I recently purchased the Scott Scale 29er at Oswald Cycle Works. Starting out it is important to note that I tested many other bikes from other manufactures and several variations of a good thing, the 29 inch wheel, even a 29er unicycle.
What I was looking for in a bike was a component group that offered the most of this years trickle down effect while remaining durable and that won’t hurt my wallet too bad in the case of part replacement. I wanted to avoid carbon on any part of the bike because of the areas that I ride in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania (tight trails and a lot of rock gardens).
Also, I wanted something that came with the new Reba SL Dual Air shock. Really, at this level I felt that the decision between Fox and Rock Shox was based on whom you want to thumb your nose at. Cost really didn’t play a factor here as I found similarly equipped bikes with a Fox forks at the same price.
On the flats:
The locked out fork and hard tail offer you maximum efficiency and the 29er wheels make each pedal stroke feel worth it. The Shimano Deore cockpit makes shifting easy with the 2 way release levers, no matter what strange position I found my hands in I was always able to make that critical shift when necessary. Though, I did find that I personally had to set my shifters in rather far to accommodate my wider hands and freakishly long thumbs. On the flats the bike responds well in tight cornering, even while pedaling through corners. The front wheel tracks where you put it and the rear wheel complies, providing strong forward and side to side traction. The Frame remains stiff and there is little movement when sprinting. Over obstacles the bike does well, the bottom bracket is high enough that it can handle obstacles of a foot in height with little effort, much higher and you will need some effort and skill. The larger wheels make log rolls and rock gardens seem like nothing. The Scale floats over tight rock gardens and is fairly nimble in rock gardens that are more spread out. Ramped up and down log rolls do feel strange and require some caution and change in technique, as you have a considerable higher center of gravity on a 29er.
Up hill this bike seems to pedal its self. Either that or I was so dehydrated when riding in the 90+ degree heat this week that it simply felt that way. But honestly, this bike flies up the hills, from paved road, to logging road, to steep rocky hill the front of the Scale stays on the ground and the rear wheel digs in. The frame complies with each pedal stroke and you simply move forward. While the larger wheels help with bumps and obstacles, if some quick twitchy maneuvers become necessary on an up hill climb you might be out of luck. Tight and sudden responsiveness is noticeable reduce when compared to a comparable 26er on steep technical climbs. However, I also found this reduction with other comparable 29ers.
Going down?
This is a cross country/marathon hard tail. While the Reba SL Dual Air remains obedient and works hard on rocky down hills the rear tends to be a bit jumpy, at times feeling like it is getting away from you. This can be helped with a strong core and training, but in reality this bike isn’t meant for long fast rock garden descents. In fast tight down hills the bike is much more responsive that while climbing similar terrain. The front tracks well, and the rear is very compliant. The Scale tends to respond to a change in body position or body pressure quickly, making for a fun fast time. The Elixir 5 hydraulic disc brakes help in forcing the bike into tight spots. The motion control technology that Rock Shox has included in the Reba really helps brake dive and other issues associated with the user.
Things to be prepared when buying this bike (in my opinion)
The first thing is that you will not want to stop riding, so remind yourself that there is a tomorrow. Second, the tires, Schwalbe Racing Ralph, are highly susceptible to side wall blow outs. If you ride in rocky or stick filled areas, use caution and plan on replacing them. Within five long rides on this bike I have blown out one and I am suspect that the other is going to make me go for a long walk this weekend. The last thing is that you will need to remind yourself that this is a cross-country/marathon bike, especially if you currently ride full suspension or all mountain bikes. As with any bike of this kind, you are sacrificing some ruggedness for a light and fast bike. On that note, the warranty that Scott provides with this frame is for 5 years, but it is conditional on the fact that you do regular maintenance and not abuse the bike otherwise it can be reduced to three years.
Conclusion
This is a bike that respects the rider. It will respond to you. If you buy it you will love it. Some people buy bikes and feel the need to upgrade components soon after, with this bike you will feel like you got you moneys worth. The only thing you will want to change is the saddle (because we are all different) and the tires (depending on where you ride). The fork is full adjustable to your liking from 100mm travel to 80mm, adjustable lockout flood gate, and rigidness.
Out of the eight bikes I tested, which fit my criteria, I bought this one (for whatever that’s worth!)
Specifications at: http://www.scottusa.com/us_en/product/8280/45570/scale_29er
Ride Safe, Ride hard, Ride often
Ride for fun!
Later,
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