Scott Speedster Gravel 20 Disc (2017): ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The double butted 6061 alloy frameset in the Scott Speedster Gravel 20 is designed around comfort over long distances, rather than power transfer and nimble handling. In many ways the Speedster Gravel 20Š—Ès relationship with a Cyclocross bicycle is very similar to the relationship between road race bicycles and endurance / sportive bicycles, they can do a bit of both with consistent performing capabilities. All along we have been seeing ScottŠ—Ès frame designs inclining towards light weight and efficient performance. But now with the Speedster Gravel 20, Scott is making its foray in India into the increasingly popular Gravel road cycling segment. This frame combined with the Speedster Carbon fork makes sure there is a solid mix of low weight, stiffness, power transfer and compliance.

A brand new bicycle segment and a one off a kind bicycle from Scott, the Speedster Gravel 20 comes with a great dual tone colour. The dark grey primary colour is well contrasted by the red colour on many parts of the bicycle. The top and bottom tube have a strong non tubular triangular frame, build to make sure there is material used only where there is a necessity and will brace the impact from the toughest of gravel tarmac surfaces. The matte finish colour scheme enhances the aesthetics of the Speedster Gravel 20 and makes it look like a bicycle which can do it all.

The Scott Speedster Gravel 20 Disc 2017 comes with a full Shimano Tiagra 4700 groupset at the front and rear derailleurs. Tiagra 4700 is the latest groupset from Shimano to get a makeover, and in doing so it has made Tiagra the best it's ever been. At the front and rear, the gears shift cleanly, smoothly and quietly. During the test ride I never missed a gear or felt the shifter being unresponsive when I needed to change gears quickly. It shifts well under load as well. Tiagra remains 10-speed and there is no lack of gear range during the test ride. The Tiagra 10 speed range offers enough top-end power for high-speed blasting, and similarly at the opposite end there are enough low gears to spin your way up steep climbs quite happily.

A road bicycle meant for challenging terrains also needs a equally supportive braking component. Scott have gone with the Shimano BR-RS305 Mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors to push them. Putting a mediocre component can give you dodgy experiences with mechanical road disc brakes, but this Shimano Mechanical disc brakes are very reliable. During the test ride, I found these brakes to perform as good as their hydraulic counterparts. The balance of both the front and back brakes when engaged together was excellent while riding in wet conditions.

The steering on the Speedster Gravel 20 is controlled by the Syncros GR2.0 Ergonomic outsweep road handlebar. Measuring 31.8mm in length this handlebar is designed for endurance and balance on the most challenging surfaces one could encounter. The hand position transfer from hoods to the drops was quick and the lightweight made sure the quick maneuvering was accurate and felt safe.

This Speedster 20 is a Gravel bicycle and the one main reason for it is its incredible tires. The Schwalbe G-One Performance 700x35C rolls fast, rides smooth and quiet on the tarmac, and has enough traction to tackle some pebble infused routes sans drama. It also makes for a great race tire if your course is hard packed and dry. The G-One uses a small circular nub tread profile thatŠ—Ès tightly spaced. There is no center line per se, but it rolls very well on the road and does not make much noise. The nubs get progressively, slightly taller as they reach the edges to enhance cornering grip off road.

Riding on hard surfaces means handling lot of jitters off the saddle. The Syncros FL2.5 saddle on the Speedster Gravel 20 handles this quite well. The FL2.0 saddle adopts an extra-long and waved shape and provides all the comfort one would need on a rough surface. The Glass fibre injected shell and CrMo alloy rails actually minimizes weight while the vinyl cover makes sure this saddle will last for a long time.