Cotic describes this sixth-generation Escapade as a ‘progressive gravel bike’ with large tyre clearances and a plethora of mounting points; this steel, hand-built in the UK masterpiece is an incredibly versatile and capable machine.
Cotic Escapade frameset – Technical details
Cotic says that this Gen 6 version of the Escapade almost carries over nothing from the previous model, and it’s certainly changed a huge amount since I reviewed the third-generation model back in 2019. The biggest change is the frame’s material. In the past, the Escapade has always been produced from chromoly steel tubing, hand-built in Taiwan, but this latest version uses a custom-drawn Reynolds 853 front triangle with Columbus chainstays and custom-made T45 seatstays.
Yes, there has been an 853 Escapade before, but that was a limited-edition model; like that one, this Escapade is hand-built in the UK by Five Land Bikes, to be precise. This one also has a brand new Cotic fork, which is made from heat-treated chromoly.
The build quality is finished to a very high standard indeed, with some neat welding throughout and finished in a high-quality paint job. I’m a big fan of this Copper Orange, but there is a range of colour options available as part of Cotic’s à la carte custom paint offerings.
The frame has plenty of small details, like a strengthening gusset welded below the down tube, and the wishbone seatstays certainly give the Escapade an individual look. Cotic has stuck with a 27.2mm diameter seatpost, giving you access to loads of off-the-shelf options, and the frame has routing for a dropper post. The rear dropouts are 3D printed and UDH compatible, and the frame has mounting points all over. Plus, you’ll find external cable and hose routing, which I think is perfect on this style of bike. The cable mounts are 3D printed and removable should you want to run an electronic groupset.
Speaking of those mounting points, there are five bolts on the down tube, offering loads of bottle cage placement adjustability to work around an internal frame pack. There’s also a couple on the seat tube, and there’s a couple more on top of the top tube.
There are also separate mudguard and rack mounts on both the frame and the fork, plus the fork legs also have three mounts each. Tyre clearance is large at 50mm for the frame and a whopping 55mm at the fork on 700c wheels.
Cotic has also revised the geometry, which it calls Sureshot, and it’s designed as a proportional fit idea. All frames are designed around a 70mm stem length and are described as ‘long and low’ on their website.
There are five sizes on offer, and I’ve been riding the medium model, which I am right on the upper edge in terms of my height. I bridge the gap between the medium and the large but prefer the more compact position that going for a smaller frame offers me. I found this bike to fit me absolutely spot on.
The medium has a 580mm effective top tube length, which sounds long compared to other brands’ mediums, but you have to take into account that shorter stem length. The head tube is 125mm. Again, that’s short, but it’s paired with a 430mm long fork, which also gives you the option to run a suspension fork with 40mm of travel. The offset measures 44mm.
Stack and reach measure 595mm and 410mm, with angles of 70 degrees at the head tube and 74 degrees for the seat tube. Other details include a 1,074mm wheelbase with 435mm chainstays and a bottom bracket drop of 75mm. The frame is designed to accept a 68mm BSA threaded bottom bracket.
Cotic Escapade frameset – Performance
Cotic says that while the Escapade may have drop bars, it’s an off-road bike, not a road bike, so the handling has been designed for the former. As a result, it has a very relaxed ride style where that lengthy wheelbase keeps it feeling composed regardless of the terrain, and the whole bike has this easy-going nature about it.
It’s one of those bikes that you can lose yourself on, covering big mileage in total comfort. Yes, it’s got large tyres fitted, which are always going to boost comfort, but that suppleness of the Reynolds 853 tubing comes through in the ride.
The 70mm stem quickens the steering up a touch, which stops the geometry from making the Escapade feel ponderous. It has enough manoeuvrability in the handling that it still feels fun bombing down some twisty singletrack, and the bike, on the whole, carries a responsive nature.
