'm now in two minds.....one impatient one that is considering "twisting" to something like a Sonder Broken road.....one patient one that says a month delay is nothing and I can do my tax return over Xmas instead of building a bike.
WWST do?
Stick. I’m 12 weeks into waiting for a Stanton that I expected last month. I’ve considered swapping for something else but realised I choose this for a reason. Plus it’s taken me time to get Hope parts etc, I actually could only build it up now. You might find you have a similar delay on parts. Let alone the delay on getting another frame (though I understand Sonder are one of the few who currently seem to be able to deliver).
That new Pipedream Sirius looks ace for the kind of riding you're talking about.
But if you really liked the Cotic, just hang on for that extra month.
Stick.
It's worth the wait.
Stif and Pipedream have two very nice alternatives on offer, although neither are as pretty as the Cotic.
Given your type of riding, I'd be tempted to go for an On-One Scandal or similar as it will probably suit the majority of your riding better. I have a hardcore hardtail and I wouldn't like to commute or do much flat riding on it. Mine is quite a light build but steel frames don't make for a light build so is still a heavy bike.
Just food for thought before you end up riding a tank on towpaths.
Taiwanese sherpa? I think that they are in stock. I love mine!
Would anything you want to replace it with have any less delay? I lot of the desirable ones won't be restocked this year by the look of it.
Or the pricing will be aspirational. Aren't scandal frame going for 699 or something mad at the moment? I know which I'd spend that amount of money on.
Stick. I have had mine about a year now and I have used it for pretty much everything its such a good bike! Races, 70 odd mile rides from my door (i live in london), Surrey weekends, trips home to wales it basically does everything. And when you finally reach the end of what you think its capable of you can take it bike packing as its got all the bosses in the world.
I waited a VERY long time for a special frame which arrived in early summer and now I can't get the parts I want to build it up. My current hope is that I'll get to ride it within 3 years of ordering, which'll be next May. Stick, and see if you can beat my record!
Stick, awesome frames/bikes
Many thanks for the input all.
After the initial disappointment/rush of blood to the head, the key points are:
1) Completely right about availability of the parts - I was probably being unrealistically optimistic to believe that I could process my Cyclescheme order AND magically get all the parts delivered in time for Christmas
2) There isn't a readily available, "as-desirable" alternative that is available earlier than the queue I'm already in.
Therefore, stick it is....I'll have more time to consider parts/wait for them to come into stock and realistically I wasn't going to be riding much in January anyway.
I got a Scandel medium frame yesterday for £250. Planet X had a couple more large and a Big Dog on ebay, all shop soiled.