Since its launch in June 2021, the new SCOTT Spark has been a disruptive force in the global mountain bike market with its cutting-edge design, technology and innovation. Nino Schurter claimed his ninth and 10th Elite XCO World Championship titles on the new Spark. But the Spark is not only for Nino and other pro racers. Here are five South Africans – and a couple of pros – who reveal exactly why #fastisfun.
Paid partnership with SCOTT Sports Africa
Eighteen months ago, we gave 11 reasons why the SCOTT Spark should be your next mountain bike. After years of development, it had just been launched and it was creating more than just a stir in the mountain bike world for its revolutionary design. It was immediate in high demand among discerning South African mountain bikers.
TREAD Media then published the first South African test a year ago, saying: SCOTT has essentially revolutionised mainstream full-suspension performance mountain bikes with the new Spark – impressive suspension performance with a second bottle cage inside the frame.
Nino continued to set the international XCO racing scene alight on the new Spark. Among other successes, he won two Elite world champs titles 2021 and 2022) and equalled the UCI World Cup win record. Just for good measure and to confirm the new Spark was ‘Africa-ready’, he and teammate Lars Forster secured a stage win at the 2022 Absa Cape Epic and he and Andri Frischknecht wore Yellow twice at this year’s Cape Epic. In that same time, hundreds of South Africans have upgraded to the new Spark and experienced the same benefits as Nino (just a bit slower) from the Spark’s design, technology and innovation.
We asked some of them a few questions about their Spark. This is what they had to say.
WILLIE MAREE
Age: 43
Occupation: Manager, Technical Support SA Rugby
Marital status: Married with a seven-year-old daughter
Lives in: Paarl
Favourite local trail: Plaisir/Banhoek/Boschendal
Local SCOTT dealer: Kroff Cycles
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
An average of 10 hours.
What made you decide to buy the SCOTT Spark?
The upgrade was long overdue and Joggie, from SCOTT Sports convinced me the time is now.
What type of races do you prefer?
I enjoy the challenge of marathon and stage races.
Have you had any interesting reactions to your internal rear shock?
‘Check that e-bike’ while climbing up a tough section!
How important is the TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment to you?
It’s crucial. It allows me to change the bike’s geometry depending on the terrain and gradient.
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike?
Oh yes! I have been racking up the Strava segment PRs currently.
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
I can’t just pick one. I enjoy the GX Eagle AXS drivetrain, the TwinLoc remote suspension/geometry adjustment and the 120mm of travel front and rear.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
SCOTT for life! This is a high-performance bike like no other.
What tyres do you prefer and why?
I use Maxxis Ardent Race tyres front and rear. The reasons are that stock is not an issue, they are lightweight and perfect for mixed trail conditions and the sidewall protection helps a lot with our local terrain.
BIANCE BEKKER
Age: 32
Occupation: Sales, Marketing & Operations Manager
Marital status: Single
Lives in: Port Elizabeth
Favourite local trail: 3River Trails @ Crossways Village’s – Grand Black Porcupine.
Local SCOTT dealer: Wayne Pheiffer Cycles and Geco Cycles (when in Cape Town)
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
It varies, but average time on the bike in the last week is 13 hours.
What made you decide to buy the SCOTT Spark?
I saw a SCOTT Spark RC in a magazine advert shortly after I started mountain biking. I loved the look of it and a year later, April 2019, I bought one second-hand. I loved it and completed many races on it. Last year the opportunity came about through my sponsor, ChemChamp to own the new SCOTT Spark SL and I am thrilled with it.
What type of races do you prefer?
I do a lot of races in a Mixed team with Daniel Tenner. We do marathons and short stage races. I prefer the stage races.
Have you had any interesting reactions to your internal rear shock?
Oh yes, all the time! Especially from fellow race participants. I think the one that I get the most and always makes me giggle is: is that an E-Bike?”, normally when I would cycle past a fellow participant or when they just cannot shake me.
How important is the Twin-Loc remote suspension adjustment to you?
The location of this feature is spot on – convenient and easily accessible.
I don’t have to take my eye off the trail to look and feel for the adjustment or make sure I selected the right function. It makes the riding experience so much better because it adjusts the bike to the terrain you are on, just with a thumb movement!
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike?
On my first ride, I took it for a spin around a 20km tar road loop that I have done before. I was really just riding to get a feel for the new bike and when I got home, saw that my average speed was improved and I had a few Strava segment PRs. I was surprised because I never put in a major effort at any time. This has happened on a number of rides.
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
Well, two things: the dropper post! It works so well and I used it all the time as it was intended. And the wheels. It must be the moulded rims, but it makes climbing rocky uphill far more efficient. This is a massive differentiation feature over the previous Spark I had.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
Take my bike for a ride and feel what you could be racing with.
What tyres do you use and why?
