Cotic Cascade Live Ride Review: MTB? Gravel? Adventure? Pick three...

[@highestsprings]

Got a Sanderson custom build of similar form. Brilliant, go anywhere and do anything. Really comfortable and bomb proof. Can't see much use for my road bike now. Definitely prefer the relaxed nature of this style.

[@daz_the_cyclist8961]

Gas Turbine this Cotic is so very similar to the Fustle GR-1 Causeway (designed and built in Northern Ireland) would be great to see you on one. Gravel is the future

[@MW-ud8zp]

I really like this idea because riding on roads (be it gravel or tarmac) with a flatbar feels annoyingly ineffective.

[@deanf2259]

Totally agree, Just build myself a monster cross based on a On One Rocky Road Ti frame, drop bars, GRX shifters, shimano MTB brakes, 1x11 gears and 29x2.35 tyres. Just ridden the Calder Divide Trail this past weekend on it. Perfect bike for the event.

[@mattheworr2002]

Been eyeballing something like this to trim down my 2 bike fleet to a one bike fleet because bike storage is a problem at the moment. I’ve currently have a chisel and a diverge. I love the chisel and like the diverge okay but I miss having a steel bike. For the regular rides I like to do, I think the drop bar mountain bike would be ample. I’m just curious how well holds its speed in comparison to the chisel if I specced it with similar wheels and tires?

[@ronaldomac4918]

Hi Guy, how tall are you and what size frame did you ride....? I'm 5' 11'' so i sit in between medium and Large and not sure what size is best...? Another great review, cheers bud :)

[@squirerides8371]

Would love to build this in to a flatbar gravel / 90s style rigid MTB. Would the geometry work, what with the drop bars giving a longer effective reach than flat bars?

[@MW-ud8zp]

You'd probably have to run a longer stem, like an 80mm or so.

[@squirerides8371]

@@MW-ud8zp maybe 100mm for the authentic 90s experience

[@GuyKesTV]

That could be really cool. I guess what bar/stem depends on how 80/90s you want the handling will be? TBH I’m sure Cy will have worked out the right numbers so give Cotic a shout rather than me guessing. And if he hasn’t tell him I sent you and he needs to pull his finger out 🤣

[@CoticBikesUK]

@@GuyKesTV As if I haven't done the numbers! 😉 You can definitely build these flat bar. Depends a bit where you are in the size range, but usually if you the option, size up from what you would choose on the drop bars and run a stem around 100mm. We can build you something if you like. Shimano do flat mount xt brakes now or we can get adaptors. Drop us an email with your height and what you are after.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@CoticBikesUK 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I knew it 👌🏻

[@DavidWachter]

hello, just bought a Cotic Cascade because of your video. Where are you riding? Cheers, David

[@GuyKesTV]

It's actually all just filmed local to me in Harrogate but I rode the bike all over the place before I got the GoPro out. Sure you'll do the same with yours too, great choice 👍

[@ekrano]

I'm looking at getting a Cascade or maybe a Mason ISO. What spec did you get and how is it?

[@daveansell2418]

Great review and I do so want one of those! Just a thought, given its a 29'er I guess a conventional rear rack and panniers is a no no?

[@GuyKesTV]

Hi Dave, I just checked and there are conventional rack and Nitto mini rack mount points on the frame.

[@maxflame21]

Hi Guy! Any chance have you managed to get your hands on the current Sonder Evol 29? I've seen you reviewed the 2018 275 model and the current Cortex so assumed you may have had a go on the new one. Cheers.

[@GuyKesTV]

Neil the designer is playing with the next one right now but it’s not finalised yet 🤷‍♂️Sounds worth the wait if you want something more Enduro than the current one though

[@maxflame21]

@@GuyKesTV Awesome, thanks for the update. Thats exactly what I wanted from the Evol, an enduro-lite bike from Sonder. I'll give it a wait to see the new one and your review of it.

[@nilswehrenbrecht4260]

Hey Guy, you tested a lot of the Wolfpack Tires, can you recommend them and do they often flat? They are pretty lightweight. Best regards from Germany

[@GuyKesTV]

Hi Nils, I'm a massive fan of the Wolfpack tires for fast and light riding. They've been surprisingly tough even in rocky conditions too. I'd say they were very similar to the best of the old Schwalbe before they made everything 'trail' more like an armoured enduro tyre at over a kilo.

[@nilswehrenbrecht4260]

@@GuyKesTV thank you, I ordered some for my XC and my All Mountain Bike. Keep going with your great Videos

[@GuyKesTV]

@@nilswehrenbrecht4260 Hope you enjoy them, but keep me in the loop with feedback as it's always good to hear how others get on.

[@DIY-DaddyO]

I'd buy one. Stick some Landcruiser tires on and go EVERYWHERE...

[@MMcG25]

The whole ride you are mainly on the hoods.........I'd think a bike like this would be designed more to ride in the drops a bit more, no?

[@GuyKesTV]

Hi Mark, yes you're totally right the whole tall fork, tall head tube set up feels great in the drops and you'll likely use them a lot more as a result. The simple answer is that the angle it gives with a chest mount GoPro is a lot less forgiving of dangling helmet strap ends and bouncing knees sneaking into shot though!

[@MMcG25]

@@GuyKesTV thanks for the reply. Keep up the awesome content.

[@cb6866]

Thanks Guy...Left hood..Bell?

[@GuyKesTV]

Yes, it's a neat little brass bell that clamps onto the shifter hood rubber. www.upgradebikes.co.uk/Catalogue/Bells/Upgrade-Mini-Bell

[@ekrano]

These are great, just ordered one. @@GuyKesTV

[@Andy-co6pn]

I'd have thought a classic J bend style.fork leg would give a more compliant ride, at the stight expense of steering precision, than the project2 style straight blade fork fitted ?

[@GuyKesTV]

It might well do. After all that was the standard way to make a steel fork for over a century.

[@123a-o5d]

is the shape or material significant when your tyres are so big?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@123a-o5d yeah it still makes a surprising difference. Never as much as tyres but still noticeable. What's most interesting is the difference between the feel of a good steel frame and a bad one. It's not always about how much they cost either, I really didn't get on with the Mason ISO