December 12, 2007

Contessa Spark: Turns Hours Into Minutes

Mountain Flyer Magazine

“In the world of women’s bikes, talk often centers on making lighter bikes for women who on average weigh less than men. It takes perfect sense when you start thinking about ratios of body weight to bike weight.   While women’s bike options are getting plentiful, wading through light frames with low-end components or heavier frames with choice spec is frustrating. Face it, guys, plenty of women are not lightweights when it comes to wanting top end bikes all around. Scott has an offering just for that crowd. The Contessa Spark is the company’s all-carbon, full-suspension cross-country bike for women.   Scott actually makes the Spark frame for either gender, figuring a super lightweight frame suits all riders. For Contessa bikes, Scott adds components designed for women.   The carbon frame weighs in at flyweight 1550 g or 3.42 lbs. Scott uses its proprietary integrated molding process (IMP). The process is all very hush-hush, but we do know it molds the top tube, head tube and down tube in one step, removes 11 percent of the head tube intersection, increases frame strength with more carbon fibers in other precise places and finally incorporates a carbon dropout with replacement hangar, carbon swingarm and even carbon cable stops.   For it’s rear shock, Scott teamed up with DT Swiss to develop the odd-named but great performing Nude TC shock. It is denuded of weight for sure, coming in at 240 g (about half a pound), to put the frame and shock combo at 1790 g or just under 4 lbs- which the company claims is the lightest frame and shock combo in the world. The shock has a remote lever to select from three travel modes of 110 mm, 80mm and locked out.   For the women’s components, Scott focuses on the typical shorter torso and/or reach of many women and adds shorter stems. The medium I tested had a tiny 80 mm stem, a little short for me but an easy change. The women’s bikes also get shorter width handlebars (620 mm) and Fizik Vitesse saddle, which I found instantly comfortable.   If I had one word to pick for this bike, I’d call it effortless. After I got used to the feathery frame under me, the bike floated over the harshest terrain. My first hour on the bike felt like minutes, and I told myself this bike is built for comfort over the long haul. Only later did I find out Scott designed this bike for marathon world champ Thomas Frischknecht, and the bike is indeed racer fast. Climbing was smooth, switchbacks felt automatic and the maneuvering in tight stuff was remarkably stable and balanced. The bike just asks to keep going farther and longer.   The 110 mm rear shock was plenty for drop-offs and turned rocky trails into butter, especially at speed. I was hesitant at first about the Tracloc handlebar mounted lever, which crowded up the handlebar a bit. Only later did I appreciate the set-up when a riding friend leaned down to adjust the rear shock on his bike, located on the downtube, and weaved dangerously, destroying a traffic cone in the process. The 80 mm setting is great for powering up steep climbs and down washboard roads, and the lockout works well on the occasional asphalt.   For a seriously light bike combined with superior handling and top components, consider taking a look at Scott’s Contessa line” – C. Spaeth   Look for your copy of Mountain Flyer at your local newsstand or visit them at www.mountainflyer.com .