This week on Reader’s Rig, we scope out Koen Greven’s customized Cotic Escapade. Boasting a whopping five extra sets of bottle bosses added by a local framebuilder, as well as crimped chainstays to accommodate a larger rear tire, Koen’s rig is the definition of dialed. Read on for build details and some backstory…

Reader’s Rig is a weekly series in which we showcase interesting and beautiful bikes that catch our eye. Each Friday, we’ll select a bikepacking rig from our reader community to share on the site. To learn how to submit yours for possible inclusion, check out the form at the bottom of the page.

After spending the last five years living in the Netherlands, Koen Greven has recently returned to his native New Zealand, where he works as a graphic designer. Bikes have always been an important part of his life, and he says his interest in bikes borders on obsession.

Koen Greven, Cotic Escapade, Reader's Rig, Bikepacking

He bought this Cotic Escapade in 2015 while living in Amsterdam, and has since ridden it all over Europe on a variety of trips. It has slowly evolved with an assortment of tire, handlebar, and bag combinations, but is now happily settled in the form you see here. He had a local framebuilder, Lester Cycles, add triple cage bosses to the fork, as well as bosses on the downtube and seatstays. Lester also crimped the chainstays to squeeze in a larger rear tire. And in terms of his drivetrain, Koen likes to think of it as the anti-groupset, as none of the parts match.

The Cotic has earned its place in his stable back home in New Zealand as it can be packed for multi-day gravel trips while still being aggressive enough for unloaded singletrack rides.

  • Koen Greven, Cotic Escapade, Reader's Rig, Bikepacking
  • Koen Greven, Cotic Escapade, Reader's Rig, Bikepacking
  • Frame/Fork 2015 Cotic Escapade frame + fork
  • Front Wheel WTB i21 rim / Superstar Switch hub
  • Rear Wheel WTB i21 rim / Shimano XT hub
  • Tires Maxxis Icon 2.2 (front) / Terrene Elwood 47c (rear)
  • Handlebar 46cm Ritchey Venturemax
  • Crankset Shimano Sora triple
  • Cassette Shimano SLX 11-36 10-speed
  • Derailleur(s) Shimano CX70 (front) / Shimano Deore Shadow 9-speed
  • Brakes TRP Spyre
  • Shifter(s) Shimano 105 10-speed
  • Saddle Brooks Cambium C17
  • Front Bag(s) Large Swift/Ultraromance Fabio’s Chest, Wizardworks Snack bag XL
  • Rear Bag(s) Apidura with Minoura seat-mounted bottle cages as saddle bag stabilizer
  • Frame Bag(s) Mackworkshop

You can find Koen on Instagram @leukbikes or on his portfolio at KoenGreven.com.

Koen Greven, Cotic Escapade, Reader's Rig, Bikepacking

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