Felt Bicycles: 2016 and Beyond
Plus mountain bikes lead the fleet in the coming year
New road, mountain, gravel and urban bikes
In mid July, I was alone on a chair lift at the Deer Valley resort in Utah. A new 2016 Scott Genius Plus trail bike was coming up with me. I had been off the plane for less than a couple hours and was just about to test a bike that I initially dismissed as an industry make-work project. I was wrong.
As I clipped in at nearly 2,900 m and rolled away from the lift, a grin spread across my face. The bike brought the same sensation as driving a classic ’80s Toyota 4Runner, but outfitted with oversize tires. The 3" tire width on the mountain bike gives you the ability to take on more challenging obstacles. This rig is for the rider who wants to have the most fun, try new challenging lines and finish a trail without a list of regretful excuses. I am not saying there isn’t a need for other bikes and wheel sizes. But when you feel the increased traction, stability and confidence, the future is clear for the plus bike. After I finished that first loop mixed with alpine meadows, winding singletrack and exposed shale ledges, I thought it might be time for a new bike designed around this new tire size. The hardest part will be picking just one.
“When you feel the increased traction, stability and confidence, the future is clear for the plus bike.”
For Scott’s debut in the plus category, it has committed to eight models across three platforms, which include, Scale Plus (trail hardtail, $2,100–$3,200), Genius Plus (dualsuspension trail bike, $4,900–$9,700) and the Genius LT Plus (long travel for enduro/all-mountain, $5,200–$9,700).
While in Utah, I also checked out other bikes with knobby tires by Scott. The company’s engineers and designers have been busy improving on existing mountain bike models with suspension upgrades throughout from Fox, new under-bar Twinloc levers for 1X setups and significant weight reductions on alloy Scale frames making them the lightest in their price point ($1,250–$2,600).
Cyclocross racers will be drool over the new Addict CX ($4,500–$7,800), which sees a lighter, stiffer and more comfortable frame than before, updated with disc brakes and thru axles front and rear. The new Addict Gravel Disc bike uses a marginally heavier version of the ’cross frame in hmf carbon and a slightly beefed up fork. Both bikes have 27.2-mm diameter seatposts for maximum compliance.
On the road side, the Scott Solace ($3,000–$9,800) is sure to be one of the most practical, safe and predictable road bikes on the market. Disc brakes and thru axles are now standard throughout all Solace endurance bike models. But with a sub-1,000-g frame, the Solace is also a formidable weapon on the race course. When the comfortable riding position offered by the frame is combined with 28c tires on the wheels, this bike is perfect for riding hours on end with little concern if the fresh asphalt runs out.
For a bike that is a little edgier, there’s the newest incarnation of the Foil ($3,800–$9,700). This aero road bike has been redesigned to be 86 per cent more compliant, lighter by 70 g and 13 per cent stiffer than the previous version. It’s one of the most intimidating, yet elegant looking bikes I have seen. If you are a rider who does mostly three-hour rides, takes turns at the front of the pack a little more than you should and is rarely the last guy up or down the hill, this just might be the ideal bike.