Scott's previously team-only Project F01 aero road bike finally has a name – the Foil (F01L) – and it'll be available to buy next month, with prices starting at €3,200 (approx £2,850) and a cheaper entry-level build on its way later this year.
The Foil weighs just a few grams more than Scott's flagship Addict road bike and includes some of that bike's best features. But lessons learned from the Plasma 3 time trial machine have resulted in a claimed 20 percent reduction in drag compared to the Addict.
All the tubes are partial aerofoil shaped (ie. without the trailing edge) at a 2:3 ratio (depth:width) – well within the UCI's 3:1 rule – and similar in principle (but not the same) as the Kamm tail profiles used by Trek in their Speed Concept time trial frame. Truncating the tube profile at the rear forces the air flow to separate at the trailing edge, creating a larger virtual aerofoil and lowering drag compared to a 3:1 profile tube.
The tube designs have been applied to the tapered head tube, fork and bottom bracket area to ensure that air flows smoothly along the length of the bike. The seatstays are widened and shaped to hide the rear brake.
Scott's wind tunnel data suggests an average rider putting out 290 watts will achieve an extra 0.7kph on this bike (an increase from 39.3kph to 40kph). That's a saving of 1.6 seconds per kilometre, or 15 watts.
Aerodynamic performance hasn't been achieved at the expense of other areas, though. Scott say the Foil is actually stiffer laterally than the Addict, resulting in improved power transfer, while retaining enough vertical flex to remain comfortable.
Made of Scott's HMX NET carbon fibre, claimed weight for the frame is just 840g (medium), with the frameset (frame, fork, seatpost and clamp) coming in at 1,227g – five percent heavier than the Addict. Four complete bikes are currently available.
The top-end Foil Premium with Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 electronic groupset will set you back €9,500 (approx £8,500) but a more realistically-priced, Ultegra-based build with a frame made from lower grade HMF NET carbon is available for €6,000 less (Foil R2, €3,200/£2,850). An entry-level model is due to launch later in the year.
The Foil will be available in seven sizes: XXS (47cm) / XS (49) / S (52) / M (54) / L (56) / XL (58) / XXL (61). Compact cranksets will be an option on all models except the top-end Premium. Here's a rundown of the currently available models:
Foil Premium
- €9,500
- Frame: Scott Foil HMX NET (carbon fibre w/ carbon dropouts)
- Fork: Scott Foil HMX NET (carbon fibre, tapered w/ carbon steerer and dropouts)
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
- Finishing kit: Ritchey WCS
- Saddle: Fizik Arione CX
- Wheels: Zipp 404
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 4000
- Claimed weight: 6.66kg/14.7lb
Foil Team Issue
- €7,500
- Frame: Scott Foil HMX NET
- Fork: Scott Foil HMX NET
- Groupset: SRAM Red
- Finishing kit: Ritchey WCS
- Saddle: Fizik Arione CX
- Wheels: Zipp 404
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 4000
- Claimed weight: 6.62kg/14.6lb
Foil R1
- €6,900
- Frame: Scott Foil HMX NET
- Fork: Scott Foil HMX NET
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900
- Finishing kit: Ritchey WCS
- Saddle: Fizik Arione CX
- Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Carbon SL
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 4000
- Claimed weight: 6.92kg/15.3lb
Foil R2
- €3,200
- Frame: Scott Foil HMF NET (carbon fibre w/ carbon dropouts)
- Fork: Scott Foil HMF NET (carbon fibre, tapered w/ carbon steerer and dropouts)
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra 6700
- Finishing kit: Scott Road Pilot Pro
- Saddle: Scott Road Pro SL
- Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Elite
- Tyres: Continental Ultra Race
- Claimed weight: 7.38kg/16.3lb
