Aero Vs Climbing Bike - The REAL Difference Wind Tunnel Tested
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2023
- In the bike industry at the moment lines are being blurred between lightweight and climbing bikes. We build two bikes up identically, one aero and one climbing frameset to find out how they differ. Thanks Scott for supplying the frames and Aerocoach for having us at the wind tunnel.
Which one would you pick?
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Props for testing at speeds that are relevant for us mere mortals.
I still prefer the looks and feel of a lighter bike. I don't care if it's a few seconds slower.
The more hard data I hear about losing 2 watts here and there to save like 30 seconds on a ride, the more I just want to pick my bikes based on how cool they look.
Why not? And even if you are just marginally faster having the aggressive and direct feeling (or the oppositve, whatever you prefer) certainly contributes to the ride. :) Ah, as long as you are happy with the sporty position of an aero bike... ^^
The best bike is the one you like because it makes you ride more
It's crazy how much TOUR magazine is missing out for not being "online" enough and only publishing on the German market.
Kind of amazing that the two of you are the same size (or at least can ride the same configuration) and can swap bikes without needing to do any adjustments. I'm sure that makes it a lot easier!
The best, honest, Aero/Climbing bike Vid I have ever seen. Keeping all things equal except for the Frame is the way all comparison Vids should be done. Great job.
Bike tests in that weather - that’s dedication! Kudos Francis and Jimmie!1
I think the problem is the same problem the Addict had when the last gen Scott Foil RC was around in that the Addict isn't that "light" for a climbing bike and two the Addict with the Syncros cockpit and a good set of aero wheels is aero enough that most people confused it with a last gen Scott Foil RC, thus this why Scott for their current gen Scott Foil RC made it drastically different and also tried cutting the weight. The fact of the matter is that the Addict is pretty long in the tooth gen wise since it's in this odd spot. I have a 2022 Scott Foil RC that weighs 17.13lbs with pedals, cages, and mounts and a 2023 custom Specialized Aethos Fact 10r at 14.72lbs with pedals, cages, and mounts, so right there that is a better example of a true climbing bike versus aero bike not only due to the 2.41lbs difference but because the Aethos's round tubes and more compliance.
I think the Addict is an endurance bike, not really a climbing bike
@@mmurmurjohnson2368 Addict and Foil same geometry
@@mmurmurjohnson2368 Addict and Addict RC are different bikes (different geometries); Francis has the RC, categorised by Scott for lightweight climbing.
@mmurmurjohnson2368 Scott's naming convention doesn't help here. Most companies have a totally different name for different categories.
Likewise the Orbea Orca and Orca Aero - you would expect these to be much more similar than they are!
@@uranusjr got it 👍
I thought of buying a aero bike a while ago because I thought they were a lot quicker but this really makes me stay with my normal race bike.
The frame alone is a small detail. But the frame, plus the cockpit, plus your helmet, plus your skinsuit, plus the wheels, plus good tires, and so on. Adds up to a lot. So start with the biggest bang for the buck (tires, clothing, helmet, cockpit, wheels). Frame is last.
best video i've seen in a long time, very informative yet super entertaining
Great video and interesting insights. Here's my experience with both bikes.
I have an Addict RC 15 (Ultegra Di2 24 speed) and the same finishing spec on custom build Foil RC 2023 (using Ultimate RC frame). Both bikes with Ultegra C60 wheels.
I’ve had my Addict for a while and it’s been a great bike. This summer, I got curious and decided to build the Foil. I put the new bike through the paces and it blows my mind on every kind of ride (climbs, fondos, etc)
I am not a racer, nor a climber but I smashed through hundreds of PBs and segments in the last few months.
I find the Foil more comfortable, more agile and mostly feeling safer on the pothole-ridden South East England roads. It looks like a tank but it does everything with ease.
I was very happy to be in Team Addict but the Foil converted me to the other side.
My favorite bike channel by far. Great content and better personalities!
Great video, happy new year xx
Great video you guys!! THIS is what we want!!
Another well informed video. Good job both of you
Very good video and comes at the right time for me as im in the market for a new bike. These 2 are in the mix for consideration with 2 others, so having this info has certainly helped.
