Scott Addict Gravel 10 test: cross frame plus racing bike component group results in gravel bike? With the Scott Addict Gravel 10, this calculation works. The top gravel bike from the Swiss brand is fast and easy to handle, and as off-road capable as road riders could wish for.
As an innovative sports brand, Scott naturally focuses on the new trends in the bicycle industry. Gravel has held a central position in the portfolio for five years now, and the segment has now become so important that gravel bikes have replaced all but one cyclocross model in the range. That's a bit unfair of them, as they owe a lot to cross-country bikes: the frame set, for example, which comes from the Crosser and has remained largely unchanged in the program for years.
This already shows that the Scott gravel bike is designed to be extremely sporty. Comparing its geometry to the brand's road bikes shows that stack and reach sit pretty squarely between the Addict RC thoroughbred race machine and the Addict endurance road bike. And that makes you curious, because the Addict Gravel 10 is particularly suitable for racing cyclists who are looking for a bike that allows more freedom in choosing a route without making any major compromises in handling and seating position. Bike packers, on the other hand, may miss the threaded eyelets that they need for their accessories on tours. At Scott you will at most be happy with the aluminum model Speedster Gravel, which corresponds exactly to the endurance racer Addict in terms of seat geometry.
Sporty character of the Scott Addict Gravel 10
You can see the sporty character of the Gravel 10 at first glance. The top tube drops noticeably, which results in a strong post extension; the head tube is rather short and the stem is long. As I said, the frame is an old friend and has been on the market for years; It is also thanks to this circumstance that a classic saddle clamp is used - a simple but functionally optimal solution. The brake lines are of course internally routed, and there are no gear cables on the test bike with Sram Force AXS. The cranksets from all relevant suppliers fit into the wide press-fit bottom bracket housing, and the flat mount socket for the brakes has been standard on the Scott off-roader for years.
Noble and sporty is the completion of this Graveller. As already mentioned, Sram contributes the electronic force with 2×12 gears, and here you can already see a clear difference to many other gravel bikes: At 10-33, the cassette is rather narrow; In addition, however, there is the 46/33 crank, so that a one-to-one gear ratio is on board. Steep sections can be mastered with the Addict, and a gear ratio of 48-11, which is more than sufficiently long, is available for fast downhill passages on asphalt. Wheels, Flare handlebars and seat post, all made of carbon, come from Scott's own brand Syncros; Schwalbe adds 35 G-One Allround TLE.
Superelevation like on a racing bike
The Scott is far from an off-roader for difficult terrain, but rather close to a racing bike, and that is already evident on the first few meters of the test lap. The seating position is stretched and offers a good amount of elevation, and there are even two spacers under the stem; a few pedal strokes quickly bring the bike up to speed. The clearest difference to the Renner is the comparatively wide handlebars - 47 cm wide at the top, a whopping 53 cm wide at the bottom (each outside-outside). The upper link is angled slightly towards the driver, which proves to be very pleasant when driving in a relaxed manner. The tires, on the other hand, are hardly noticeable, as they roll extremely easily at just under 3 bar, even with standard inner tubes. The tubeless conversion is easily possible with the Syncros wheels; With an internal width of 23 mm, the 40 mm deep carbon rims are already perfectly designed for wide tires and rather low pressure.
When changing from the road to a solid forest path interspersed with jagged stones, two things become apparent: On the one hand, you can attest to the Scott's very high level of comfort, especially at the rear; the extended carbon post flexes visibly and noticeably, while the short saddle with its recess is extremely comfortable. On the other hand, the fine nubbed profile of the Schwalbe tires can cope with almost any surface. It offers reliable grip on natural paths of all types; Even hard-packed, sandy bridle paths won't let the rear tire spin. With lower tire pressure (= tubeless), the off-road performance of the G-One should improve even further.
The steering geometry of the Scott appears balanced and neutral. 104 cm wheelbase ensures smooth running; Even if the steering angle is flat at 71°, which is typical for Cross, the bike is pleasantly handy, both off-road and on the road. Especially on asphalt, the narrow gear ratio with one jumps from the 10 to the 17 sprocket is noticeable. Wherever you ride - with the Scott Addict Gravel 10 you never have the feeling of sitting on the wrong bike.
40 tires: possible, but not approved
Hardcore gravel fans occasionally accuse the Scott of not offering enough tire clearance; On the test bike, however, it was even possible to mount a 40 mm wide Schwalbe G-One without the chainstays becoming too narrow. If you want to try this (at your own risk), you could protect the inside of the struts with adhesive film to avoid scratches caused by dirt or small stones. In any case, this measure significantly increases the range of use of the Addict Gravel.
The Scott weighs almost 8,4 kilos plus pedals, which is quite little for a gravel bike, but has to be paid dearly at five and a half thousand euros. The carbon wheel set accounts for 1.400 euros of this; the endurance road bike Addict SE Disc with the same component group and aluminum wheels is already available for 3.999 euros. Ultimately, this comparison reveals the only criticism of the Swiss gravel bike: the semi-aero wheelset with the bulbous rims and the conspicuous conical hub at the front could definitely be dispensed with for combined gravel/road use. Perhaps the wheels are more of an indication that this bike actually requires two wheel sets - a light, aerodynamic one for the road and a solid model for off-road use. With the Addict you would have a gravel bike and racing bike in one - and that puts the high price into perspective again.