It’s the ideal bike for those long gravel adventures, bikepacking or touring, but doesn’t pigeonhole itself as such. It’s not designed as a gravel racer, but it still feels on the nippy side, and through the frameset’s feedback, it gives great involvement from a rider/bike point of view.
At speed, the Escapade feels planted, and on the long, fast descents on my gravel test route I felt comfortable staying off the brake and letting the Cotic just go. The tyres were soaking up the bumps, and even at over 40mph the Escapade felt stable and surefooted.
Loading the bike up with some frame bags and kit doesn’t overtly affect the handling either. It still felt really composed.
While aimed at the off-road market, I used the Escapade on the road a few times and found that it worked well here too. With some wide, slick rubber fitted, it felt efficient, and with the right gearing fitted, it would make for an ideal all-road, mixed-surface touring machine, or even a commuter giving plenty of route choices. So there’s a real hint of versatility to it. That said, a minor touch of flex around the bottom bracket robs the bike of a little bit of overall efficiency.
Overall, the Escapade is a fun bike to ride. In fact, it reminds me a lot of my Fairlight Secan in the way it feels, which is high praise indeed, but with a less racy character. The fundamental points are there, though, as in, high levels of comfort from a quality frame material and a bike that just flatters you, whatever your skill level.
At around 10kg, it’s not a heavy bike when you consider the build – I’d actually say it rides lighter than it is – and that helps it in terms of climbing and acceleration.
Cotic Escapade Frameset – Verdict
Cotic offers a range of builds for the Escapade frameset ranging from Bronze to Platinum, with a UK Works option being the icing on the cake. The Bronze build is a 1x Shimano GRX 610 mechanical groupset, with a Cotic finishing kit for £3,249. The Silver options (1x and 2x builds are available) ramp the groupset up to GRX820, and you get a set of Hope’s RX24 wheels for £3,899/£3,949. Gold ups that to £4,499 (1x)/£4,799 (2x) for GRX Di2, while Platinum switches to SRAM Force AXS XPLR and a host of Hope finishing kit, including a carbon seatpost and carbon wheels for £5,699.
The UK Works has a real mix of top-end kit, including Hope RX4+ SL brakes and RX rotors, and a Hope carbon crankset. GRX Di2 takes care of the shifting alongside a Ratio rear mech, and the majority of the finishing kit is Hope. This’ll cost you £6,094.
Cotic is happy to point out that custom builds are an option, whether that be configuring those builds above on its website or using some of your existing parts in the build, like a set of wheels or a favourite saddle. You’ll just need to get in touch before committing the cash.
If you enjoy creating your own build, then you can opt for a frameset option which starts at £1,999. It includes a seatpost clamp, but you’ll need to add in the cost of a headset, with prices of £105 for Cotic’s own offering. You can also spec one from Hope or Enduro Bearings. You can spec a bottom bracket too, and as with the headset, the prices include installation.
Against the opposition, the Escapade stacks up rather well. For example, Mason’s Exposure is a similar-style machine to the Escapade with an Italian-built frame using custom-specced Dedaccia steel tubing. It has clearance for 50mm tyres on 700c wheels, or 55mm on 650b, and has mounting points for full guards and loads of other bits and bobs on both the frame and the carbon fibre fork. A frameset is priced at £2,150. It is a little racier than the Cotic, so the ISO 2 would be another option, albeit a slightly more rugged solution than the Escapade. An ISO 2 frameset is £1,750. We reviewed the original ISO here.
I mentioned the Fairlight Secan earlier, but a closer option to the Cotic is the Faran 3.0, which has much larger tyre clearances of 53mm, has a full array of mounting points, and includes a steel fork too. Instead of using Reynolds 853, though, it’s built with Reynolds 725 DZB tubing, which sits a level below, and this is reflected in the price. A frameset starts at just £999, or £1,034 with a FSA headset added.