I use Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4 front and rear. When I first started mountain biking, before I improved my skills a bit, someone recommended them. I found the side knobs helped with grip in corners and gave me a bit more control . Now that I’m more experienced, I still use them because they allow me to corner faster.
DANIEL TENNER
Age: 52
Occupation: Owner & Managing Director of ChemChamp Africa and Nautilus Projects (Pty) Ltd.
Marital status: Single
Lives in: Port Elizabeth
Favourite local trail: 3River Trails @ Crossways Village’s – Grand Black Porcupine. I ride a lot in the Western Cape and my favourite trail there is Paul Cluver.
Local SCOTT dealer: Wayne Pheiffer Cycles and Geco Cycles (when in Cape Town)
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
An average of 12 hours.
What made you decide to buy the SCOTT Spark?
I needed a second high-quality mountain bike. I researched various brands but I wanted the technology and performance to match colour and style. The Spark came out on top and although it took a bit of time, I was able to get the exact colour I wanted.
What type of races do you prefer?
I race mainly marathons and stage races as a member of Team ChemChamp.
Have you had any interesting reactions to your internal rear shock?
Other than admiration of the SCOTT, I frequently get asked if it is an eBike.
How important is the TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment to you?
It is highly important because it simplifies the action require of the bike on demand without removing my hands from the bars.
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike?
Yes, especially climbing and general riding. I saw this from my Strava segment performances compared to my previous bike.
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
I can’t only choose one. I like the light weight, how responsive it is and the fact that the integrated rear shock is both unique an highly functional.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
It climbs like a dream is extremely responsive and fast!
What tyres do you use and why?
I use Maxxis Rekon Race. They’re durable but not too heavy. Also, the while the side knobs help give me traction through corners, the top knobs aren’t too prominent which helps me roll well on the straight sections of trail and roads.
NADIA VAN WYK
Age: 15
Occupation: Home-school student
Marital status: N/A
Lives in: Durbanville
Favourite local trail: Bloemendal Trail Park
Local SCOTT dealer: Geco Cycles
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
I would say I spend on average 10-14 hours weekly.
What made you decide to buy the SCOTT Spark?
I was looking for a dual-suspension bike with updated progressive geometry. What stands out about the Scott Spark is the fact that the headtube angle can be changed by simply turning the headset cups 180 degrees.
What type of races do you prefer?
I mainly prefer XCO races and marathons.
The internal rear shock – has that changed your riding?
Yes, I have found that it gives me more travel and it gives me more confidence to go over the technical bits during a race or training. The shock is more protected during muddy races as well which means less technical problems during the event.
How important is the TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment to you?
It is very important, I use it all the time and I love it! It is placed on the handlebars in a comfortable and easy position to operate.
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike?
Yes it is. I was previously using a hardtail to race on. The Scott Spark allows me to attack the technical sections with confidence, making me faster.
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
The redesigned Twin-Loc. The lock-out lever combined with the dropper lever makes for a smooth and clean looking cockpit. The way it was designed and placed on the handlebars makes it easy to reach and operate.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
Here take my Scott Spark for a ride and once you’re done you will understand why riding a Scott Spark is an experience and that the bike is built for those enjoyable rides as well as lung busting races.
What tyres do you use and why?
I like the Maxxis brand. It has a range of tyres designed for different types of terrain and racing conditions. I currently use the Maxxis Rekon Race – it has low rolling resistance and very good traction on the XCO courses I race, like Provincial and National Championships as well as other important races. It is also easy to fit and offers excellent puncture resistance.
NICKY GREEK
Age: 44
Occupation: Owner of Engaged Consulting Services (HR consulting)
Marital status: In a relationship. I have two children aged 13 and 17
Lives in: Chartwell, Fourways
Favourite local trail: Cradle Moon and The Cradle Loop
Local SCOTT dealer: Mello Velo (Joburg) & Cyco Cycles (Knysna)
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
It varies, but around 8-10 hours a week on average.
What made you decide to buy the SCOTT Spark?
I didn’t buy it. I won it at the 2022 Dr Evil Classic and my whole world turned around over these past six months! I was on a SCOTT Spark 910 which I had bought second-hand four years earlier. I was struggling with motivation and was actually on the brink of selling my bike and going back to horse-riding. But winning the new Spark was all the motivation I needed. I have been even more foucssed on mountain biking now and have become braver, stronger and even more tenacious!
Do you race? If so, what type of races do you prefer?
This bike has taken me places I never dreamed of going. We have traversed wild, unmarked foreign terrain in Zimbabwe over a week of mountain biking, ridden in the sweltering hot temperatures and rugged hard terrain at Attakwas and tackled the most insane technical rocky and sandy routes at Tankwa Trek.
The internal rear shock – has that changed your riding?
