Pro bike check | Kate Courtney’s new Scott Contessa Scale RC

By Nick Clark

Published: Tuesday, 20 December 2022 at 12:00 am

The new Contessa Scale RC is intended to take Kate Courtney to further success in 2023, with Scott saying developments learnt from its race team have been incorporated into its design.

American cross-country racer Courtney is a top contender in the UCI Elite Cross-Country Olympic.

Courtney’s racing career stems from a young age, when she became the first American woman to win a UCI World Cup in the junior category. In 2017, she won four U23 World Cups to take the overall victory. A year later, she won the UCI Elite MTB World Championships, before taking the overall title in 2019.

The 2022 season saw her collect a top-10 finish in the Brazil round of the UCI MTB World Cup, as well as winning the Puerto Rico Mountain Bike Cup.

Courtney rides for the Scott-SRAM team, which also features Nino Schurter and Lars Forster. 

While having the option of riding the full-suspension Scott Spark RC for gnarlier courses, she’s had good results on the Scale RC’s predecessor, choosing it for courses where outright pedal efficiency is key.

A closer look at the tech

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The new Scale RC frame has more aggressive styling than its predecessor.
Susan Theis / Scott

Courtney’s Contessa Scale RC is constructed using Scott’s highest-modulus carbon, HMX SL, and features a 100mm RockShox SID SL Ultimate fork with a Race Day damper. Scott’s TwinLoc remote enables the fork to be locked out completely.

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The Syncros Fraser features integrated cable routing.
Susan Theis / Scott

The bike features Syncros’ Fraser SL WC integrated bar and stem, with Courtney choosing a width of 680mm and a stem length of 90mm.

Courtney uses a Garmin Edge 530 to track her data, with a power meter in the crankset providing power output.

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SRAM’s XX1 Eagle AXS is the brand’s flagship groupset.
Susan Theis / Scott

Being sponsored by SRAM, the bike features the brand’s XX1 Eagle AXS groupset and Level Ultimate brakes. Courtney rides a 34-tooth chainring on the front, with a range from 10-50t on the rear.

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The RockShox Reverb uses the same batteries as the SRAM XX1 AXS groupset.
Susan Theis / Scott

Dropper posts have found good application in the world of cross-country – time made on descending is just as valuable as that made on the climbs. Courtney uses a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post with 100mm of travel. It also features titanium bolts for added weight savings.

Syncros’ Silverton SL2 29in wheels feature a wider rim size of 30mm and are visually striking, with a full-carbon construction from hub to rim.

Tyres are provided by Maxxis, with Courtney having access to the brand’s full range. In this case, the bike sits on a pair of Aspens

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Topeak supplies the bottle cage.
Susan Theis / Scott

The livery for Courtney’s Scale RC features her name and a rainbow flag on the top tube to signify her previous World Cup success, while a two-tone paint scheme divides the bike into glittery iridescent purple and matt black.

Kate Courtney’s Scott Contessa Scale RC full spec details

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It certainly looks fast…
Susan Theis / Scott
  • Frame: Scott Scale RC Carbon HMX SL Custom
  • Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate / RLC3 100mm Blackbox Race Day damper
  • Remote: Scott TwinLoc Suspension System 3 ride modes
  • Handlebar: Syncros Fraser IC SL WC -20° / 90mm / 680mm
  • Seatpost: RockShox Reverb AXS 100mm, titanium bolts
  • Saddle: Syncros Tofino V-Concept SL Cut Out
  • Grip: Syncros Pro Clip-on grip
  • Pedals: HT Components M2T
  • Rear derailleur: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS/ 12-speed
  • Shifter: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS
  • Crankset: SRAM XX1 Eagle DUB power meter, 170mm/ 34t chainring
  • Chain: SRAM XX1 Eagle chain
  • Cassette: SRAM XG-1299 Eagle/ 10-50t
  • Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate
  • Wheels: Syncros Silverton SL2-30mm, 29in
  • Tyres: MAXXIS Aspen 29×2.40WT 170TPI EXO/TR