Scott Speedster S50 £699.00

I, like most people who live in London, hanker after a fixed-gear bike. I know, I know, I’m just another sheep wanting to look cool, but I was adamant that if I were to get back into cycling, I’d have to have a fixie, just like I did when I was seven, except this time I wouldn’t be trying to do 30m-long skids on it, I’d use it to commute 18 miles day across the hostile streets of London…

But after plenty of heckling in the office, I gave in on the idea of trying to look cool on a fixed-gear and instead set my sights on a more conventional two-wheeler. A couple of years back I bought a Scott Elite when I first got into cycling and spent around £800 converting it into a bike capable of TTs and triathlons. It’s a good, solid bike and did me proud, so I opted for another Scott, this time, the Speedster S50.

I’m amazed at how much lighter the Speedster is compared to my Elite. In fact, if I stopped to compare the two for too long, I’d be very bitter indeed, so let’s just say, the rate at which bikes have developed over the past three years is astonishing. The formed aluminium frame of the Speedster is a work of art and, to the untrained eye, makes this bike look like it starts at £2000, not £700. So, despite the fact it doesn’t have the simple, elegant look of a fixed-gear bike, there’s no doubting it’s a beautiful machine.

In day to day use, the Speedster is a great blend of performance and everyday practicality. It’s light in weight and easy to get up to speed, while the Alex Race28 Pro wheels have dealt with the rubbish road surfaces across town. They don’t sacrifice cruising speed nor have too much wind resistance, so when the going gets tough and you fancy tucking in behind someone on a mission, the Speedster’s more than capable at maintaining a competitive pace.

For London use, the 27 gears are overkill but making lightwork of a traffic light start reassures me that fixed wheel would have been a pain in the rear across several points of my commute. The gear changing is slick and positive, not over-eager like on some bikes and, despite crashing through the gears when a lorry, bus or errant pedestrian blocks my path, I’ve not slung the chain off the chainrings yet…

The handling is neutral and not too nervous, the seat is far more comfortable than it looks like it should be and the riding position suits me fine. I can tuck down when needs be or cruise around, without putting too much pressure on my wrists, neck or shoulders.

As a bog-stock bike, the Speedster is a better bike for everyday riding than my converted Elite and I’d probably be faster on it if I took it to another triathlon. I’m impressed with its quality too; two years ago you’d have paid £1500 for a bike of this spec. As a testament to its performance, I’m struggling to think of a part I can justify junking for an upgrade. Although I wouldn’t mind a speedo to help me keep pace on my commute! [What about some clipless pedals? – ed.]