We recently handed the Scott Fastlane 10 to Jacquie Phillips, Chairman of Redhill Cycling Club. Redhill CC is one of the largest clubs in South East England and was established in 1945. Since then it has grown to cater to all riders whether they are on or off road. Read on to find out Jacquie’s thoughts on this ground-breaking bike.
Some of the members of Redhill CC.
The Scott Fastlane 10 is a remarkably lightweight electric road bike that first caught our attention when we visited the headquarters of Scott Sports here in the UK.
It's unlike any e-bike we’ve had before, so we were keen to find out what a dedicated road rider would make of it. Read on to find out Jacquie’s thoughts on this ground-breaking e-bike.
What do road riders really want?
For our tester, lightness is non-negotiable. After nine years on her trusty Cervelo, Jacquie looks for a classic road bike feel. Efficiency and agility matter most, and bulky technology is a turn-off.
Enter the Fastlane 10: a bike that promises responsiveness without the weight. Its silhouette is hard to distinguish from the Scott Addict traditional road bike and with the mid mounted TQ-HPR40 motor, the weight is evenly distributed, giving the Fastlane excellent handling characteristics.
First impressions?
As someone who rides unassisted, Jacquie was keen to try the bike both with the power assistance on and then off. “It’s a nice bike. Very smooth and responsive. I was happy to ride it with and then without the power. Because it’s actually a light bike, it wasn’t tortuous to ride without assistance.”
Jacquie appreciated the bike’s discreet elegance: sleek, lightweight, and understated. “To get the weight down that low is amazing. It’s very discreet with the hiding of the electronic componentry and the lightness makes it a good bike to ride".
Who’s it for?
Jacquie explains that it seems to be made for riders who would like the power assist without compromising the style of the bike particularly foe those used to riding a drop handle bar road bike. Speed wasn't a particular issue - like all road-legal electric bikes, the power-assistance tops out at 15mph, and whilst some road riders will want to ride above this speed without the added weight of a motor and battery, the lightness of the bike doesn't compromise the ride when the power assist is off.
Overall she says “It’s great fun to ride especially on hilly rides".
Anything to be aware of?
Jacquie does warn that there are a few things to get used to, as you might expect coming from a conventional bike to an e-bike. She found that the electronic gear changes took a moment to master. Coming from cable-operated gears “They are a bit awkward at first until you work out how easy they make the gear changing” she admitted, and regarding the power-assistance “when you’re riding on the hoods, it’s also hard to view the power-assistance level without taking your eyes of the road”.
What do we think?
We were amazed at how Scott Sports had been able to craft such a lightweight electric bike. The average weight of an electric bike in our showrooms is about 23kg, so a bike that’s just over 10kg is a real game-changer, both in terms of the ride sensation, and in terms of the ease of transporting it. It is no more difficult to transport with your car than any conventional bike.
Price?
Prices of the Fastlane start from £6399, so we understand that this is a huge investment but when compared to similar style and specification non-ebikes, the price reflects incredible value for money.
The price of the bike pays for escapism, and the ability to climb hills like you are 18 again. As our showroom manager Tony points out, the Fastlane is actually lighter than the road bike that he used to race on.
While we understand that it isn’t a bike for everyone, we do feel that it’s a bike that will please those who appreciate refinement. The wires are completely concealed, and if you examine the lines of the bike – for example the gentle curvature of the fork – you’ll find they have a style to them that’s missing from most e-bikes.
If the point of a road bike is to experience a feeling of unencumbered freedom, then unless you’re a dyed-in-the-wool road bike purist, this bike delivers just that.
Summary
We can see road cyclists who want to extend their riding years, those wishing to level the playing field on group riders, and those who simply appreciate ground-breaking design benefiting from the added power from the Fastlane.
Ready to feel the wind? The Scott Fastlane 10 is here to redefine your rides. Light, lively, and effortlessly cool—it’s the bike for riders who demand performance and pleasure. See product specifications here.
Want to test ride it yourself? Visit us at the Coulsdon showroom.