Wasn't that long ago when carbon frames were reserved for the professionals. Now days almost every bike manufacture is offering a bike with a carbon frame. For good reason too... Carbon frames have very similar ride qualities as steel and titanium frames. What I call the magic carpet ride.  Carbon frames manage to soak up the roughness in the road producing a silky smooth ride without loosing stiffness in the frame. Aluminium frames previously dominated the market before carbon because they could be made lighter than their forerunner; the steel frame. But the downside of aluminium frames is that they have ride qualities that are not forgiving; giving the rider a rather harsh ride. It becomes especially noticeable if you spend several hours on the bike. Now carbon frames are able to deliver the same lightness or better at an affordable price. So, if you grew up riding aluminium frames and believed that all racing frames seem to hunt out the roughness in the road giving you a bone jarring ride, then perhaps it's time to look into what comfort can be offered from carbon.

You can spend a lot of money on racing bicycles. I'm a fan at finding the sweet spot in the market. Even more relevant when cross branding is now the norm and bicycle manufactures (even European and American) are outsourcing a lot of their final bike finishing, frame and component manufacture to Asia. So when you start to strip away a lot of the marketing hype, gimmicky and brand names from a bicycle what are you really getting?

Scott has had their CR1 Team out on the market for a few years now. It is one of the lightest production frames and select few that publicise a sub 1kg weight. Quoted as 970g. Since being released the price has steadily dropped. I would assume that it's mainly to do with them being able to recover the cost on their initial design investment. Now you can pick one up with Shimano 105 for under $3000.

The Scott CR1 frame has a proven track record at the top of cycling circles. It has been raced in the Tour de France by Saunier Duval pro team. The team has been using the CR1 since 2003. Scott is also a reputable USA company that has been around for quite a while.

Riding quality is exceptional. Scott has taken some time to design the frame geometry and I think they got it right. Riding the Scott CR1 through corners it like a dream. So much so that I forget I'm cornering in the tight criteriums. In fact I've never had (apart from my custom built steel training bike) a better bike when it comes to cornering. It's like it is tracking on rails. Also I find that I don't have to force it through a corner. It's just natural. The Scott CR1 Team is great for those demanding downhill descents when you are braking heavy into the corner as it gives you a feeling of confidence and safety. The forks are solid too. There is no shudder when you are breaking hard giving you the feeling like they are going to snap off at any moment. In straight lines the frame provides a ride that is stiff and responsive. All with the magic carpet qualities that come with carbon.

The frame is finished in black with a white trim. Nice looking with a faultless paint job. It will go with any colour helmet and cycling kit. So gone of the days when you can't ride by bike because your kit colour will clash with your bike. You can even wear pink with the Scott and look good.

The whole bike build and assembly is flawless with excellent quality control coming from the factory. Scott has had years of industry experience, which is clearly evident in this bicycle.

The components that come with the 105 version of this bike are uncompromising finished off with an exceptional set of Mavic Aksium wheels in black. These wheels have been upgraded in 2008 with a 140g savings in weight. They come with slick Hutcheson tyres. They make a great set of durable training wheels and are race ready for criteriums. Stiff and responsive with reliable and weatherproof bearings these Mavic wheels will give years of reliability. The rest of the parts, complete Shimano 105 running gear (no skimping here) plus Scott branded head stem, bars, seat pillar, handle bars and seat are all of uncompromised quality and not dissimilar to components that you would find on a more expensive bike. The seat pillar is even made from carbon! Another great thing about the Scott CR1 Team is that you can purchase it with 105 equipment. This gives you access to Scott's excellent CR1 frame at an entry level price without spending a fortune. Great if you want to upgrade the components at a later date. The Scott CR1 Team also comes in Shimano Ultegra and DuraAce options with similar upgraded wheels to match. Most bike manufactures will only bring out an Shimano Ultegra and DuraAce option with there high end frames. Another touch is the chain saver. This device stops the chain slipping off the bottom chainring on a dodgy shift.

Verdict. If you are in the market for a racing or high end recreational carbon bike that's race proven in the Tour de France then don't pass up on trying out a Scott CR1. It's excellent value for money as well as being a top performer. 

Note: Picture is of the Scott Pro