The CEO drama at Scott Sports

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by benb

That Foil pictured is so trying to be a Tri bike or something but then saying "just kidding I'm UCI legal". It's like it's taking things too far, yet it still looks good, whereas the Plasma is hideous.

I mean it doesn't look much different than most other aero race bikes to me.. not a bike I'd buy, but sure seems squarely in the bubble..

[Jcgill]

Originally Posted by dr.dre

I feel like, for the past 5 or 6 years, Scott has been stronger on the MTB side, than the road/gravel space. Their drop bar offering is fine, but just seem kinda meh, anonymous.

This is how i feel. The Scale and Spark are awesome. I have a 2018 Scale that i just cannot seem to let go of despite having a newer FS mtb in my quiver.

[the bottle ride]

I think they are the tip of the spear when it comes to technology- their mountain bikes are ground breaking, they have built some of the lightest road bikes and their house brand syncros makes amazing high end carbon wheels.

One thing I have admired about the brand is their focus on performance and high technology.

It’s definitely more of a euro brand.


It’s an amazing story-
Zaug is a visionary in the bike business. I am sad to hear him getting kicked to the curb.

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

is Scott even relevant as a brand anymore, it's been a long while since I have seen or heard anything from them.

I remember when I first started getting into cycling, I worked with a very strong amateur racer, and she was just over the moon with her new Addict.

[jimoots]

Originally Posted by benb

I was listening to some cycling podcast within the last week and there was some quip about the problem with cycling companies is they are run by enthusiasts instead of the right business people.

I think that kinda downplays some of the business acumen in the industry... and also ignores a point that ex-Wiggle CEO Dean Maskell made: the money in cycling is from people who love cycling, and they would be better off deploying their capital into a market following ETF.

E.g. the returns on their $$$ suck.

Of course, the counter factual is if the bike industry was dominated by business school M&A types the podcasters would be lamenting the state of the industry and how nobody involved cares about cycling.

End of the day its pretty easy to dish out a hot take about how things should be done from the cheap seats.

[jimoots]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

is Scott even relevant as a brand anymore, it's been a long while since I have seen or heard anything from them.

I remember when I first started getting into cycling, I worked with a very strong amateur racer, and she was just over the moon with her new Addict.

Yeah Scott are still very big in road, the Foil is very highly regarded for the last three generations. I think whether or not you see them depends on what your local dealer network is like. But definitely still relevant.

That said... and for better or worse... they just don't seem to generate the same fervour as Specialized or Cervelo, and they don't have the cult-of-thrift following that Giant has with the TCR.

[eippo1]

Originally Posted by dr.dre

I feel like, for the past 5 or 6 years, Scott has been stronger on the MTB side, than the road/gravel space. Their drop bar offering is fine, but just seem kinda meh, anonymous.

One note on this is that if you are interested in one of their integrated mtb setups and like working on your own bikes, search for Scott in bikewrench on Reddit. Integration on road is gravel is annoying enough but awful on mtbs.

[GParkes]

I had 3 Plasmas for TT work since 2008 and all excellent. My best riding buddy has had 2 Addicts since 2012 - the first has @40K miles on it, the second nowpiling up similarly. I just think there are no marketing $$ spent here in US like they do in Europe. Similar to Focus, but at least Scott has a dealer network here, albeit small.

[benb]

Originally Posted by jimoots

Yeah Scott are still very big in road, the Foil is very highly regarded for the last three generations. I think whether or not you see them depends on what your local dealer network is like. But definitely still relevant.

That said... and for better or worse... they just don't seem to generate the same fervour as Specialized or Cervelo, and they don't have the cult-of-thrift following that Giant has with the TCR.

I went and looked and it seems like the Foil is not a huge outlier but it's definitely on the end of things that looks more heavily influenced by TT bikes. The Cervelo is similar which makes sense, they were doing aero so long ago.

Specialized seems more conservative, as does Giant. Then there is the current Madone...

[EB]

Now the cops are involved:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/police...continues.html

[benb]

You couldn't ask for a better name on this guy.. straight out of the comics.

[callmeishmael]

Scott have maybe faded a bit in the last few years here in the UK but the Foil is still one of the more common race bikes. Tarmacs, of course, are ubiquitous, and the value conscious tend to gravitate towards Canyon and Giant, but you will see a Foil in most events and they're well regarded. I rode with a female pro triathlete last week who's just picked up a new Foil (admittedly at cost) as training bike. The new integrated rear light is a nice touch and non-intrusive, and the lines are largely unoffensive, though the rear triangle looks odd from behind. She seemed happy enough with it though she's not a huge equipment nerd in fairness.

I haven't seen an Addict in the wild for a long time, but then the lightweight/climbing specialist road bike is a dying breed anyway IMO.

The new Syncros Capital wheels are getting amazing reviews, but they're megabucks and hookless, so that's a no on both counts from me.

OT, but when did the majority of people start riding 10k bikes in races? I was at a mid (but not elite) level a few weeks back and you couldn't move for Dura Ace :-)

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by callmeishmael

OT, but when did the majority of people start riding 10k bikes in races? I was at a mid (but not elite) level a few weeks back and you couldn't move for Dura Ace :-)

I know I've made the argument before, but I think it got a lot easier when higher level credit was easier to get to buy a bike..

[nmrt]

Those comments on Pinkbike...

Originally Posted by EB

Now the cops are involved:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/police...continues.html