Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Cotic Escapade Owners?
  • funkmasterp
    Full Member

    Hello! Any Escapade owners around? I’ve been toying with the idea of getting one for commuting, general use and escaping for long days out. I am just wondering how they handle, how they measure up against similar bikes that sort of thing. Have also been looking at the Roadrat, Canondale BadBoy and Specialised Tricross Sport. Really like the Cotic bikes though.

    Any insight would be appreciated.

    Conqueror
    Free Member

    also interested in OPs question…

    my mind is also awash with ideas

    Ben_H
    Full Member

    I bought one as soon as I saw in on a hidden page on Cotic’s website. I previously had an >X<.

    I’m afraid that I don’t have time to do a full review, but it’s ticked every box that I wanted it to. I started many moons ago with flat bar hybrids (including doing JOGLE on a Cannondale Badboy – first time was on a MTB, but that’s another story…) before switching to road bikes and finally to the >X<.

    I’ve found that – of all these bikes – the steel, drop bar, disc-braked genre really is an ideal candidate for all the bike you’d ever need.

    I use my Escapade to 90% of my cycling mileage, covering: commuting, leisure rides with roadie mates, popping to the shops and even the odd bridleway (with baby seat on the back!). It’s marketed as an adventure bike, but let’s face it: it’ll be a commuter or daily hack for most people…like me. 🙂

    Mine’s built up with 105 gearing, with an SLX 11-32 cassette and Avid BB5s. It rolls on XT hubs, Mavic 29er rims and Conti GP 4 Season 28c tyres. Basically, it’s a tough build, but not as weighty as some of the off-the-peg options (Surly’s offerings spring to mind).

    Favourite bits at the moment include the Duck Egg blue paint, which seems tough as it’s a matte finish; meaning it cleans easily and resists minor scratches.

    The only downside I can think of is my choice of 9mm bolt-thru fork (standard QR is a no-cost option). Seemed like a great idea at the time, but it makes it harder to take the front wheel out and means that I needed to buy another roof rack carrier, as I couldn’t find a 9mm bolt-thru adapter for my Thule fork-mounted carrier (15QR is no problem).

    Unless you really are tied to a Bike-to-Work scheme, I’d recommened doing a custom build as I’d really prefer at least Tiagra and some nicer wheels over what Cotic offer within the <£1k limit.

    Oh, yes… it rides nicely too! It’s clearly a mountain biker’s take on an asphalt machine, but I expect that’s exactly the target market.



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    funkmasterp
    Full Member

    Thanks for the input and photos. I’ve narrowed my choices down to Spec Tricross Sport, Croix De Fer, Bad Boy, a Karate Monkey geared build or this one 🙂

    gee
    Free Member

    How about a Salsa Vaya or Warbird?

    cyclebiker
    Full Member

    Hello Ben_H, can I ask what baby seat you use and how do you get on with it?
    I have been looking at a seat that clamps to the seat tube and cantilevers over the back wheel, however I emailed Cotic for their thoughts on this and it was not recommended.
    (Sorry this is slightly a thread hijack, but I’ll be quiet now).

    steezysix
    Free Member

    How about a Specialized AWOL?

    teadrinker
    Free Member

    bookmarking interest in this thread. Ben what size escapade do you ride?

    funkmasterp
    Full Member

    Those Salsa bikes look nice, but are slightly over budget. Around a grand is as high as I can go unfortunately.

    iainc
    Full Member

    i seriously thought about one but went for the Croix De Fer in the end

    Ben_H
    Full Member

    Just in answer to a couple of questions:

    1) It’s a Medium frame;
    2) I use a Hamax baby seat – think it’s a Smiley; no problems at all.

    In in the middle of upgrading some parts. It’s now wearing Thomson finishing, BB7 callipers and Hope hubs with Stans Crest rims.

    For anyone considering Crest rims, note that anything road-like (under 35c) is pretty much impossible to fit. I’m trying some Conti Cyclocross Speed folding tyres after failing miserably with my old GP 4 Season 28c.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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