Of course, differences there are. The bike that Esteban Chaves and the Yates twins use isn’t disc brake-ready yet, and they don’t use a SRAM 1x system either. While the Force 1 setup is capable of providing a range of gearing that matches up to a compact, it positions the bike right in the middle of the gravel market – the lack of front derailleur meaning that, should you decide to cake your Addict gravel in mud and grime, there’s one less thing to go wrong when what you need is reliable shifting away from civilisation.
You’ll get that reliability from the clutched rear derailleur, as well as the 10-42t cassette that provides the range of gearing needed when things tip steeply uphill.
The Force system is completed by SRAM hydraulic disc brakes, complete with both front and rear 160mm rotors for maximum braking performance, while handling is smoothed out via a long 1,043mm wheelbase in a 56cm frame. That makes dealing with loose surfaces a relative doddle, giving plenty of time to recover rear end slides while the 71-degree headtube angle not only tips the rider backwards but slows steering inputs just enough so long days on the Addict over rough terrain are no issue in terms of fatigue. There’s no lack of stiffness here either.
The build on show in the RCUK 100 leaves no expense spared, with Scott’s own finishing-kit brand Syncros providing all the high-level gubbins you could want. This includes a carbon handlebar, specifically profiled for taxing gravel work, and a 27.2mm carbon seatpost for essential compliance.