4 months, 250 mile update – 2024 Scott Addict Gravel 20

I would like to share my ownership experience of my first dropbar carbon bike. So far, it's been a blast and I've had nothing short of pure enjoyment. Cycling has been a great balance to my corporate day job and I always look forward to a ride. I've logged a good bit of mileage and I think I'm out of the honeymoon phase. This machine has a sort of Jekyll & Hyde personality where most of the time it feels totally relaxed and mannered, then other times it feels like it wants to buck me off and take off flying, especially after a few upgrades.

A few items that I've tried/changed to make cycling better for me personally:
– Proper attire. A friend convinced me that I should get some clothing specifically for cycling. At first I was totally against it since it seemed wasteful. However, I opened my mind and purchased 2 jerseys and 2 bib shorts. The first time I wore a bib on a ride I thought to myself "now I understand". Bibs and jerseys are unbelievably comfortable and I will never ride without either of them again.

• A saddle that works for me. After trying 4-5 saddles, I finally found one to work with my wide hips. I landed on a SQLab 610 Active 16mm and it's amazing. Gone are the stiffness and discomfort of that Ergon saddle I tried.

• Raising my saddle height. Now that I've raised my saddle height I'm properly engaging my quads and have a far more efficient pedal stroke.

Current mod list:
– Aforementioned SQLab 610 Active saddle
– Schwalbe G-One RS tires (these are the best upgrade so far)
– Cygolite head and tail lights
– Carbon bottle cages courtesy of Temu

Gripes:
– I despise the insanely over-engineered seat post and clamp. I've already had one clamp snap on me even when using a torque wrench for the manufacturer's spec and I even went 1nm below spec based on what I read in reviews. I just have a few extras laying around just in case from now on. Still don't understand why Scott decided to make such a simple component complicated for seemingly no benefits.

Future mods:
– I know this is a hot topic but "you can't save everyone" – clipless pedals. I'm very aware of the benefits of clipless pedals and I think they're a great option for any cyclists. However what's holding me back is my 13.5E/14E shoe size. I already get some insane toe-overlap on tight turns, so I think clipless will help that. I've researched a ton and found that Lake and Sidi have dedicated true wide cleated shoe lasts. Once I find a pair of shoes that are wide enough, I'll totally get a set of clipless pedals to try out.

• Frame protection film. I already have a pre cut set directly from Scott but I have not installed it yet. How does frame film hold up over time?
• Top tube bag. I just need a small size bag to store my keys and gels/fuel in.

I'm looking forward to many more adventures with this bike. I can't believe how enjoyable it is to ride and I'm humbled to be in ownership of such a special machine.

Thank you all for making it to the bottom of this dissertation.