Spittingcat

@valrock: Neither are as good as SLX brakes.

Is that 58° with a 2 deg headset in and 150mm travel forks sagged? With the same size wheels, or when run mullet?

Especially true here… because every Cotic bike is a custom spec… you can change everything and anything when you order one.

Mechanics all have names. They are human too.

@HurricaneCycles:

Dorado SC

@mikekazimer: they must be made with very different lasts… I sent the GoreTex versions back without riding, as the shape was awful (for me), where as the standard Trailcross Mid and these Freerider Mid I have are both very comfortable (but still clearly a different shape to each other). People should try all three before buying if they can. There is no “FiveTen Fit”, every model needs to be tried and judged on its own merit now. Frustrating for people who’ve previously found their fit, but means there is probably a boot for everyone willing to try them all on.

@chakaping: Some suggestions followed that comment... but they all take a scale well beyond one bike manufacturer. In fact, in my opinion, those developing and making the motor/battery systems need to step up and address these issues. If anyone has the scale in the bike industry, it's Shimano. None of the bike brands that contributed to this article have the scale to be extending the use of ebike batteries by repurposing them, but if Shimano offered a way of returning them, and them being redistributed for use in home or community storage paired to (intermittent) distributed renewable energy sources... it could make a huge difference.

Zee cage is a winner for that top tube bottle position. I’ve never lost a bottle. When going back to my hardtail, I’m always surprised how stupidly low down the bottle is mounted when grabbing a drink riding off road.

@chakaping: Fair point.