Bicycling Magazine Tests Contessa CR1 Pro
The CR1 Pro went missing twice from our communal bike room, probably because of its eye-catching frame outfitted with quality, women-specific parts. And there's substance behind the flash. The frame and fork are built of high-modulus carbon fiber, and the bike's outfitted in Shimano's second-best Ultegra group, from the compact drivetrain to the fast-acting brakes (which have short-reach levers for women's smaller hands).
The frame is race bred (the CR1 was Switzerland-based SCOTT's top race bike just a few years ago and was raced by the Saunier Duval team in the Tour de France), and a bit stiff, so you'll feel bigger bumps, but it translates your power into speed with few wasted watts. There are comfort touches, too, including the weight-reducing, standover increasing sloping top tube. The compact crankset gives you a boost on hills, although if you're always in hell-bent race mode you may find the gearing limiting.
On my second day out with the CR1 Pro, I found myself in an all-out pursuit of the lunchtime ride's lead group. Even as my legs and lungs whimpered for mercy, the CR1 PRO proved unflappable, with bonk-denying stability and reliable handling. On rides with less red-zone action, the CR1 Pro showed the same even temperament and maintained a good attitude on the climbs with efficient power transfer and stability on descents.
SCOTT's Contessa Race road line consists of two bikes, the Speedster and the CR1. The $1,500 Speedster has a mix of Shimano 105 and Truvativ components and an aluminum frame. That means the CR1 needs to deliver road-specific, racy performance for SCOTT, and that's just what it does.
