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Hemlock

121 posts & 50 voices | Started 3 years ago by Coasting | Latest reply from benjag

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Rickos - Member

Wish I'd seen this thread a month ago...

There's a big difference in feel between the long and short travel. Short feels quite firm and good to pump, long feels like most other longer travel bikes with a fairly linear feel. I was running mine with Pikes, but now have the new Fox Talas 32's but in 150mm guise and they're awesome for the bike. I mostly use the short travel rockers and can then go 110 - 130 - 150 on the front with the forks.

I love mine, but when your setting the cable length for your rear mech make sure you use the long rockers to set the size. I made it fit nice and snug with the 120mm rockers and when it came to trying out the 150 rockers a couple of weeks ago it was too short. D'Oh!!

Posted 3 years ago #
roughneck - Member

ahwiles, I've got coil pikes on my Chameleon and there the best forks I've ever used by a mile, but I just want some more travel. I think its going to be Talas 36 or lyrik.

Posted 3 years ago #
captain_bastard - Member

i suspect i'm thinking the same as a lot of folks - really tempted to get a Hemlock, just looks plain right, but can't quite commit. it's once in a blue moon that i get a new bike (current bike 8 years old and counting...) not mega fussy on set up etc. but want something that will last the course

would be interested to know what they climb like? happy to put on pro-pedal (or what ever it is) for long flat climbs - what are they like on lumpy twisty stuff? Probably get a 130-140 fork

Posted 3 years ago #
tomlevell - Member

As much the same as any other bike I've ridden at that weight. Pro Pedal on 2 or 3 allows you to mash the pedals on smooth climbs. 1 allows you to forget you've left it on and not get penalised too much downhill and have a bit less bobing. I prefer it off for anything but climbing. I've come from a very bobby bike uphill so it doesn't really bother me.

Posted 3 years ago #
nickhart - Member

just found this on 18 bikes site hope it helps.
i have found this thread facinating, partly as i know cy and partly because the only other designer who has as much contact and input with his riders and potential riders is dt over on mtbr.com.
knowing how much anal detail cy puts into his frames, from his steel hardtails to the hemlock and having seen him ride, he won't blow his own trumpet he's far too nice for that, is enough evidence for me that a hemlock would be a perfect tool for riding int he peaks, all day every day.
there you go my ten penneth.

Posted 3 years ago #
jam bo - Member

wouldn't mine a go on one but then i met someone the other day who tore the back end off his manualling through a drainage ditch on my local DH. kinda put me off. he's on a blood now and loving it.

Posted 3 years ago #
hora - Member

Good to see a bike maker who is pricing their frames competitively for once..... Not like 'some' UK producers who stick another 400-500 ontop which is piss poor to the consumers.

Posted 3 years ago #
nukeproof - Member

@rickos. That bike looks stunning...spot on for how I'd build it. Didn't think I'd like the white but it looks great as there's not too much of it. Still, given Cotic have sold out of white, thats one decision thats not going to need to be made! Hoping the anodized will be harder wearing as in it can't chip like paint.

So why do you ditch the Pikes...just for the extra travel?

For any owners, hows the chainring clearance: heard it was tight and the chainstay could get a bit of chainsuck damage?

Posted 3 years ago #
rob2 - Member

nukeproof - clearance is a bit tight - I put in two spacers on an external bottom bracket but no problems so far. I've put on a zip tie too to stop any. Photo to come!

Posted 3 years ago #
nukeproof - Member

clearance is a bit tight

Thats a shame. Had enough of worrying about tight chainrings on my Inbred 853. British designers with their love of huge tyre clearance Still, there's always work arounds.

Posted 3 years ago #
juan - Member

That is a very nice looking frame to be honest.
Price seems fair too specially now that I am paid in €.
Any chance to get a test bike sent over here

Posted 3 years ago #
rob2 - Member

I've got an 853 inbred as well and know what you mean, but the clearance is much better.

Posted 3 years ago #
tlr - Member

And a black one for balance....

Posted 3 years ago #
Rickos - Member

nukeproof - the Talas 32's with 150mm travel are on loan from Dirt magazine. Not sure when they want them back though...hopefully not until after my Alps trip in June!

Posted 3 years ago #
ahwiles - Member

re: chainstay/chainring clearance and chainsuck.

chainsuck is a symptom of worn out components, and a chain that's too slack. it's natures way of telling you to spend some time and money on bike maintenance you cheapskate. (guilty as charged)

i had a bit o chainsuck during my first ride (new chain, old granny ring), and i din't notice anything worse than any other bike would suffer. the chain wasn't trapped between anything, or owt like that.

it's not an issue as far as i'm concerned. you'll be missing out on a great bike if your main reason for not buying one is concern over chainsuck.

Re: captain bastard and climbing,
it climbs better than my old enduro, i know that. i suspect mainly because the cockpit is a bit shorter, i can get more weight over the front wheel to keep it down. it's very good for technical climbing. with the 120mm links and pro-pedal on, it really is like a hardtail. with the 150mm links and pro-pedal off/low and it's much more active, but that gives you more grip than a hardtail cos the wheel can track over stuff.

just to prove i'm not one of Cotic's minions, here to spread propaganda, i don't think it's perfect, i think the back end would look more elegant if the seatstays pointed at the axle not the pivot, and the bracing for the pivot under the top tube is a little 'functional', but it's mostly hidden, and it works.

has anyone ridden an Ellsworth Moment? - that was the other frame i was looking at, and i'd be interested to hear how they comare...

Posted 3 years ago #
benjag - Member

I rode cy's bike at the Sherwood demo day, set up was 120R 140 Thors up front, and it was bloody fantastic round there, Ok so not particularly exciting but it impressed me enough to decide it will be my next bike (have Heckler with coil pikes) just need to save the cash. I'm a big lad (6'4" and 105kg) and there was no flex at the rear, Cy only had to put 30psi in the rear shock to get it set for me (he's ~85kg)

Posted 3 years ago #