The rider’s ride

Scott Addict 20 Disc, £3,249, scott-sports.com

I spent quite some time considering which bike would actually get me up Mauna Kea. It had to be very light, sufficiently stiff, and capable of running wide tyres for the gravel sector. The Scott Addict, newly equipped with disc brakes, came to mind for several reasons.

Firstly, it’s well regarded as a lightweight climber, being one of the very first frames to dip below the 1kg mark on its release in 2007. Even with disc brakes the frame and fork add up to just 1,050g. I was grateful for a thru-axle option, too, as this removed the demoralising disc rub that can occur with a less rigid quick-release alternative.while the disc groupset adds weight, the wider clearance afforded by the removal of the rim brake bridge means the bike easily fits 28mm tyres.

The Addict juggles stiffness and comfort well, and I was relieved that there was little or no flex at the rear. The wheelset wasn’t the lightest but was reliable on the gravel. For true feathery performance on tarmac I’d look at a higher-end Syncros carbon offering.

To shed weight and increase traction on gravel, I opted for Challenge Strada Bianca Open Tubular tyres. They performed well on the lesser gravel, though in retrospect I might have opted for something wider.

One final alteration was a tweaking of the gearing. The Addict comes with a mid-compact 52-36 chainset, which is my ideal ratio for regular riding, but here I went for a full compact – and thank goodness I did.

After 92km of climbing, I felt oddly close to the Addict Disc, and was very glad to have it on my side.