As title, I’m looking for real world experiences of the shug, especially compared to a Solaris max (which I’ve ridden and liked) and a Sonder signal Ti, (which I haven’t tried yet). COTIC and shand availability is currently a problem though, so as I can’t buy yet I thought I’d canvas opinions from a load of strangers on the internet. Cheers!
Did you get to try a Shug in the end?
Thread resurrection: any forum experience with the Shug? It's certainly a thing of beauty, I'm slightly intrigued by it. I think the price may have risen a couple of hundred quid after Christmas, but it's still just a smidgin more expensive than a Solaris with the same Helm and Hope headset.
It was reviewed in the mag I think, so maybe on the site somewhere.
Yes, I've pored over the mag review a few times. I took the inference that the true character and qualities of the frame and fork were perhaps masked by the jumbo tyres the bike was provided with. Same goes for the off-road cc review. I was just wondering as per the OP if anyone had any real world experiences.
oh watching this ...
I bought a Solaris max in the end, and it’s brilliant. Probably could have built a shug for similar money, but the immediate availability and new mercury paint swung it for me. (I had also enjoyed a test ride of the Cotic, thanks to their excellent travelling test scheme).
Hmmm bit of a flashback this one. Since there's a few more interested parties might as well throw myself into the loop.
I actually work at Shand, the Shug is based on my own personal bike from a few years ago. Rather than re-treading the reasoning have a look at the old blog post below;
https://bikeborks.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/shand-hoolet/
The Shug is a refined version of the Hoolet project, so fixed UK made dropouts rather than the Syntace system (avoiding that horrible o-ring). Slightly different reach and stack figures. The Shug still has a relatively low stack that I'm aware some are not keen on but to take advantage of a longer style bike you really need to lean forwards (think skiing). Having the lower stack means you can have adjustment via spacers. Alternatively we do offer custom geometry (within reason!) on all of our bikes/frames for a £299 surcharge.
On plus tyres, still a mystery to me as hate on them, I've found them (personally) to be faster on everything bar fireroad climbs. The frame will take either of course, bb drop difference has minimal effect on the handling.
Of course there is the nice aspect that you're frame will be made to order, geo, paint and build kit can be customized. Have a wee look behind the scenes on the old video below, fast forward through the boring crazy looking guy though;
Peace out
Fraser.