SCOT T FOIL 10
£5949 Aero bike with hydraulic discs and internal cabling
When Scott released the secondgeneration Foil in 2015, it looked to tilt the balance more toward comfort without compromising efficiency. It’s this redesign that still forms the heart of the latest Foil, with changes to the frameset made purely to accommodate the addition of hydraulic disc brakes and internal cable routing.
In many ways this is still a bike that performs admirably on a variety of terrain. Those looking for the latest, most optimised aero race bike in the world might feel short-changed, but riders wanting a comfortable all-rounder that doesn’t sacrifice efficiency will feel right at home.
Scott doesn’t claim the Foil is the fastest bike in the world, instead saying that it’s sculpted to minimise aerodynamic drag without adding weight. That chimes with the Foil’s looks; the kammtail tube shapes are aero optimised but they aren’t the deepest in the game. The slender, dropped seatstays also promise plenty of compliance. It’s not markedly lighter on the scales, though, weighing 8.075kg for a size 58cm/ XL: 100 grams or so has a negligible effect on your riding speed, so it’s a moot point. Stack and reach is slightly higher and shorter than some in this category, at 588.5mm and 400mm, respectively. The 73-degree seat-tube angle is typical; a slightly steeper 73.3degree head-tube angle keeps the front end feeling agile. The Syncros Creston iC SL integrated handlebar uses a kinked design that allows for gentler cable routing, which is important for mechanical gear cables. Scott also confirmed that dealers can swap the stock size for a different stem length/handlebar width combination at no extra cost.
Those impressions play out on the road too, where the Foil feels sprightly and efficient without
ever blowing your mind in terms of raw speed. The front end feels accurate and pedalling stiffness is excellent, but it has a smoother character than other more aggressively shaped aero bikes. It should come as no surprise to racing fans that a Paris-Roubaix-winning frameset offers plenty of comfort.
In a further nod to this, Scott has specced 28mm tyres for 2021. It’s an unusual choice for an aero bike, but the 50mm-deep Syncros rims have an external width of almost 30mm at their widest, so aero performance isn’t overly affected. Their 21mm internal width also gives the tyres a more rounded profile with plenty of sidewall support. Officially the Foil can take tyres up to 30mm wide, but there’s space for more.
This helps you glide over rough roads, but the combination doesn’t feel quite as rapid on good roads as the more aggressive wheel and tyre combos found on bikes such as the SystemSix. Part of this can be attributed to the Schwalbe One TLE tyres, which are middling in terms of rolling resistance. Swapping to something faster would close the performance gap considerably.
SRAM’s Force eTap AXS groupset offers reliable and accurate shifting with heaps of gear range. Front shifts are marginally slower than Shimano’s Ultegra Di2, and cross-chaining is noisier. The lever ergonomics are great and the brakes have plenty of power and control.
The Foil’s slender proportions will appeal to those who feel the most focused aero bikes can look ungainly, but they also make it easier to live with. The seatpost and handlebar diameters are, for example, small enough that they don’t overly restrict the use of standard accessories. There’s likely some small trade-off in aerodynamic efficiency, but the convenience is welcome. While the Scott Foil doesn’t match the most aggressive aero bikes for pure speed on perfect tarmac, what you give up there you gain in other areas. This is most notable on broken surfaces, where the Foil performs at its best. The larger tyres clearly help here, and given many dedicated aero bikes now have clearance for wider rubber, the Foil stands out less than it used to, and remains a competent all-rounder. Its blend of relatively normal looks, aero-optimised features and comfort will make it the right match for some.
The front end feels accurate and pedalling stiffness is excellent and it has a smooth character