Spinopsys

Scott Sub 10

Posted January 12th, 2006 in Features, Review

Looking for the ideal commuting, city or cafe bicycle there are a number of things that are usually on the checklist - robustness, good handling and reasonable weight for starters. Of course there are some modern technological touches that have also become a requirement. But quite often many of these sensible aspects come at a cost - not a monetary one though - style. Let’s face it, far too many utility bikes look just that, utilitarian, like a cycling version of the Mao suit or a horse designed by a committee.

Thankfully there are a few large manufacturers around that are taking a fresh look at this class of urban bicycle and are adding a bit of funky style and attractiveness to the practicality that you usually see in their more traditional family members. The Scott Sub 10 is a good example of what can be done to jazz up a style of bike that is often neglected in favour of the sexier road or mountain machines.

The Sub 10 is a highly attractive urban MTB style machine that has many of the useful upgrades found in a modern classic commuter combined with a couple of old school touches. In many ways it takes it’s inspiration from older MTB designs seen on the likes of fifteen year old Gary Fishers. Unapologetically it has no suspension, but this is offset with a nicely relaxed geometry of long chain stays and slacker angles. I hope this signals a long needed back to the future trend in bike design.

Included is an aluminium frame set and fork, a drive train selection of Shimano Deore, LX and XT parts, solid double walled 32 spoked rim/wheels, and my favourite commuting tyres the Continental Sport Contact 1.3’s, plus the latest gotta have spec - hydraulic disc brakes. Who says you can’t combine a bit of old school design with space age spec?

The Sub 10 also has a nice little addition to the stem/steering combination that eliminates the lack of a finer vertical adjustment seen in modern stems, it’s a neat system of a keywayed sleeve wrapped around the steering column to which a similarly but inverse keywayed stem is then attached to. It’s something I wish was put into use by the wider bicycle manufacturing fraternity. As is custom on most urban bicycles the Sub 10 has the usual mounts for rear a rack, but sadly nothing on the aluminium forks, this is something I think should be addressed in order to make it even more functional.

Now I’ll own up to wanting to take the Sub 10 out for a spin since last season, however the Australian importer Netti had their hands full with the already large range supplied by Scott to worry about what is fundamentally a nich market product. Thankfully they finally took the plunge and and included the Sub 10 in the 2006 Australian range. Needless to say sales have been brisk and supplies tight due to demand.

The results came in quickly as far as this test is concerned. My personal daily commuting through the less than optimum roads of Sydney gave me a perfect opportunity to put the Sub 10 through a variety of scenarios for which the Sub 10 is designed. Any big city would probably do, but Sydney’s narrow, twisting and turning roads punctuated by short and sharp rises and drops, combined with tightly packed traffic are a uniquely good terrain to test any kind of urban bicycle.

The Sub 10 ride is a very surprising one. It not necessairly a light bike, yet rides like one, it’s also very comfortable, something that should be attributed to the longer stays and more laid back angles. The steering is terrific, it’s steady as she goes on the big carves, but when a quick response in traffic is needed it’s point and shoot time - accurate and fast. Because of the longer stays you might expect the Sub 10 to be an unspectacular climber, but there was still some good out of the saddle punch on the short sharp climbs, a necessary thing when trying to hold off the motorised and petroleum price traumatised nine to five crowd in the race to work. Yet, it was also stiff where it needed to be and compliant in that grandfatherly way. As a result you could ride a Sub 10 just about any way you want, leisurely, or like a pilled up bicycle courier in a hurry.

The Shimano drive system and braking worked liked it always does, the shifting was clean and crisp, and the breaking tight and well modulated. Not surprising, because all the parts are proven performers with more than enough riding miles under a huge variety of cyclists for Shimano have worked out all the kinks by now.

But the coolest thing about the Sub 10 are it’s clean cut good looks - a polished and clearcoated natural silver frame and black fork, plus a nicely understated sticker kit - it looks light and fast. It’s stripped back in that uber cool urban way - you’ll definitely have to make the right wardrobe choice before you step out in public - anything less will clash and mark you out as not worthy of the ride.

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