Archive: Cotic X (2009)

The Cotic >X< cyclocross frame in Bright Green

Discontinued, single generation. This page is kept as an archive record for owners and for anyone researching an older Cotic >X<.

Years of production: from 2009

The Cotic >X< was our steel cyclocross frameset, equally at home racing cross, commuting or mixing road and off-road riding.

It was zingy, responsive and durable in the way only the best steel frames are, built on the Cotic cornerstones of involving handling, huge tyre clearance and minimised weight. Add a forward thinking disc brake option and practical mudguard eyes, and it made the perfect winter partner-in-grime.

Finishes and sizes

Finishes: Orange and Bright Green (early frames); Super Gloss Black (later frames, powdercoat)
Sizes: 54, 56, 58

The frame

The >X< used Cotic's own FX tubeset: custom butted, heat-treated cromoly designed specifically for this frame, with an Ovalform top tube for handling accuracy, compliance and comfortable shouldering. The skinny wishbone seatstays came from the Roadrat, in a lighter gauge with plenty of tyre clearance, and the superlight cowled dropouts with replaceable mech hanger came from the Soul. Removable rim brake mounts gave a clean look when running the disc mounts on the frame and fork.

Frame details

Cotic designed heat-treated cromoly tubeset: high strength, low weight
Large diameter thinwall tubing with an Ovalform top tube for a responsive, supple ride
Ovalform top tube with no cable stops, for comfortable shouldering. Smaller diameter tubes than carbon or aluminium frames leave a very open front triangle for carrying the bike
Signature Cotic wishbone stay rear end, with bridgeless S-bend chainstays and Cotic Hexten gussets for improved fatigue life and massive mud clearance
Superlight CNC machined and pocketed dropouts with replaceable mech hanger
Disc brake mounts on frame and fork, plus removable rim brake mounts
Mudguard mounting eyes
Rear rack mounts on the wishbone (later frames)
Twin down tube bottle mounts: a 500ml bottle next to the head tube with a 750ml bottle behind it, or just a 500ml at the top, leaving plenty of room for shouldering
Confident geometry and handling with a semi-compact frame layout
Clearance for tyres up to 42c

Forks

Later frames came with Cotic's lighter tapered steel fork as standard, colour matched to the frame and available either with disc and removable rim brake bosses, or as a true disc only version. Full carbon forks were offered as an upgrade, not colour matched, again in disc plus rim brake or disc only versions. Earlier frames were shown with Cotic Components carbon forks with disc mounts and V-brake studs.

Builds

Complete bikes were offered in Weekday and Sunday builds, including a Sunday Disc version.

Geometry

The >X< has a sloping top tube, with actual seat tube lengths 4cm shorter than the frame size names. The names are a guide based on a regular road frame: if you normally ride a 58cm road frame, the 58 >X< is a good starting point. Reach and stack increase evenly between sizes, with no big jumps.

Frame Size	54	56	58
Seat Tube (centre-top)	50cm	52cm	54cm
Top Tube Length	53.6cm	54.8cm	56.1cm
Head Angle	71°	71°	71°
Seat Angle	73°	73°	73°
BB Drop	55mm	55mm	55mm
Head Tube Length	134mm	148mm	162mm
Reach	36.6cm	37.4cm	38.3cm
Stack	55.5cm	56.8cm	58.1cm
Fork Length (included fork)	395mm	395mm	395mm
Fork Offset (included fork)	38mm	38mm	38mm