The rear shock works flawlessly, concealed and doesn’t get dirty. The remote lock-out works well and has three different settings that transition effortlessly. I haven’t had to do anything to it and mechanics have been able to work on it easily.
How important is the TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment to you?
The TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment is amazing. I would not manage without having this so accessible and easy to press whilst traversing different terrains.
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike?
Definitely. It feels more stable and smoother than my previous Spark. The wider rims and tyres also improve my speed through corners and over obstacles. I did the 947 MTB route on the two different bikes in 2021 and 2022. I got 19 Strava segment achievements on my new Spark!
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
The TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment on my handlebar. I can easily switch the bike between the three suspension modes without taking a hand off the bars.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
If you need an adventurem and want to enrich your life, buy a SCOTT Spark!
What tyres do you use and why?
I use the Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4s. Besides the sidewalls being tan, which is really different and makes a bold statement, the smaller profile knobs allow the tyres to roll faster over any terrain. I rode them over wet and muddy terrain in the KZN Midlands and they performed incredibly well there. I then raced them at Attakwas and Tankwa Trek over dry, rocky and sharp terrain and they were great there too! I ride at 1.4 bars of pressure and to date have never had a puncture, pressure loss or lost traction over any rocks. These tyres have exceeded my expectations.
ANDRI FRISCHKNECHT
Age: 28
Occupation: Pro Mountain Bike Racer with SCOTT-SRAM Racing
Marital status: In a relationship
Lives in: Switzerland
Cape Epic record: Four starts, three finishes. 6th overall in 2017 with two stage wins
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
I average between 8-15 hours in the saddle. This is a combination of mountain bike and road bike.
Have you had any interesting reactions to your internal rear shock?
Some people think it is a hardtail or they think that because it is an internal shock, it is hard to service; but it is actually easier than the previous bike.
How important is the TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment to you?
For racing to me this is a must-have because you can always choose to ride in the mode that is required to be fast. To make the bike as firm as possible for sprinting like in short races is very important, which is why the lockout setting is really good too.
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike? If yes, how do you know?
That is a good question. For sure the new Spark gives me a lot of confidence in the descents because of the ideal geometry and 120mm of suspension travel. But at the end, it is the rider and the rider only who makes the bike go fast.
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
I like the Frazer integrated handlebar and that we can have two bottle cages on the frame. The design of the frame is really unique for XC/Marathon bikes.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
Choose performance over design. If the bike is your favourite colour, but not fun to ride you are missing something!
NINO SCHURTER
Age:36
Occupation: Pro Mountain Bike Racer with SCOTT-SRAM Racing
Marital status: Married with a daughter
Lives in: Switzerland
Cape Epic record: Six starts, five finishes. Overall winner in 2017 an 2019 with nine stage wins.
On average, how much time do you spend a week riding your mountain bike?
Depending my training schedule, but it ranges from 8-16 hours a week specifically on the mountain bike. I also ride the road bike, which is additional to that.
Have you had any interesting reactions to your internal rear shock?
I’m sure there have been many. Of course, there are many benefits to the internal shock. It doesn’t get dirty, which means it requires less maintenance and it works well all the time. It makes the bike look really cool and you can also carry a second bottle. Because there is a flap to open the frame from the bottom for the shock, it helps mechanics with internal cable routing, which can be difficult normally.
How important is the TwinLoc remote suspension adjustment to you?
Twin-Loc is incredible and I believe this is what makes the Spark so efficient and capable for every riding or racing situation. Downhill, technical uphill, Twin-Loc makes it possible to ride the Spark fast and confidently all the time.
Is your Spark faster than your previous bike? If yes, how do you know?
Undoubtedly! With this geometry and 120mm of travel, it feels like a trail bike on the technical downhills, but it climbs like a cross-country bike. There is nothing else like it.
What technological feature do you most enjoy on your Spark?
I would say the geometry. This new Spark handles so well on descents, but it is still a cross-country weapon! This makes it a unique bike – from racing the hardest XC to having fun riding in bike parks, it can do it all.
If you had to convince a friend to buy a Spark like yours, what would you say?
There is no other bike that looks this good. It has unique design and amazing technology!
There you have it – from the VERY top pros to the Average Joes, the SCOTT Spark lives up to its #fastisfun hashtag. The innovation, technology and design in this bike hasn’t only transformed the Spark, it’s shaken up the industry. You too can own the market-leader, which comes in a wide range of models and in both carbon fibre and aluminium to ensure it is affordable without sacrificing any of its key technological features. Check out the full SCOTT Spark range here.
Don’t miss a moment of the 2023 Absa Cape Epic, where Nino Schurter and Andri Frischknecht will be among the title contenders. There will be live daily online coverage from the Absa Cape Epic so you can watch how the SCOTT Spark confidently tackles the rugged terrain, steep mountain slopes and strong competition.
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This offer ends on Wednesday 30 April 2023.
