The Ultimate commuter?

Some people buy a new bike because they fancy a change. My previous Scott Foil met a rather abrupt end when I was issued an untimely parking ticket at Beaumont, writing off the bike and putting me out of action for a lengthy spell. An expensive place to park, as it turned out.

Having written off both the bike and a decent chunk of my racing calendar, I eventually returned to the same conclusion: another Foil.

This time, a Foil RC Ultimate. A 6.8kg aero race bike that I use for racing, training and some commuting. An entirely measured approach to getting to work.

Familiar shape, different experience

This is my second Foil, following a custom build that started life as an RC 20 before being upgraded to the broadly RC Pro spec, with Newmen Sprint Vonoa wheels.

That was already a seriously good bike, so I wasn’t expecting quite such a noticeable difference. The Ultimate feels considerably stiffer and more direct under power. Accelerating, sprinting or pushing over a climb, there’s an immediacy to it that stood out from the first ride, but no reduction in comfort.

I’ve now covered around 12,000km on Scott Foils, including roughly 1,500km on this one. Enough for the new bike excitement to settle down, although that doesn’t seem to have happened yet.

The fancy wheels

The Syncros one piece carbon wheels probably deserve their own article. Visually, they’re stunning, and they certainly contribute to the impression that this is a bike with very little left to upgrade.

Admittedly, I haven’t conducted a controlled experiment to separate the contribution of the wheels from the frame and the rest of the build. I’ve been riding it instead. What I can say is that the complete package feels exceptionally responsive.

At 6.8kg, it’s also left me disappointingly short of equipment excuses on the climbs. I guess I’ll have to get a few more Capernwray reps in ahead of the ’27 edition…

Set up how I like it

I’m running a 380mm wide integrated cockpit with a 110mm stem, 165mm cranks and 30mm Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres.

The narrow cockpit and shorter cranks suit my aero-optimised position, while the tyres help make the bike comfortable on (what’s left of) the roads I actually ride. Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire provide plenty of opportunities to assess that…

For all its racing intentions, this Foil gets used for everything from racing and structured training to getting to work. I like riding it, so I ride it as often as possible. Saving it for race day would mean spending far too much time wishing I was on it. Besides, as I’m probably guilty of saying a little too often, these bikes aren’t ornaments. They’re built to be ridden.

It does make “just a steady commute” a slightly less convincing claim.

Won over by SRAM

Having previously ridden Shimano at every opportunity, I’ve now moved all my bikes over to SRAM, and I’ve been extremely impressed. However, I am yet to be convinced by their mountain bike brakes.

The way it integrates with my Hammerhead is a particular highlight. Having everything work so neatly together makes a difference when you spend this much time in the saddle.

It’s one of those changes I’ve become very comfortable with, very quickly. Which is fortunate, given that I’ve committed to it across my fleet.

Stiffness without the punishment

Before the Foils, I covered around 40,000km on Cervélo S5s, which are excellent bikes in their own right. The reason I highlight this is to add context that I’ve spent plenty of time on aero race bikes, so I’ve got a fairly solid point of comparison.

What still amazes me about the Foil is how much stiffer it feels under power while also delivering a more supple ride. It feels eager to accelerate, yet stays comfortable and composed over rougher surfaces. Admittedly, my aero bikes have been places that no road bike was designed to go.

That combination matters to me. I want a bike that responds when I’m racing, but I also spend hours on it training and commuting. Speed becomes harder to appreciate when you’re counting down the miles until you can get off it.

The Ultimate gets that balance exceptionally right. The weight and wheels are impressive, but it’s how everything comes together out on the road that has really sold it to me.

Second time around

Choosing another Foil probably tells you how much I liked the first one. Finding this one such a noticeable step up has been a welcome bonus.

With 1,500km already covered, it’s settled straight into racing, training and everyday use. It’s a seriously special bike, and I intend to put plenty more miles on it.

Ideally, without another unscheduled tarmac inspection.