Scott’s Pilot bar and stem combination is a rare component, but it's the perfect front end for a weight-weenie cross-country bike.
The Pilot was a perfect fit for our cross-country bike, with a bar width of 600mm, a three-degree sweep and a 100m stem. The Pilot cockpit also weighed a scant 230g – just eclipsing our previous lightest front end, a Ritchey WCS 4Axis carbon stem and WCS carbon flat bar weighing a combined 235g. And the Pilot gives you a bit more handlebar compared to the Ritchey's 580mm width.
One of the best bits of the unit is that there is a smooth area of bar where the front bar clamp would normally be, and on smooth stretches this can be easily gripped for an aero tuck.
Of course, some won’t like the slight flex from the minimalist set-up – MBUK’s Doddy complained he could ‘row’ the front end up hills – but anyone wanting clean looks and to leave the others in the dust needs to get a Pilot combo.
At two hundred quid it's far from cheap - you pay a lot extra to save a few grams compared to the Ritchey combination. You'll need to replace the whole thing if you trash it in a crash, too. Think of it as an incentive to keep the rubber side down.
If you fancy a one-piece carbon fibre stem and flat bar for the front of your cross-country bike (and have no doubt, this is a pure cross-country race item), you’ve got a very short shopping list. Scott is one of the few companies that make a one-piece bar & stem, but it's well worth a look.
