RACH’S COTIC FLAREMAX G5 £7,199
(customised Platinum build) Our staff writer has mixed feelings about her year with the FlareMAX, but it always made her smile
The year has flown by, and with it, so has my time on the Cotic. Seeking a bike that could conquer climbs with ease, handle technical descents and be a joy for long days in the saddle, I opted for a ‘downcountry’ build with a 120mm fork and 125mm of rear-wheel travel. Adorned with top-notch components, the FlareMAX was undeniably eyecatching, and I eagerly anticipated putting it through its paces.
Cotic’s ‘Longshot’ geometry gives the bike a playful feel on flowing descents with intermittent technical challenges. However, the limited fork travel proved to be a drawback on steeper and rougher terrain, making the bike brutal on the arms and, to be honest, a little terrifying at times. In hindsight, opting for the ‘Trail’ build, with 140mm up front, would have been a wiser choice. Especially as, for a downcountry bike, the FlareMAX’s pedalling efficiency didn’t blow me away. With superior climbing options available, it would have made more sense for me to prioritise enjoyment on the descents.
The UK brand offer a personalised buying experience, and were helpful in terms of discussing build choices and offering advice. The bike was well-specced, but I still made some tweaks during the year, for comfort and confidence. These included swapping the saddle, the tyres and the grips, which lacked durability.
Although my rides on the FlareMAX were consistently enjoyable, and peppered with occasional adrenaline-pumping moments, a notable inconvenience soon surfaced – the lack of a suitable bottle cage mount. Using the bosses under the down tube proved impractical – particularly on winter rides, where my bottle soon got covered in mud – and my quest to find a cage that would fit between the top tube and shock on my bike was unsuccessful. Eventually, I embraced full bikepacking mode with a fork-mounted cage.
These niggles aside, I have fond memories of cruising down flowy singletrack and popping off rocks on this delightful British bike. It’s just not quite aligned with my preferred style of riding.