Scott Addict 30 Disc review

With more float than a reclining otter, Scott’s Addict 30 Disc adds another facet to the Addict model’s almost all-encompassing ability. To date there’s the Addict RC fast road bike, Addict CX and Addict Gravel, mainly with disc brakes, so where does the Addict 30 Disc fit in?

Scott says it’s not really designed for racers, but with endurance in mind, it sets its stall out with some impressively large tyres.

• Bike of the Year 2018
• Best bike: our buyer’s guide to which bicycle type you should buy in 2018

• The Scott Addict 30 Disc is one of our Bike of the Year bikes for 2018. To read reviews of the other contenders and the categories tested across road, mountain and women’s bikes, visit our Bike of the Year hub.

The lowest priced of the three Addict Disc models, this bike shares the same MF carbon frame and full carbon fork, but economises on components compared to its more costly stablemates.

Shimano’s 10-speed Tiagra drivetrain looks smart, with an obvious family resemblance to the groupsets above it, and here it’s mated to the RS405 hydraulic levers and disc calipers for greater performance than cable-operated discs.

Scott’s in-house components arm Syncros supplies the Race 24 Disc wheelset and all finishing kit, and the bike rolls on the road bike equivalent of balloon tyres.

The Alex-made rims are shallow at 24mm, but 26mm wide externally, providing good support for Schwalbe’s Durano E 32mm tyres. The constraints of rim brakes mean the non-disc Addict is limited to 28mm tyres, whereas the Addict 30 Disc’s Schwalbes use almost all of the frame and fork clearance available.

Scott Addict 30 Disc performance

The effect that large tyre volume has on performance is twofold. It allows for lower tyre pressures, and therefore greater comfort, grip and control, but the increased mass of rubber and rim does hurt acceleration. Even at 70–75psi the ride is incredibly smooth, no matter what the surface, and with the fat Schwalbes you could definitely go lower. 

Good tarmac feels like rolling on marshmallows across velvet, and potholed tarmac or rough gravel surfaces are tamed, with every large impact smoothed and damped before it reaches the rider.

It’s not all about the tyre size though, as the frameset is extremely stiff, especially around the wide bottom-bracket shell, chainstays and head tube. Every pedalling effort provokes an instant reaction, and the Addict 30 Disc feels very responsive. 

Because of the aforementioned rotational mass, I found myself spinning slightly smaller gears more of the time, rather than trying to heave around bigger ones. It just seemed to suit the bike’s characteristics better, and generated speed more efficiently. But once speed builds up, it’s not hard to maintain a good pace, the frame’s eager nature making relatively swift progress fun.

Scott Addict 30 Disc ride experience

Flat or gently rolling roads hold no fear for this bike, but longer, steeper hills are harder work, and I was glad of the 34 x 32 lowest gear on my longest local climb’s 17 percent grades. 

It’s a keen climber, but gravity beats mass in this instance. Descending is the Addict 30 Disc’s happy place though, with grip, great frame, tyre compliance and fine brakes to keep you feeling utterly relaxed and in total control, it makes you want to climb more just to come down again.

Part of the Addict 30 Disc’s descending prowess comes from the relaxed 72.5-degree head tube angle, ensuring those big tyres hold their course, and really increases stability. It feels reassuringly confident, but still nimble enough to flick around obstacles and tame technical corners.

My 54cm bike’s 74-degree seat tube angle is a little steeper than average, making it more surprising that the bike comes with a zero setback seatpost as standard, leaving me sitting slightly further forward than I’d prefer. It’s always worth trying before you buy and a good bike shop should be able to get you seated comfortably.

The only time I noticed the bike’s 9.29kg weight was on steep climbs, the rest of the time, its plush-feeling, engaging ride meant I could forgive it almost anything. 

Scott’s framesets are never cheap and the extra weight it carries due to its less expensive wheels and components slows progress at times, but maximising the tyre volume gives it a great USP and hugely increases its riding versatility.

Also consider…

Interested in what else is available at this price point? Have a look at the following list of tried, tested and reviewed bikes.

• Giant TCR Advanced 2
• Cannondale CAAD12 Ultegra
• Trek Domane SL 5
• Merida Reacto 5000
• Orbea Orca M32
• Ridley Fenix 3 Ultegra mix
• Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 7.0
• Specialized Roubaix
• Bianchi Sempre Pro

• BikeRadar would like to thank Life Cycle Adventures, Sanremo Bike Resort, MET Helmets, Le Col, Mercedes Benz and Brittany Ferries for their help and support during our Bike of the Year test.