Mark Cavendish arguably made his name on a Scott Addict as a serial Grand Tour stage winner for High Road/HTC. The frame developed along with him, from being just a featherweight all-rounder to one that could withstand the Manx Missile’s acceleration.
After a brief hiatus, the Addict has returned as a foil to Scott’s own Foil (its top wind-cheating machine), excelling at being the Swiss company’s anti-gravity bike of choice and a great option for those not going the aero route.
Highs: Supple but rapid ride, with great handling
Lows: Some flex from the front end, and the wheels aren’t as fast as some
Buy if: You like a classy, rewarding and efficient bike
Undeniably cut from racer’s cloth, the 890g frame has a short head tube, allowing for the most extreme positions, and organic, flowing lines, from the subtly curving fork to the top and down tubes that flatten before joining the round seat tube. A wide BB86 Press-Fit bottom bracket, slim triangular seatstays and mildly asymmetric chunky chainstays finish off the understated frame.
Scott’s own component brand, Syncros, supplies all the parts, from wheels to bar, stem, seatpost and saddle, and it’s a competent package, the seatpost and saddle particularly drawing praise for comfort. The front-end combination of short head tube, a single 20mm spacer and the Syncros bar and stem permit some lateral flex when you’re pulling on the bar, but it’s not excessive.
The ride is positive and firm yet forgiving too, with a suppleness that’ll look after you through long events over rough roads. It also gives the Addict great road holding, with the tyres better able to follow contours than some ultra-rigid bikes that are prone to skip across them. Its nimble nature makes light work of twisty country lanes, and there’s always an extra kick there when needed, so it still proves a handy sprinter in signpost sprint contests. The frame isn’t as stiff as some (Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX 7.0, for instance) and takes more effort to create speed, but the root cause of the Addict’s minor reluctance is the wheelset.
The RP1.5 wheels are made by DT Swiss and are fairly conventional, with straight-pull bladed spokes, 18/24 holes and an asymmetric 22mm-deep rear rim. They are quite responsive, hold speed well, and are a step up from entry-level hoops, but just lack some zing when called upon. The Continental Grand Sport Race tyres grip superbly even in mixed conditions, and the package would get you through races, but there are faster options out there that will really unlock the Addict’s potential.
If you’re looking to go racing, and appreciate a bike with a light touch, the Addict will repay your dexterity with engaging handling and speed on tap, but with a wheel upgrade it’ll be faster still.
