Cotic Soul 26

[Joe_Rides]

With most of my riding being commuting, or utilitarian (shopping etc), I'm very keen to spend more time on a MTB this year.

I've been running an NS Surge for the last few years (26er, cromo frame etc) but it was quite small for me, and, ultimately, I wanted something different. Something bigger, in a better colour, better tubing etc.

So started looking for either a Cotic Soul, Sanderson Life, Genesis Altitude, Pipedreams, Stantons etc etc.

Came up with this on Ebay which looked well cared for, same owner since new, right size, right colour, and more servicable parts (hope headset, hubs etc).

Pics from the ad:







It arrived earlier this week, so I rushed home from work, unboxed it, and built it up immediately.

Pic at home:



I've not had chance to ride it properly yet, or set it up to suit me.

Plans are:

- Run a dropper post (I have one on my other bike) and swap the seat to my favoured Charge spoon.

- Will probably switch to 1 x 10 soon. Cassette and chain are fairly new, so I would just be removing the front mech, and changing to a narrow wide chainring (36t most likely).

- Probably think about tyres at some-point

- Possibly stem length, and bar width / rise to be messed with. Initial ride, it felt quite short and that's with the layback post!

More to follow on initial ride out (hopefully this weekend).

Cheers,

Joe

 

[Joe_Rides]

Ps. I love a 'wishbone' back end on a frame. Ever since my Orange P7 a few years ago ('99 model) which was a super nice, springy ride. Another reason I wanted one of these, so I am very excited to get on the trails.

 

[madjh]

Quite nice frame and overall bicycle. Some tocuhes and will look and ride amazing.

I have tried a dropper post and have one in a bicycle but ... for XC I don´t use too much. It depends on what the terrain is but the geo of my bicycle is enought to go down with normal seat post. You have to go with one with external cable routing.

 

[Joe_Rides]

Quite nice frame and overall bicycle. Some touches and will look and ride amazing.

I have tried a dropper post and have one in a bicycle but ... for XC I don´t use too much. It depends on what the terrain is but the geo of my bicycle is enough to go down with normal seat post. You have to go with one with external cable routing.

Cheers!

Yes, I am going to de-clutter it a little - removing the stickers from the wheels etc.

I'll use this for general MTB rides, but also trail centres and general "fun" stuff - so a dropper really will get used a lot (I have another MTB which I run "static" for more XC stuff ) I don't mind running external cable routing, it does clutter the bike a little, but when I remove the front mech and shifter, I can use the surplus cable stops for that, so it could be worse.

Not ridden it properly yet, I hurt my back last week so can only ride very gently at the moment.

 

[Joe_Rides]

First ride of this today. Feels great. Just some minor adjustments to the controls (rotate to suit my grip) and a little tweak of the back brake required.

Only a short 6 mile local route after work .









Joe

 

[slackboy]

I love a cotic. An orange soul got me back into riding in 2014. Still wish I hadn't sold it, although I have been through 3 more cotics since then.

Currently got a cascade and my partner has a tiny xs bfe.

 

[Joe_Rides]

There's currently an orange Bfe on FB marketplace for £300...........just saying!!!

Edit. Here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/18e3VexSfh/

 

[slackboy]

Luckily I've deleted my Facebook account

 

[Joe_Rides]

I'm really enjoying this bike. Giving it some beans down a field earlier, got a feel for the handling. It just feels really light, but planted and controlled in jumping. Always hard to convey in words, but I think it's great, probably the best handling frame I've had to be honest.





Joe