Amazing video!!!! Loved it!
thank you for a good video Happy New Year👍
2:00 you are a bit wrong Jimmy. Foil isn't light, Addict is super heavy for a climbing bike.
So true. Similar bikes from other brands are around 500g lighter
Loved this video - it was an excellent and comprehensive comparison. I should choose the Addict, but I would choose the Foil.
Great video to start the new year off. Both look like awesome bikes, my head says get the Addict, but my heart says the Foil.
Important to note the Scott prices are dropping across the board for 2024. By quite a bit. Scott Dealer here 🫡
I’d wager that they’re still not gonna be priced reasonably enough.
@@KILLTHEREDDITOR is any bike?
@@dylanhi3171 it’s not exclusive to us, it’s any Scott dealer. You’ll start to see it across the 2024 bikes once they start to arrive.
Wish that my scott dealer wasn't the biggest bicycle chain where i live 🫠
When Jimmy said, "all bikes are the same" he's probably not too far from the truth in tue grand scheme of things haha.
Then he talks about "how often do you sprint?" This says alot about stiff frames, not necessarily important in majority of riders out there who don't race at all.
Really interesting vid, thanks for braving the weather:)
I live in the Colombian Andes at almost 3000 metres. The thing everyone forgets is that the air (especially oxygen, which is heavier than nitrogen) is very thin in the mountains, so there is less air resistance, less aero penal and therefore ...less aero advantage to an aero bike/position/set-up. Even on flat roads you go faster here by sitting up straight because getting oxygen in the lungs is the big challenge, not pushing through the air which offers less resistance here. So how you should ride in HILLS is not the same as how you should ride in MOUNTAINS, two things many Europeans confuse.
thats the exact thing everyone mentions when talking about training at altitude... I've never met anyone who "forgot" that the air is thin in the mountains... o.O
@@greg_one_izm "I've never met anyone who forgot that the air is thin" Well, there are all the people who have bought aero bikes - the bike shops in Bogota, Cuzco and Quito are full of them, so are the roads. Also, all the people who adopt an aero position on their bike, even though it is slower here because the there is not enough aero penalty. In fact, I would say well over 95% do not realise the consequences for cyclists of the air being thin.
@@renatab8293 on the contrary, just because the air is thin, doesn't mean there is 0 benefit from an aero position... Maybe some people feel more comfortable tucked than not, maybe they're simply fit and flexible enough that there is no downside to sitting in an aero position for them.. Maybe they feel more stable in the drops than on the hoods so it just appears they're trying to be aero when in actual fact they're just doing what they enjoy/like.. There's more to a bike than just pure efficiency, sometimes we wanna ride a lambo and feel cool for a while lol
@@greg_one_izm You are just making things up. You have never ridden at altitude, and never given it a moment's thought. More stable on the drops!!!
@@renatab8293 And you are assuming you know exactly what every other rider is out there doing... I didn't comment to argue about life experiences I just found the use of the expression "the thing that people always forget" in the context you used it to be pointless, if you wanna share a fact or something you learned you don't have to do so at the expense of others or by claiming to be the sole keeper of knowledge on such a topic
Thanks lads 👍. What a great experience yew🤙
Loved this episode ‼️
Enjoyed the video and research details. Thank you
Great video, Cade Media 👏
All the very best to you and your families for 2024 🍻
I'm a long time viewer of the channel but this is the first time I've listened to the podcast, while I was fettling and cleaning my kids bikes! I enjoyed it! (The podcast, not so much fettling the bikes). This country could benefit enormously from some nationwide education for drivers.
Whenever you go out to test a bike the weather is always terrible. I appreciate the consistency. The weather in this video was even worse than usual.
We'd get 2 videos a year if they waited for good weather in the north of England.
Awesome review! Thanks
As a sucker for aesthetics, I'd take the FOIL.
But as a literal sucker on climbs, I'll take the ADDICT... or a motorbike.
well, well, an abominable eBike will give you ALL three in one: aesthetics, climber, and motor cycle!
Great video guys
Fantastic! Greetings from Bauru-SP-Brazil!!!!