Curtis Bikes, based in Somerset, offers the G.O.A.T., which is made to order. I was very impressed indeed when I reviewed it, thanks to it being a very capable machine. It’s created from a blend of Reynolds 853 for the main triangle and Columbus tubes for the chain and seatstays. Curtis not only uses proportional tubing wall thicknesses for different sizes, but it also takes into account the rider’s build and weight too. This creates a very bespoke build, and a frame only will cost you £2,395.
I’ve been very impressed with previous iterations of the Escapade, and this new model has only improved on that. The blend of tubing used creates a stunning ride quality while the geometry works in all kinds of conditions and scenarios. All in all though, it’s just a very well thought out and designed bike finished to a high standard.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Cotic say, “The Escapade isn’t about watts or wind tunnels. It’s about that precious time when you’re moving through changing landscapes, feeling the rhythm shift beneath your wheels as the world opens up around you. It’s about harnessing that signature Cotic steel feel to leave you fresh after hours in the saddle, ready to go again tomorrow. A Gravel Ride bike, not a Gravel Race bike, and so much better for it.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Custom blended tubeset with Reynolds 853 front triangle, custom drawn head tube, Columbus chainstays, and custom-made T45 seatstays. Strong, supple, long-lasting, beautiful.
Frame is made in Britain for us by Five Land Bikes.
3D-printed dropouts incorporate the latest UDH/Full Mount compatibility, thru-axle, FM160 brake, and integrated rack/fender bosses.
Brand new, all-steel Cotic fork, with 1 1/8″ steerer. Gorgeous ride feel, slim lines, tough and long-lasting.
Custom Cotic x Works Component flush-fit 1 1/8″ headset to match the fork, because details matter and this complements the new fork beautifully.
40mm suspension fork compatible geometry.
Completely new, proportional fit Cotic Sureshot geometry. Designed around 70mm stems and slacker head angles, the geometry is more stable, fluid, and confident off-road, whilst the shorter stem dials in the agility.
700×50 tyre compatibility.
Custom 3D printed removable cable management for clean lines when running wireless transmissions.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
It’s in the right ballpark for a bike built from this material, especially considering it’s hand-built in the UK and painted here too.
List the components used to build up the bike:
The frameset option includes the frame, fork, and seatpost clamp. A headset and bottom bracket can be added at the point of purchase.
Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it?:
Cotic says, “Some bikes are made for roads. Some for trails. The Escapade was made for the in-between; for the lane that dissolves into gravel, the gravel that fades into dirt, and that becomes wherever you feel like going next.”
Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options:
This is the cheapest option, buying it as a frameset only, but there are various off-the-shelf builds on offer as mentioned in the main review body.
Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork:
Finished to a very high standard, and the frameset is available in a range of colour options.
Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork:
The frame uses a mixture of Reynolds 853 and Columbus tubing, while the fork is made from chromoly steel.
Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork:
The geometry is described as long and low by Cotic, with a longer top tube length and shorter head tube than many bikes of this size. The frame is paired with a tall fork and short stem, though, which brings everything back into something more familiar.
How was the bike in terms of stack and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?:
Those slightly different tube lengths mentioned above push the stack and reach figures to be a little different from the norm, but as I said, the component choices mean that your overall position is fairly typical.
Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality:
The Cotic is very comfortable to ride, thanks to the design of the tubing and the ability to run large volume tyres.
Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?:
There are decent levels of stiffness throughout the frame and fork. There is a hint of flex around the bottom bracket if I really pushed hard on the pedals, but as this isn’t a performance frame, I wouldn’t consider that a criticism.
Was there any toe overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?:
No.
How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive?:
Neutral.
Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?:
The handling is composed and on the neutral side. The shorter stem brings just enough speed into play that the Cotic can still be fun in the bends.
Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s performance? Would you recommend any changes?:
On this demo build, I was really impressed with the Hope brakes and rotors, which allowed for very late braking and plenty of control in the corners.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Use this box to explain your overall score
The Escapade is a bike that has been well designed for the intended job, and has also been built and finished to a high standard. This is then all backed up by a great ride quality.
About the tester
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