Scott has redesigned its iconic Plasma time trial (TT) bike, creating the new Plasma RC TT.
To do so the brand says it “went back to the drawing board with a simple goal: build the fastest bike we’ve ever made”. If Scott’s claims are true it’s been a success – it says the Plasma RC is 12% lighter than its predecessor – the Scott Plasma 6, while being 33 seconds faster over a 40km TT course when ridden at the same power output.
(Image credit: Scott)
The bike has been designed in conjunction with Scott’s WorldTour partner Team DSM as well as its other professional teams and riders, who together listed a number of requirements including lower drag, more stability, increased adjustability, ultimate integration and disc brakes – consistent themes amongst the best time trail bikes.
That marks a change from the previous model which wasn’t designed to be UCI compliant and was therefore aimed squarely at the triathlon market.
Reducing drag means improving aerodynamics and Scott used computer modeling with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to help identify new tube designs. These were then trialled in the wind tunnel, allowing them to measure the real-world impact of each option.
Alongside aero experts Drag2Zero, Scott began to select tubes and junctions based on the insights, enabling them to benchmark each design against previous iteration of the Plasma as well as its competitors’ TT bikes.
(Image credit: Scott)
Scott also focused on improved integration to help reduce drag. The new Plasma RC boasts a patented design for a slotted headset that has two main benefits. It allows the cables to run directly through the headset, which achieves a narrower head tube, which “eliminates the need for the clearance of the cable going around the steerer”. It also makes the fork and cockpit easy to take apart – handy if you’re travelling with the bike.
(Image credit: Scott)
As for the Syncros Creston iC cockpit, Scott says it’s created to allow riders of different shapes and sizes achieve their optimum aerodynamic position, thus reducing drag. Scott also says it helps the rider to find “a physiologically efficient position to transmit maximum power and still breathe well” – both crucial elements to putting in a good time.
(Image credit: Scott)
The cockpit, heralded by Scott as “the most adjustable integrated TT cockpit on the market”, offers a basebar in three different sizes – 85mm, 105mm and 125mm – alongside bags of adjustability. The height of the…