Addict is more comfy looks like, great vid guys and yeah great idea to make this vid.
Loved this, stunning bikes.
Excellent job!
I wish you had an old rim brake, externally routed addict from a while back just as a comparison. Geometry hasn’t changed much if at all.
Thanks for making this video.
Owner of Addict RC 2020 and first gen Foil.
Ride Foil more than the Addict.
Interesting to find the diff between the new models are only 2.7W at 30kmh. Will keep both the bikes for few more years
The difference should be greater without water bottles hence why Scott advertised something like 6 watts over the old Foil. I wish they would test with bottle(s) as Cade did.
Super interesting, and fun! Great entertainment, thank you!
This great content. I eliminates the guess work between Aero bike vs. Climbing bike with real Data ! Good Bike Content Channel.
This is one of my fave vids you've made. Really interesting and you both really enjoyed it too.
Francis, you're spot on about the looks of yoir bike; I have a 2023 Trek Emonda SL6 Pro (black and red) and every time I see it I want to ride it. Last ride was October (I use my gravel bike for wet weather).
I'm genuinely surprised at how little the difference is across the whole spectrum really (weight, wattage losses), but secretly(?!) pleased. I bought a Giant TCR based on weight, as I knew they were light as standard. Living here in the Lake District, weight is a big factor for the steeper hills (especially for something like the Fred Whitton). However, it's still compliant and comfortable enough to use as an endurance bike as I demonstrated on my challenge back in June when I did 1142 miles in 8 days. I'm fully intending to use it on a (not flat) 24 hour endurance ride this year too. I'd been considering aero bikes but this has concreted my beliefs (based on zero facts) that I would be wasting a lot of money buying one, when an endurance bike is so similarly matched.
TCR all the way.
I live in the incredibly flat Netherlands and I still chose a TCR over a Propel because the Propel was much more expensive, but has the same geometry. Those like what, 3, maybe 5 Watts at mere mortal speeds are not worth spending hundreds of euros on a different frame and/or wheelset.
Defy doesn't have the aggressive geometry which I wanted, plus it was priced identically, making the TCR a no-brainer.
Especially considering its price compared to other brands.
I still have to find out how the TCR does on super long rides, but I could always take my gravelbike and slap on some slicks...
@@thetinusnl8834 trust me, on long rides it's great!
Great video out in the worst riding weather testing bikes !!
such a great video, azing
I don't aspire to great speed, but I do want to cover a lot of ground and stay on the bike a long time. Comfort is king. Both of these are outside my scope though. Just fun to watch.
3:51 - as far as I remember everything (besides the bottles I guess) must be screwed - that is why there's a screw option in bike computers mounts.
Great video lads ! I think it was perfect that your tests were done at 150w on the road and 30kmh in the wind tunnel. It is the power/speed an average road cyclist would ride at. There is plenty of data out there for these bikes at 45kmh but that speed only applies to pros. A normal person would only reach that speed going downhill or sprint to the town sign.......never as an average.
So bottom line is, for a normal, recreational rider, don't worry about the numbers, just buy the bike you like and the one that fits you best.
Pensez au vent de face ,si le vent est de 15km/h l’aérodynamique jouera son rôle,vous aurez un petit gain.
Have you had any issue with Etap overshifting the front derailleur when in gear 6/7/8?
Great video 👌👌
The Foil looks sick, but as a man in his 40s with a back that feels like it's in its 80s, I think I'd have to choose the Addict. I'm built for comfort not speed these days! 😂
Great video though, guys. Really interesting to see the real world and wind tunnel comparisons. 👌🏼
Ha ha, love you guys. Only question for me would have been, 'which bike was quickest to the pub'.
I've got a PX-EC130E and just got some Prime 55 carbon wheels and aero bars .. will be interested to see what the weight is and how it climbs 🤞
Well, I have the S-Works 2020 Venge aero road bike and it's jaw-droppingly light & fast. It's a rim brake version (last one ever made), and it weighs under 15 pounds, so around 6.7 kilos. So with this road bike, I have both a weight advantage, and an aero one. It's savage. My FTP isn't even that great but when I'm on this bike, I'm brash and peppy! I like it a lot.
