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@vthejk
Yes, I realise this is rapidly turning into an extended monologue about me and my bike. Yes, I am aware few people are probably interested. No, I don’t mind either way!
Should’ve just called it what it is - not as much a flat bar conversion project as an extended build. I’m mostly convinced that the Cotic suits drop bars, now. I’ve got the old Rockhopper as a flat bar hack and the wide and high drops on the Cotic are very comfy so far. Maybe in the future there are higher and wider bars, but for now it’s just fine.
I think this was always destined somewhat to be a dirt touring bike. With the rear rack and steel fork, there are infinite temptations to stick a permanent rando/saddle bag on and ride off over the bridleways. After playing around with it and clearing out some old bags, I finally decided to stick some worn old Carraduras on. They’re effectively the same mini-panniers that everyone from Porcelain rocket to Tailfin have been banging on about for the last decade, but with character. They’ll probably outlast me, ship of Theseus-style.
I mocked the bike up with a large Super C saddlebag and it looks right. Time will tell if that is too much weight on the back or not; for now, until I get some longer stays for my Nitto M18 (the bolt holes on the fork don’t quite reach) this will probably be it for load-carrying.
I whacked on a WizWo top tube bag from their recent sale and am ambivalent. I love the colour and it suits the patchwork-y nature of this build, but I’ve always kind of found top tube bags annoying, and the bolt holes are too far back, so there’s a gap. Stand by to see if it stays.
Other things: the Charge camo saddle is hilariously hard but also quite cool, the dropper post gets used like once every ride for 20s, the bar tape needs replacing (HMU if you have any cool cloth tape knocking around) and I need to dig out my battered old alu water bottle which will fill the frame a bit nicer. Until then - et voila.
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