PERFORMANCE
Scott Addict RC 10
£5,949 Classic road racer reinvented for the modern era
Weight 7.9kg (L) Frameset carbon Gears SRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed, 48/35, 10-33 Brakes Hydraulic disc Wheelset Syncros Capital 1.0 35 Disc Finishing kit Schwalbe One 700×28 tyres, carbon bar, alloy stem, Duncan 1.0 Aero seatpost, Belcarra Regular 2.0 saddle
The Good
Pedalling stiffness yet comfort; power meter
The Bad
Mid-range tyres; low tyre clearance
Cable-free
● The hydraulic hoses are routed internally through the Syncros Creston 1.0 carbon handlebar, for a neatlooking front end
Slim pickings
● The frameset can officially take tyres up to 700x28c on 21mm internal width rims and you’ll struggle to fit much wider sizes
Feel the force
● The SRAM Force AXS power meter uses the same internals as Quarq’s excellent DFour DUB power meter
THE ADDICT RC is the Swiss brand’s all-round road racer, which aims to balance low weight with aerodynamic efficiency. Scott claims the frame and fork weigh just 1.21kg. This latest model, with its smaller gears and bigger tyres, is less brash than Addicts of old. Stamp on the pedals, though, and it’s obvious there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet.
Its carbon chassis features truncated aerofoil tube shapes, dropped seatstays and integrated cable routing, and the 73-degree head angle is classic road-race bike, as is the 73.3-degree seat angle. The frame’s cable-routing system is designed to work with mechanical, wired and wireless electronic groupsets.
The build on this model isn’t flashy, but almost everything puts in a solid performance. It boasts SRAM’s wireless Force eTap AXS groupset, which brings the performance of SRAM’s flagship Red eTap AXS groupset down to a more attainable price point, with little compromise. You’ll also get a SRAM Force AXS power meter, which adds a lot of value to the bike. The Syncros Capital 1.0 35 Disc wheelset is solid ifalittleunspectacular,andweighs1,574g.
The hooked, tubeless-ready carbon rims are 35mm deep with a 21mm internal width, suiting those who value predictable handling over outright speed.
Real-world practicality
A cleverly integrated but still adjustable Syncros cockpit strikes a great balance between performance and practicality. You can swap the stem for a different length without disconnecting any cables. Split headset spacers mean you can adjust the handlebar stack height without cutting the steerer tube or disconnecting any cables, if you don’t mind running round spacers above the stem. You’ll eventually need to cut the steerer down to size to use the rear stem cap, but at least you can trial different bar heights.
Because the hydraulic hoses are routed inside the bar, swapping it will mean disconnecting those. But the bar is available in widths of 380-440mm, and
the dealer may be able to swap it to your preferred width when you buy it.
The only low point of the build is the Schwalbe One TLE 28c tyres, the maximum width the frameset can officially accommodate. While they feel reasonably supple and grippy on the road, data shows they have around 50 per cent more rolling resistance than the best road tyres, such as Schwalbe’s Pro One TLEs.
Peak performance
In total, this RC 10 build weighs a reasonable 7.9kg, and I’d contend today’s Addict is likely the fastest yet. Its handling is sharp, with a long, low position that gives it a nimble and responsive feel. At the same time, it’s impressively compliant and predictable; on rough roads it’s refined enough to keep the ride smooth, and the Duncan 1.0 Aero seatpost adds a good amount of compliance to the rear end. As with the venerable Cervélo R5, this makes for a bike that instils great confidence to push your limits, both up and downhill.
Peak performance is no longer simply about having the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio and, while this is far from the lightest Addict ever, this latest iteration offers a delightful combination of a smooth ride with excellent handling, and a responsive feel when you turn on the taps.
Verdict
Scott’s latest Addict is a top all-round road racer that will encourage you to push harder