Kicking off the week is a perfectly messy steel machine from 2018.
Your Name
pietruszka63
Bike
Cotic Soul 27.5.
Fork
2018 Rockshox Pike RCT3.
Suspension Set-Up
No tokens, 90psi ish, rebound is about half way. I don’t weigh much.
Wheels
Hope Pro4 on DT Swiss XM 481.
Tyres
Vittoria Barzo, 27.5×2.35.
Brakes
Hope Tech3 X2.
Drivetrain
Shimano XT M8000 mech and shifter, SLX 11-42T cassette, SLX 160mm cranks, 32t chainring. KMC chain I think.
Cockpit components
RSP 35mm stem, Rental Fatbar 10mm rise I think on those. Specialized lock-on grips.
Seatpost
OneUp V3 180mm dropper.
Saddle
Ergon SM Comp.
Accessories
Garmin MTB computer mount.
Size and Weight
Small, 12.7kg I think.
Why this bike?
lt was to replace the 26in Soul I had and an attempt to be more modern. I loved the previous gen Soul, it was a great bike so when I decided to go 27.5 it was something of a no-brainer. I love how it rides, I can manual it almost like my BMX and it fits my size really well. They say steel is real, but you really notice it against an aluminium hardtail, it’s like running softer tyres it’s that much more comfortable. I’ve had from new since 2018, it doesn’t get as much use as I’d like it to but I love it.
Additional Comments
The fork has the Charger 2 damper in it, which is amazing, a massive improvement over the previous one. And doesn’t leak from the LSC end. It’s a great fork which I’ve been really happy with. The wheels I built choosing Hope for the reliability, they also build into great wheels with the DT Swiss rims, going to 30mm rims was a revelation.
The OneUp V3 dropper is incredible. It replaced the Fox transfer which was okay, I at least have more drop available with the V3 and I can service this at home. Everything on the bike is just how I like it, even the mud I can’t be bothered to clean off. It looks messy, but it works perfectly. This one is staying with me.
Show us yours!
We’ve rejigged the Reader’s Ride online form and pic uploader to make it clearer, quicker and simpler
We’ll be rewarding any submission published with a piece of STW merch. NB: they don’t have to be new bikes. Or expensive bikes. Or even clean bikes. We want to see real bikes from real riders
Check out all the previous Reader’s Rides
Nice, I came this >< close to buying a 27.5 Soul and I’d have liked that metallic finish. Trivial thing but I like the old head badge more than the modern one too.
Lush. Was the metallic finish/ pink decals a standard finish from Cotic? And does that later Soul have fully drilled cable guides for gear cables?
I’ve a Soda from 2008, obviously a bit more upright in geometry, but otherwise not too dissimilar, and still ridden regularly
I’m still riding one of these too. (it replaced my 2007 Soda). Yes that’s a stock finish and its all cable tie/C-clip guides for full outers/hoses throughout. Mines orange.
Love mine to bits and done mega miles on it. Hugely versatile – I’ve done some big bikepacking days on it, a lot of steep’n’loamy enduro trails and many many laps of Peak District rocks.
Climbs well, handles beautifully, can stick with (or be faster than!) many full sussers on the way down.
I’m tempted to try a current Solaris, just to see what the differences are, but the Soul does everything I both want and need and its just there and works, causes me no hinderance, so why rock the boat…
Ha, I even took pictures of mine and swithered over submitting them for reader’s rides. But you’ve taken the words out of my mouth, so thank you, and we’re not a million miles away on spec.
With you all the way on that, too @JonEdwards
Bargain going here for anyone tempted (if still available)
2018 Cotic Soul gen 5 For Sale
I have one of those in Large in all its chrome and magenta(?) glory with slightly mismatched purple anodised bits. From the above it sounds like I need to get rid of the skinny Hope tech xc rims. Great bike but I miss the zingyness of my mk1 (this one is a lot more capable though).
Thanks for all the nice comments. This one has done one bike packing trip with me, the great north trail which I thoroughly recommend. I did 4 days and still have post ride blues 3 years on! The Clennell Colossus was my favourite though, anyone who hasn’t ridden in the Cheviots, I urge you to go but be prepared, it is very remote.
Bubs, wider rims makes such a difference. You do feel you can stick it into corners relative to what you were doing before, I’m by no means a KOM king shredder. The tyres don’t feel like they’re going to roll off the rim and you can lower your pressures without worry. Wish I’d done it sooner.