Possibly more than any other bike manufacturer, Scott is an ever-evolving brand. It started out in Sun Valley, Idaho, when the founder Ed Scott created the aluminium ski pole in 1958. Later it expanded to other sports like cycling and became a world-renowned brand. Scott bikes are currently being ridden at the Vuelta a España by the likes of Tom Pidcock of Q36.5 Procycling Team, who is riding one of the races of his life.
Pidcock is riding on Scott’s flagship race bike, the Scott Addict RC Ultimate, which is one of the lightest bikes on the market at 5.9kg, costing over £12,000. But, like other bike manufacturers, Scott is keeping up with the consumer trends, which are asking for more accessible, more comfortable versions of the premium models. They have released an update for their Addict, which Scott describes as being “built for the spirit of adventure and the love of the riding experience”.
The Addict’s correlation to the Addict RC Ultimate is similar to that of the Pinarello F Series’s link to the Pinarello Dogma F, in that it takes performance aspects of the race bike like its aerodynamics and pairs this with a more comfortable set up, like a wider tyre clearance. Perfect for an enthusiastic amateur, the Addict has “a fresh approach focused on comfort, versatility, and ride experience”.
Scott says it went down this path “because road cycling isn’t only about racing. It’s also about experience and connection. With the new Addict philosophy, you have a bike that celebrates the cycling community and brings people together to share their journey — no matter who you are, how fast you ride, or where the road takes you. The new Addict prioritises comfort and performance, but above all, the spirit of adventure and the riding experience”.
More comfort and increased tyre clearance
Some of the key focuses of the new Addict are its compliance, comfort and wider tyre clearance. According to Scott, they have reshaped the tube profiles of the new Addict, which means it is 25% more compliant than the Addict RC and 50% more than the outgoing Addict.
Scott said they have achieved this "by slimming down the seat tube just below the seat-stay junction" which allows for more vertical compliance because the seat tube can flex forward more. The brand claims the new bike's top tube is also has more flex because it is now slimmer for increased vertical compliance, and "the dropped seat stays flex outward to absorb vibrations and enhance overall ride smoothness".
The new Addict also accommodates clearance for up to 38mm, which allows cyclists to ride with wider, lower-pressure tyres, which will dampen the effect of rough roads.
Furthermore, the geometry of the new bike is more relaxed than the previous model with a 5mm-higher stack and 5mm-shorter reach. Scott confirmed the focus of the new geometry is all about comfort, saying "the Addict is designed so that riding with 0mm spacers on the new Addict gives you the same position as riding with 35mm spacers on the Addict RC — ensuring a more upright and enjoyable position".
Integrated repair kit and frame bag pairing
One of the key features which confirms Scott's focus on rider convenience is their new seamlessly integrated a repair kit, which is found in the down tube near the bottom bracket.
Scott said: "It’s always there when you need it and invisible when you don’t. No more tubes, tire levers or pumps in your jersey pocket. When integrating the repair kit, our goal was clear: include this essential feature without compromising performance. The added weight gain is minimal and, by positioning the kit low on the frame, we optimised the Addict's center of gravity for balanced and confident handling."
The new Addict also has a compatible frame bag that's easy to attach and remove, which sits neatly under the top tube.
The Product range
The 2026 Addict lineup has six different models. Four of them have a high-performance HMF carbon frame, while the Addict Premium and Addict 10 are built with a lightweight HMX carbon construction.
Learn more about the new Addict on Scott's website.
