01/10/2019 - Steel is real 2019

Steel is Real 2019

the best yet - here's why...

Steel is real 2019

Last weekend was one of our busiest demos of the year, the Steel is Real Demo Day at the Forest of Dean. After the previous year's challenging weather we were very glad the rain held off, and so were the 50 stoked demo customers we had through the day! Lot of happy riders, with comments like “that's the best bike I've ridden in 30 years!”. A lovely surprise was winning the award for Best Brand, as voted for by the members of the Steel is Real Facebook group. Big thanks to all who voted for us, it really means a lot. We managed a quick spin in the dying light at the end of the day too, which was the icing on the cake. The event had a great atmosphere, with some cool brands doing some great looking bikes, and room for everyone. It's an odd one for us, being pretty much the biggest companies and demo fleets at a show.

Steel is real 2019

As with last year, we made a weekend of it and held a Cotic CC ride on the Sunday with local legend Paul from FoDMTB. After raining all night, the sun came out for a nice fresh morning, and 12 smiling Cotic owners congregated at Pedalabikeaway. Paul the guide assured us we would be leaving the trail centre immediately for 3 hours of classic FoD singletrack. With the rain overnight, conditions were slippery to say the least, with plenty of polished roots to catch us out. We rode over to 'Dowies' trails which are some of my favourite in the UK. Fast, flowy woodland singletrack littered with well shaped berms and fun stump kickers. Not steep trails, but very little pedalling required for a lot of speed.

The highlight for me was the last trail of the ride, a steep and loose run built for a mini enduro race, which featured a vertical roll in off a fire road, and some tight, off-camber sections. Everyone nailed it though, and we rolled back to the cafe mud spattered and grinning, for a delicious local Wild Boar burger. Big thanks again to Paul who ran a nice relaxed ride on trails selected for the groups ability, including some great challenges. If you are looking to experience what riding in the Forest of Dean is all about, and want to get beyond the trail centre, give FoDMTB a shout.

Plans are afoot for another Cotic CC ride, in the Lake District over the weekend of the Kendal Mountain Festival. Keep an eye on the mailing list and social media channels for the latest.

In other exciting news, this week the main shipment of brand new BFes arrived at Cotic HQ. We are now fully stocked on all colours and sizes, including the new XL size. Place your order this weekend and you could have your new frame or bike in time for next weekend's ride! It's the most fun hardtail we make, and just begs to be thrown down the trails with wreckless abandon. Turns out it's also more than capable of some serious mile munching too. My brother did the Sandstone Way on his earlier this year, 120 mostly off road miles over 3 days through Northumberland. And if that isn't proof enough, this guy is currently tackling the Tour Divide on his Bfe:


Order the new BFe here…