This is great information fo someone who's bike is neither light or aero.
I'd go Addict, and save money too. If it were the same price though I might go foil as 300 grams isn't enough of difference and I would probably prefer to cut through wind drag a little more efficiently at the cost of some comfort.
It sounds like the sprinting performance might be a reason to go with the race bike for racing -- if the frame can handle 1500W or whatever without losing some watts to flex, that might really matter for final race results.
Exactly. My aero bike goes faster when sprinting out of the saddle and also standing up on climbs. It may be a bit heavier but it goes quicker.
I liked it! Could you do the same thing comparing either of the bikes to a more relaxed/enduro geometry? Peace
I own both Scott Addict 2017 model (rim brakes, 36cm carbon aero bars, 50mm deep carbon wheels) and Scott Foil RC10 2023 (all stock except tyres and power meter). On my short local loop (40km rolling terrain), Addict average speed = 30.6km/hr, Foil = 32.8km/hr. Both rides were in similar weather conditions at 225-230W average power, 235-240W normalized power.
Same tires?
@@letmein218yeah both Conti GP5000, 25/25 on Addict 25/28 Foil. There could well be some other variables at play that I haven't thought of given the huge speed difference but still no denying that the new Foil is one quick bike!
@@brucekerr426sorry, need to be same size tyres. Otherwise variable too big.
@@Fatbutnotflat I get it, I'm not claiming a 100% scientific test between the two bikes. But there's no way putting 25/25 on the Foil (or 25/28 on the Addict if the 28mm would fit) would have evened out that whopping big time difference.
Underrated: 0:04 detailed positioning in that transition.
“Some people would have assumed the aero bike would be a lot heavier” - No, I’d have expected the “lightweight” bike to be significantly less than 8kg
Can you compare that with the addict endurance version ?
The Addict looks so much better in my opinion. Really good video, thanks a lot!
I live in Los Angeles. While much of the area in and around the city is flat, there are a vast number of steep roads. For now, I’m hanging onto my all mechanical 2017 Trek Emonda, which is well under 6.8 kilos, with pedals.
The major upgrades I’ve made are an aero set of wheels, TPU tubes, and a lighter chain.
I prefer the feel of my lightweight bike, even though I know a 17k or 18k bike with the latest tech won’t feel much - if at all - different when I’m pushing hard up a 15+% grade, and would only cost me a few seconds.
Great bike 👌 Which chain did you choose with which group set?
1:09 isn’t this the one you originally introduced as the ultimate? Your closeups even showed the ultimate badging.
So if the difference between the two bikes is marginal, and the the Foil being the fastest, would the Addict become faster on rough UK roads as its more compliant?
What are your thoughts on new Sram force? 😋
The foil is ok with sidewinds or not much in it?
lots of commenters are missing the point.. stuck on semantics of calling the addict a climbing bike, wanting to compare to rim brake, on and on. I should be shocked but I'm not. Good test guys . Super rare to have bikes setup with same stack height and components. 30kph is good solo riding pace , but I would expect 3.7w would more then double at 40+. Not everyone races and I can respect that, but 40+ is what interest me. I'm choosing the Foil
Please can you make a video about bikes for shorter people - I'm 5ft and find I don't get the choice between areo and climbing bikes it's just what fits best. Any tips welcome, I currently ride a canyon with 650b wheels which is great but limits my options for tyres and inner tubes.
2:42 Clamping the Scott foil by the top tube?
What about a bike with round tubes? Such a Ti bike?
Great video. I would pick the foil as looks so much faster even if difference ia marginal. Give you said about 30 seconds faster for an average rider would be interesting to see how many hours training the same average rider would require to save this 30 seconds, as if this is alot of training then the £600 could be more easily justified.
7:09 haha love me some harold and kumar!
I wish one of the Budget bikes was also in this comparison.
Ah finally! Thank you. I own both 😝
Going back and foward deciding on which to get, is it worth it to have one lightweight one aero bike for different occasions?
