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Thanks for chipping in Cy. Any idea when we can expect to hear that "Longshot podcast" ?
I was really enjoying Cy's response, right up until the point he used the phrase, "value proposition". I'm now suspecting that those rumours of him driving everywhere in a Porsche and wearing coloured shirts with white collars and cuffs are true.
Yay, free advertising 😉
Just because something isn't cheap doesn't mean it's a rip-off.
I've a Mk1 Solaris, at the time of purchase I was looking for a cheap (well I was prepared to spend £1000) 29er HT to use to get to remote Munros. Demoed a couple then the shop owner handed me his Solaris - a short ride round the car park and I ordered one on the spot! Given that I prevaricate over nearly every purchase that was just about unheard of.
Nearly four years later it's still my go to MTB. I'm sure Cy would love me to buy another one - he tried to get me to buy a Rocket frame but I'd already bought a frame to do what I wanted. My wife did buy one of the last 26" Souls though. Four years of smiles and over 11,000km of riding from Scotland to the Alps. Yeah, that's a rip-off 🙄
Letting potential customers check out bikes is never going to be easy no matter what route you take. Prior to Cotic stopping the LBS dealerships it was as easy for me to get to a Cotic dealer as to get to a Specialized one. I've not taken advantage of it but the roving demo idea is probably the most cost effective for a company the size of Cotic.
Good response from Cy.
Although I always feel guilty when i see Cy's posts. That feeling you got when the headmaster came round the corner and surprised you when you were doing something naughty. And I'm 64 ffs.
OK. I'll get it off my chest like they do at Alcoholics Anonymous:
My name's BigJohn and I ride a Mk1 Soul with a 140mm Pike fork.
Deathtrap, apparently.
I strongly suspect my next bike will be one of the new Cotics later this year (lump sum pension payouts being what they are). Just struggling to decide which. Must get myself to a demo day.
Getting ripped off earlier...
I'm writing to ****ing Watchdog, me-
[img] 
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yours,
Ripped Off
😆
Is it possible to add a new “Cotic” forum section on top of “Bike” and “General” just for the inevitable daily worship?
That way us peasants who ride mass produced, Taiwan made bikes won’t have to worry that we are missing out on something really special.
.....but Cotic owners would have to post in both sections!😜
Cy continually has the best responses, seems to always be transparent and fair. I’ve had three Cotics and am currently on a Stanton. Can’t see me moving away from a British designed steel frame anytime soon.
Just a quick question. Is the blue on the new rocket the same as the new flare max ? The flare max looks darker but it's always hard to tell from pictures.
I was really enjoying Cy’s response, right up until the point he used the phrase, “value proposition”. I’m now suspecting that those rumours of him driving everywhere in a Porsche and wearing coloured shirts with white collars and cuffs are true.
HA! I'll admit to having a nice Transit, but I'm more of a T Shirt and trainers guy. You're right though, that was a bit Bullshit Bingo. We'll have to take a sharp pencil to that type of language and come up with something more appropriate with a thought shower and some blue sky thinking.
Thanks for chipping in Cy. Any idea when we can expect to hear that “Longshot podcast” ?
I was supposed to record it today with Chris from Downtime Podcast, but SNOWMAGEDDON! Going to get it done Monday hopefully.
Thanks Cy, looking forward to it. I'm sure you are well aware of the preconceptions people have about your bikes, but as someone whose not ridden one, my main concerns with the new longshot bikes are: climbing, particularly keeping it on line when you are down to almost walking pace on a long climb and "will I be able to lift the front end over stuff"? The main appeal is the extra confidence that you talk about. Talking of which, I'd instinctively think that the flare max would give even more of that confidence than the rocket (bigger wheels not getting stuck as easily) and climb better (shorter travel), but hearing you speak about the rocket I'm beginning to wonder.
Just a quick question. Is the blue on the new rocket the same as the new flare max ? The flare max looks darker but it’s always hard to tell from pictures.
The very same. Rich (who took both lots of photos) says the FlareMAX photos on the product page are too dark… and has sent me replacements to put on there… haven't had a chance yet. So blue Rocket photos more accurate… but obviously it depends on your monitor/phone etc.
Thanks @kelvin. I'll keep an eye out for the new pictures. It's funny though, the flare max looks darker in the singletrack video than the rocket in the other singletrack video too. Trick of the light I guess.
Paint is the same. Exactly. But, yeah, all depends on the light.
I have found that the new bikes generally climb at least as well, if not a little better than the older bikes. That's mainly because, having more room means (using me at 6ft 3in as an example) I can run my saddle a bit further forward and get a steeper effective seat angle, and I'm sat more in the middle of the bike, so I don't tip off the back as easily. The longer wheelbase is simply a matter of getting used to getting the timing right on tighter turns, but because I'm balanced better on the bike I tend to find it easier to ride at very, very slow pace without wobbling off so I can get around the corners OK.
Regarding the two bikes, the Rocket climbs great for an enduro bike, but the FlareMAX is definitely the better of the two, especially on technical climbs. The longer back end of the 29er, combined with the bigger wheels and shorter travel (so less bodyweight induced movements) does mean it scrabbles up quite silly steep gradients.
On the colours - yes, the cyan is the exact same colour on both bikes. We're doing a bit of grading on the photos to even them out this week.
That rainbow on the seatube of the silver rocket, can it be peeled off? (Serious question)
The CMY stripes? No, sorry.
Oi!!! Who's recreated my beautiful image out of Lego???
Good response from Cy there. Shame he even needed to make an appearance though.
Any news on the Solaris Max?
I don't own a Cotic.
Never ridden as bad one though and I've never, ever heard a bad word about anyone involved with them.
An enthusiast led, honest British company that seems to make some of the best bikes in the world.
Bastards.
I like 853 btw, but it's not blind worship.
I like the way that Cotic explain what they do and why they do it, free from bullshit. It certainly does them no harm.
How close is the FlareMax/RocketMax blue to the ‘pure Process blue’ that the early Soul275’s came in? Just trying to get a handle on whereabouts it is?
Any news on the Solaris Max?
About 6 weeks.
How close is the FlareMax/RocketMax blue to the ‘pure Process blue’ that the early Soul275’s came in? Just trying to get a handle on whereabouts it is?
Same colour. Pure Process Cyan. Lighting and the fact that these have different coloured detail highlights makes them look a little different, but it's the same colour.
PS - Early Soul275 were matte finish, this is gloss, which is probably where your uncertainty comes in.
Rocket max ( Longshot edition!) about a year away Cy?