For a decade, the name Scott was synonymous with the lightest production road bike frames. The Team Issue took first place as the lightest aluminium frame, and in 2003 the CR1 took the top spot: the carbon model was the first production frame to break the one-kilogram barrier and triggered a second wave of innovation in bicycle frame design with its innovative tube-to-tube construction. In 2007, the Swiss went one better: The Addict weighed significantly less than 900 grams and remained the benchmark in the competition for the lightest series-produced carbon frame until the current model year. Scott is now breaking with this tradition. Instead of tweaking the last gram, the engineers have designed their new top model as an aerodynamically optimised road frame, for which they also promise the technical properties of the successful Addict.
Individual design language
You will look in vain for round tubes on the Foil - as well as the slender tubes with a teardrop-shaped cross-section that are typical of time trial bikes. The tubes on the Scott that are most exposed to the wind have a slightly curved profile on the side facing away from the wind. The seat post also follows this shape. The head tube is thicker at the top and bottom than in the centre, while the top and down tubes nestle behind it with slightly smaller cross-sections. The down tube widens towards the bottom bracket and utilises the entire width of the housing offered by Shimano's press-fit bearings. The Scott proved to be a reliable and very fast companion in all situations over the 900 kilometres and 19,500 vertical metres of the TOUR-Transalp. Uphill, it was more the level of training that set the limits than the bike weight of less than seven kilos; downhill, however, the racers gave the TOUR team the feeling of rolling faster than many other Transalp riders; this was certainly due in large part to the Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels.
Fast as an arrow, tough as nails
Experience has shown that aerodynamically optimised frames and wheels are susceptible to crosswinds, which can cause turbulence in the chassis. The Scott test bikes took such attacks in their stride, thanks to the high lateral stiffness of the frame and fork. The drawback of this design is that the Foil offers hardly any comfort on either the fork or the saddle. The lab test confirms the riding impressions. Compared to the Addict model, which is no longer being built, the bottom bracket in particular is significantly stiffer, while the comfort values drop sharply. With an adjusted weight of 954 grams, the frame remains well below the one-kilogram mark. The matt black paintwork of the top Premium model with silver-grey decor proved to be an unexpected challenge when cleaning. Despite plenty of water and washing-up liquid, some dirt stubbornly resisted removal. And: the preventive sealing with hard wax caused slight shadows on the surface.
ConclusionScott has created a fascinating riding machine with the new Foil - light, stiff and with the promise of an aerodynamic advantage. The riding experience will gladly believe this promise - we will test whether it stands up to reality in the wind tunnel at the next opportunity.
Price 9,500 euros
Weight 6.7 kilos
Reference/Info www.scott-sports.com
Frame sizes** XXS (47), XS (49) S (52), M (54), L (56), XL (58), XXL (61)
Seat/steering angle 74°/73,5°
Seat/top tube/head tube 510/560/165 mm plus 7 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 995/46 mm
Stack/Reach/STR*** 570/400 mm/1.42
EQUIPMENT
Fork Scott Foil HMX NET Carbon
Steering bearing Ritchey WCS top 1 1/8, bottom 1 1/4 inch
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (50/34T, Pressfit)
Impellers Zipp 404 Firecrest Carbon (clincher tyre)
Tyres Continental GP4000S
Handlebar/stem Ritchey WCS Locic Curve/Ritchey 4-Axis Matrix Carbon
Saddle/post Fizik Arione CX/Ritchey Foil Aero WCS Carbon
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Weight of complete wheel 6.7 kilos (without pedals)
Frame/fork/steering bearing weight 920/375/60 g
Standardised weight frame set**** 1.328 g - 1 , 7
Steering head stiffness 91 Nm/° - 1 , 7
Lateral stiffness fork 48 N/mm - 2 , 0
Bottom bracket stiffness 64 N/mm - 1 , 0
Comfort frame 344 N/mm - 3 , 0
Comfort fork 113 N/mm - 5 , 0
* Further individual grades are included in the grade, which we do not print for reasons of space. The grades are calculated up to the final grade with all decimal places; however, for the sake of clarity, we show all grades with rounded decimal places.
** Tested frame size in bold.
*** Stack/reach: projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the headset; STR (stack to reach): Values between 1.45 and 1.55 indicate a sporty riding position, values below are race-like, above are comfortable.
**** Adjusted weight for frame size 57 cm and fork steerer length 225 mm.
