Cotic Roadrat Drop Bar

Cotic first launched the Roadrat a couple of years back as a flat bar'd bike and pretty much ever since they've been threatening a drop bar version, so now here it is.

Drop bars or not the Roadrat's sloping top tube and compact geometry shows its mountain bike heritage, it comes from the same stable as the splendid Soul, and gives you a lot of goolie clearance (stand over height) which is great if you have a track standing 'moment' at traffic lights or junctions.

Built using fairly thin diameter double butted cro-moly tubing the Roadrat's frame is both light yet durable. Building an urban crusader in steel prevents dinks caused by general town life i.e. people carelessly pranging your bike with their bike lock or pedals etc – don't get me started.

It's a good looking bike too, attracting a lot of admirers when exercised around town, the graphics are very understated and the skinny tubes make it look sharp and business like.

The Roadrat has all the characteristics that a good steel frame should; the springy nature of the material makes it feel lively and responsive and mated to the Road Hog, a robust looking straight legged steel fork, has excellent tracking without being too twitchy.

Our test bike came with £90 worth of Bontrager carbon uprades: Race X lite drop bar and seat post. For the added comfort that these components offer I'd say that's £90 well spent. The combination of those carbon bits with the springy steel frame and 25c tyres make this bike noticeably comfortable even on short rides, allowing you to stay in the saddle and get on with it.

Not only is the Roadrat comfortable its adaptability is incredible too – something the drop bars can only add to. Our bike came with the Tektro cable disc upgrade which worked very well and is in keeping with its uncluttered look. The brakes bedded in quickly and didn't have an aggressive bite but were able to lock up either wheel without too much force on the brake levers. It's a shame that the forks don't have fully detachable canti mounts like there is on the back as to my mind this is a little unsightly.

In keeping with its adaptable nature the Roadrat has so much tyre clearance that you can run 700 x 42c or 26 x 1.8 tires to help iron out rough ground or for further protection against punctures and you can still run mudguards! Rack mounts are fitted for those who go on epic adventures which I think this bike would be perfect for.

Cotic Roadrat gallery

So does the drop bar version have any advantage over the standard flat bar offering? Drops do give a wider option of positions and tend to put you in a more aggressive riding position which encourages you to push harder. I am a fan of riser bars but this bike rode well with drops and didn't feel like a mountain bike with road bars - that's got to be down to Cy at Cotic shortening the top tube. If you didn't like the hunched up riding of drop bars then swapping them for flat bars with the short top tube would give a very safe and upright riding position. Or, another 10mm on the stem to slow down the steering for more sedate/nervous riders. Or maybe you just get the flat bar version in the first place.

If you like riding on drops this is the Roadrat for you, even more so if you want it as the ultimate do anything machine. If drops aren't your thing or you just want a full-on urban tool the standard issue Roadrat with riser bars is your best bet.

Verdict

This is possibly the ultimate do it all bike. With the component package supplied, it make a nimble, low maintenance urban bike. Although it runs very well as a single speed I do feel that it isn't getting the full potential from the frame but it wouldn't take much to include gears. By swapping or adding a few components you can turn the Roadrat into a bike that is very competent at whatever it is used for, add panniers and you have something you could go touring on, put some skinny knobblies on it and race cyclo cross, it can do it all and do it well!