The lightweight Scott Addict, the Yates brothers’ bike of choice/sponsorship based obligation has received a complete overhaul. With its already minimalist weight further whittled down, Scott has also gone after improved stiffness (at a claimed 14.5% increase in key areas), along with greater compliance, better looks, and slippier aerodynamics.
However, most instantly noticeable is the total lack of visible cabling. Improving both the bike’s looks and smoothing airflow over it, it brings the Addict’s silhouette right up to date.
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Using a one-piece carbon fibre cockpit designed by Syncros, no cables are visible at any point until they emerge beside their respective calliper or derailleur.
To achieve this space has had to be found between the headtube and fork steerer. This is achieved via something dubbed an ‘eccentric bicycle fork shaft’.
According to Scott, ‘The core of this innovation is that the rotational axis at the upper headset bearing has an offset of 3mm towards the rotational axis at the lower headset bearing. This combination of a 3mm offset 1¼” fork steerer shaft inside a 1.5” top bearing provides enough space in front of the steerer to guide both shifting wires and hydraulic hoses internally.’
Available across the entire Addict range, unusually, it's a system that’s supposed to work just as well with mechanical shifting as electronic. Finishing of the streamlined look, the stem’s integrated magnetic top cap means no bolts are visible there either.
While news of this kind might be welcomed by those who obsess about their bike’s aesthetics, it’s often less popular with mechanics. However, on this occasion, Scott claims it’s designed this new cable routing specifically with mechanics in mind.
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Despite being billed as the brand’s mountain climber, the Addict’s tube profiles have had an aerodynamic makeover, pinching the design found on Scott’s Foil bicycle. Chasing the same aim, the Addict’s seat stays have also been dropped to reduce turbulence.
Available at various price points, the RC version will feature the sort of low and aggressive geometry favoured by both pro riders and flexible and fast amateurs.
Likey to see service underneath Adam Yates as he bids to win the upcoming Tour de France, further details of the top Scott Addict RC Pro model will be released closer to the start of the event.