Well, I guess that depends on your budget and on your preference. I mean, if you really are such a road bike enthusiast, who spends a lot of time in the saddle and likes to switch things up from time to time (and if you have the money): then getting both can be a possibility. But as said: its gonna be pretty expensive, so I would think about it twice if there is really no other priority to spend your money.
lads. "because 30kph is the average speed of a rider". i'm lucky if i get half of that - I am fat, out of shape (although round is a shape), have loads of long term sports injuries and old.
You didn't discuss being blown around more on an aero frame. As a smaller and lighter rider it makes quite a bit of difference.
So apart from the financial implications it could be more about the mindset than the frame set.
You have to be in the zone to ride an Aero bike.
You know, that no crosswind zone 😂
@@LaurentiusTriarius also helps to be able to do more than 150 watts
This probably validates the approach that some manufacturers have taken (Pinarello, Colnago, Specialized etc), where they just focus on one bike the 'does it all', ie. An aero lightweight race bike.
I hear inklings of Scot bikes having a problem with out-of-round BB holes. Anybody have bottom bracket problems on a Scot?
The difference at 30kph is mind-blowingly small. Makes you wonder if the specialized strategy of one bike to rule them all is probably the right way to go, on averages
I have a Scott Addict but I want to change it to a foil but with this video I got to thinking.
Considering I have an endurance bike for my "nice" bike, and a gravel bike for my "it's nasty out there" bike, I must say I go for the more comfortable bike. I love the idea of owning an aero bike, but I also know they are not for me.
Addict for me, which is what I've got.🤩 but, it's the SE model, 2019 di2, love it. I think the Foil looks better, but at 69years old, when I got it, it made better sense. Still love it to bits, and I can step off it after a 100 mile ride, as opposed to having to be lifted off a Foil if I'd bought that model.😉
Addict SE is an endurance bike, id imagine you would be more comfortable than riding an Addict RC or Foil RC.
Exactly, which is the reason that I chose the SE. More relaxed geometry is ideal for my aging body.😉@@JayLato
I'd never be going fast enough to enjoy the gains so it's the comfy one for me.
What would the watt difference be at, say, 40kmh? I'd imagine it'd scale to 10-12 watts.
i'd have to ride them back to back like you did in the video - the data isn't enough for me - what's telling is many of the modern aero bikes are surprisingly compliant so the margins are small - unless you're riding in the mountains i'd say the Aero wins :)
The only takeaway from the outdoor tests in the gale force winds was that the aero bike is (more) unstable. Any of the metrics tested are just made redundant by the weather conditions.
since when is 7.98kg any kind of good weight for a "climbing" bike? that's what i would expect from an aluminum bike from the mid/late 90s.
my 2007 Look 585 is over 400gf lighter, and that's with a set of Hed Belgium aluminum wheels
My old Canyon Endurace aluminium bike with aluminium whells is 500 garmms lighter.
Is that a weight with pedals, bottles and head unit as it is in the video?
Great fun, production, and editing.
But, a minute please. for non Addicts, on a traditional frame metric difference: dramatically shorter chain stays for the Foil that tuck rear wheel into the seat post space.
Addict❤
I’d go for the addict - I like the look, I like the comfort and it’s debatable that its flexibility would make it a better climber (sadly let down by me 😊)
"Too techy and sciency for me"
Spoken like a true Welshman there Jim.
Hey Francis, I know you don't read these but I am hoping Emily or someone spots this (rather random) question: Have you ever tested with and without a cycling cap in a wind tunnel, and does peak up or peak down make a difference? It always seems to be something missed out of the equation in these things. Gotta be worth a few watts one way or another, right?
Time for some Jimmy’s Iced Coffee
😊
Other than the aerodynamic property of bikes under wind tunnel. I believe that the stiffness should be another important factor. It affects the efficiency how the energy transfers from human riding to a move forward of both human & bike. However, this factor didn't mention in this youtube, looking forward the next test.
I’m very surprised about the small difference 😮
In my opinion it's a smart move of a bike brand to offer two similiar bikes.
You will buy a bike from scott, which one is all in your head. Scott wins.
Weight and aerodynamics:
a: Less drag without more weight:
narrower handlebars, aero spokes, shaving legs, skinsuit, smaller frame size, position
b: less drag with extra weight:
aero frame, high aero rims