While Paris-Roubaix's pan-flat parcours would seemingly make aerodynamics a priority, the brutal cobbles instead demand a different approach. Canadian rider Svein Tuft and the rest of the Australia-registered GreenEDGE team set aside their usual Scott Foils at the weekend in favor of the softer-riding CR1.
Straight out of the box, the CR1 already includes many of the features riders seek in a cobbles bike, making it a convenient turnkey solution for the Hell of the North. Scott redesigned the once-flagship model late in 2009, shifting its focus from all-out stiffness and light weight to a refined ride quality courtesy of specially engineered shaping in the rear end and fork.
The so-called SDS (Shock Damping System) consists of several dramatically flattened sections on the seatstays and chainstays plus careful tuning in the fork blades designed to flex on bigger impacts. Claimed movement is surprisingly minimal but even so, it's more than what's available on the Foil so Tuft and the rest of the GreenEDGE crew likely appreciated it nonetheless.
Geometry is mostly shared with the Foil – wheelbase and chainstay length are identical and the head tube is actually steeper – so there's no additional stability gained in making the switch but Tuft does have room for 25mm-wide Continental tubular tires.
Build kit on Tuft's bike consists of a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group and SRM power meter, a PRO all-alloy cockpit and carbon seatpost, a well padded Prologo Scratch Pro Plus saddle, and traditional box-section alloy tubular wheels built with Shimano Dura-Ace hubs and Ambrosio Nemesis rims joined with 14-gauge straight stainless steel spokes laced three-cross with brass nipples.
Total weight as pictured was unavailable – unfortunately team mechanics allowed us to shoot photographs but not weigh the thing without the team director's approval (and he wasn't around to ask).
The seatstay wishbone is stoutly built to combat side-to-side flex and the tubes flatten immediately below it on Scott's latest CR1
Complete bike specifications
- Frame: Scott CR1 SL, 54cm
- Fork: Scott CR1 SL
- Headset: Ritchey WCS press-fit, 1-1/8in
- Stem: PRO PLT, 130mm x -10°
- Handlebar: PRO Vibe 7s, 44cm (c-c), round bend
- Tape: Prologo ProTouch TR
- Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900
- Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900
- Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-7970
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-7970
- Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-7970
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-23t
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
- Crankset: SRM Wireless PowerMeter Dura-Ace 7900 Compatible, 175mm, 53/44t
- Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace press-fit SM-FC7900P
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL PD-7900
- Rims: Ambrosio Nemesis tubular, 32h
- Front hub: Shimano Dura-Ace HB-7900, 32h
- Rear hub: Shimano Dura-Ace FH-7900, 32h
- Spokes: 14g stainless steel, three-cross, brass nipples
- Front tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubular, 25mm
- Rear tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubular, 25mm
- Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro Plus, 143mm
- Seatpost: PRO Vibe
- Bottle cages: Elite Ciussi (2)
- Computer: SRM PowerControl 7
- Other accessories: Chain watcher
Critical measurements
- Rider's height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
- Rider's weight: 74kg (163lb)
- Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 760mm
- Saddle setback: 70mm
- Seat tube length, c-t: 505mm
- Seat tube length, c-c: 480mm
- Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 579mm
- Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 124mm
- Head tube length: 156mm
- Top tube length: 545mm
- Total bicycle weight: N/A