Cotic Sureshot Geometry: Handling First

The Cascade and Escapade have our Sureshot geometry. This takes all the principles that makes our Longshot mountain bike geometry so good and tailors it to drop bars. Long top tubes, short stems and slack head angles aren't just for mountain bikes. Wide and flared drop bars give you multiple hand positions for maximum comfort and stability all day, while 60-70mm stems keep the handling pin sharp for big grins.

Sureshot Geometry Explained

If your background is on the tarmac or older gravel bikes, "Trad" geometry - steep angles, short wheelbases, long stems - is what you know. It works perfectly on smooth roads, but take that blueprint onto rough tracks or loose descents, and the bike gets nervous, twitchy, and easily deflected.

When we designed the Cascade and the 6th Generation Escapade, we threw that old blueprint out, because it's not good enough. We built a Handling First geometry system for gravel bikes: Sureshot.

Here is how it works, and why the numbers shouldn't put you off.

The Fit Stays the Same, The Wheels Move

The core of Sureshot is that we didn't mess with your riding position. We took the proven, well-loved handlebar-to-pedals-to-saddle relationship from our earlier Escapades, locked it in place, and moved the wheels and angles around it to maximize stability and grip.

On the Escapade 6, this is why our sizes are still labelled with traditional road numbers like "54" and "56". The frame proportions are completely different, with a slacker head angle and a much longer front-centre, but it all adds up to a familiar bike fit you already understand. Your hands, feet and backside are exactly where you expect them to be. You get the exact same comfortable power delivery, just with a drastically better-handling chassis underneath you.

Stable, not Dull

Riders often look at a slacker head angle (around 69.5° - 70.5°) and a longer wheelbase, and assume the bike will feel sluggish to handle. Those attributes bring a stable, confidence inspiring feel to the bike. These are very good things when riding on rough surfaces. Sureshot is designed to sit planted on the trail, take more in it's stride so you can concentrate on the ride and not constantly managing your 'nagging' bike. It leaves you mentally fresher for longer, and allows you to tackle more technical terrain with confidence.

But doesn't it make the handling slow? No, and here is the mechanical reason why: The short stems.

By designing the bike specifically around a much shorter 60mm or 70mm stem, we dial the agility right back in. The steering stays pin-sharp and direct through the bars, but the longer wheelbase provides a massive increase in stability. You get absolute confidence on loose surfaces without sacrificing that lively, responsive feel. You can feel it through your hands the moment you jump on a Cotic gravel bike.

Planted on the Climbs

When the track points up and gets loose, traditional geometry can leave you fighting for traction or feeling the front wheel wander.

Sureshot fixes this at the back of the bike. We pair an efficient seat angle (74°) with correctly proportioned 435mm chainstays (Escapade) and 444mm (Cascade). The seat angle keeps your hips forward and your weight central over the bottom bracket, while the longer chainstays balance your weight in the middle of the bike and physically prevents the bike from looping out on steep pitches. You stay seated, keep your breathing steady, and just power to the top.

Built for the Real World

Sureshot geometry is what lets you fully tap into the signature ride feel of our custom-blended Reynolds 853 steel frames without ever fighting the handling. It’s a bike built to leave you fresh, confident, and ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Cy Turner, Founder and Bike Designer, Cotic Bikes