Bike Check: James Love’s Cotic Cascade

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Mr Love, formerly of this parish, dropped by via the back roads of Calderdale. ‘You look like Jeremy Corbyn with that stem!’ cried our Benji. Cue much excited jabber about geometry, back road meandering, and the merits of planning your bike rides around top notch bakeries. We entrapped James in the office just long enough to grab some photos of his customised mile munching Cotic Cascade. James’ goal is to avoid roads, but cover the…

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Author Profile Picture
Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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Home › Forums › Bike Check: James Love’s Cotic Cascade

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  • This topic has 11 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 3 weeks ago by Joe.
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Bike Check: James Love’s Cotic Cascade
  • 3
    droplinked
    Full Member

    Mixing tan wall and black wall tyres is unforgivable

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    4
    jameso
    Full Member

    I like how the intro image up there ^ isn’t a spoiler ; )

    Also really like to see bikes set up by what feels right to the owner rather than how others expect them to look.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    bowglie
    Full Member

    Also really like to see bikes set up by what feels right to the owner rather than how others expect them to look.

    Yes, if you’re more into riding a bike rather than looking at it, I agree.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    matt_outandabout
    Full Member

    I’ve been of the view that head tubes are not proportional to frame size (see also: chainstays) for a while, and that the head down roadie style has dominated many a bike design intended for utility and leisure use.

    It looks kooky, but meh.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    nuke
    Full Member

    Sure is a unique look (and I say that as the owner of a Cascade in the same green) but long distance comfort trumps looks

    Im intrigued by the double water bottle mount although more for my FS bike that only has one available mount on the downtube: the bottles are out the way enough to not get clipped by feet? The bottles do look like they have been positioned quite high up the downtube but then the Cascade has plenty of mounts on the downtube

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    kayak23
    Full Member

    Weird city. But it obviously works for him. Nice.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    honourablegeorge
    Full Member

    I’m all good with the strange stem and everything else but the mix of tyres is making my brain all itchy on the inside

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    1
    jameso
    Full Member

    I’ve been of the view that head tubes are not proportional to frame size (see also: chainstays) for a while, and that the head down roadie style has dominated many a bike design intended for utility and leisure use.

    Fear of a Long Headtube is a real thing in the bike industry and with the slammed/tukt wafflers online. So we get riser drop bars ..  it’s all gone a bit mad. Hi-risers on MTBs are easy to do though, look great.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    2
    intheborders
    Free Member

    I’m demoing a Cascade next week, looking for it to be my bikepacking bike to replace the HT and gravel bikes I currently use.

    A drop-bar MTB feels the best of both worlds – apt geometry (especially for descents when loaded), drop-bars for aero  when on tarmac and multitude of hand-positions, ability to use a (normal) suspension fork when appropriate and MTB components/tyre-width/gearing.

    Fear of a Long Headtube is a real thing in the bike industry and with the slammed/tukt wafflers online. So we get riser drop bars ..  it’s all gone a bit mad. Hi-risers on MTBs are easy to do though, look great.

    Agree, but with a near metre inseam I’d much prefer a frame sized appropriately.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    ampthill
    Full Member

    Fear of a Long Headtube is a real thing in the bike industry and with the slammed/tukt wafflers online. So we get riser drop bars .. it’s all gone a bit mad. Hi-risers on MTBs are easy to do though, look great.

    That explains so much.

    It’s great to see a bike set up for some one like this. I think we can safely assume i won’t fit on a drop bar build.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
    Joe
    Full Member

    HATE from London.

    Posted 3 weeks ago
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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