One of the lightest gravel options on the market, the updated Addict Gravel features aerodynamic updates and more tire clearance.
The Takeaway: The Scott Addict Gravel 10 received a complete overhaul for 2022. It pushes the limits with a more aerodynamic design plus slacker geometry that improves compliance, ride predictability, and stability. Electric Trikes For Adults
As the gravel sector continues to grow, evolve, and specialize, we have seen more lightweight bikes designed for fast gravel riding rather than multi-day off-road adventures pop up. Fast, clean looking, and one of the lightest in its category (Medium sized frame claimed weight of 930g and 395g for the fork), the Scott Addict Gravel 10 highlights the brand's prowess for crafting high-performance race bikes. The bike's clean frame—with minimal factory branding and super neat cable routing—shows off its aerodynamic details beautifully. Scott has not sacrificed practicality with its new frame and you’ll find a frame-bag mount on the top of the top tube, the usual mounts inside the triangle for bottle cages, an additional bottle-cage mount on the underside of the down tube, and even a set of hidden fender mounts.
The Addict Gravel 10 is a capable gravel bike made for riders who don’t want to compromise aerodynamics or comfort. Riders coming to gravel from a road background will appreciate how Scott managed to blend these traits. Though those with a mountain biking pedigree will perhaps expect a more capable and less road bike-like machine, they can still appreciate the improved tire clearance (which increases to 45 mm from the 2021 model's 35mm). With fenders installed, that clearance drops to 40mm.
This is a gravel bike for those committed to racing or experienced riders looking for a smooth transition from their road bike to a bike that can handle more adventurous endeavors without drastically changing the fit and feel of their bike. Similar bikes include the Specialized Crux Pro ($8,200), Revolt Advanced Pro from Giant ($6,400), Cannondale SuperSix Evo SE ($5,200), and Factor Ostro Gravel ($8,600). Considering the Addict Gravel 10's full build with its DT Swiss GRC1400 Disc carbon wheelset and SRAM Force AXS drivetrain at $7,000, the bike is priced comfortably in the middle of comparable models.
Scott offers five complete bike models of the Addict Gravel. These range from the women’s specific Contessa Addict Gravel 15 at $3,000 (Shimano GRX and aluminum wheels) to $12,000 for the Addict Gravel Tuned, which is the lightest build at 17.9lbs (SRAM Red AXS, a power meter, and carbon wheels).
The Addict Gravel 10 I tested sits just below the top-of-the-line model in Scott's lineup. The main difference is the 10's frame is constructed with slightly heavier HMF carbon versus the HMX variety used on the top-tier Tuned version. Additionally, the Gravel 10 uses a SRAM Force AXS groupset (sans power meter), a two-piece integrated cockpit instead of the single piece, and a slightly heavier carbon wheelset.
Priced lower than these two models are the Addict 20 at $4,500 (SRAM Rival AXS 1x12 drivetrain) and the Addict 30 at $4,000 (Shimano GRX RX810/600 Disc 2x11 drivetrain), both with aluminum wheels.
For riders considering the women's-specific Contessa model, note that it uses the same geometry as the other Addict Gravel models. The Contessa's build kit is virtually identical to the Addict 30 (while being $1,000 cheaper) except for a women's saddle. Additionally, it is not available in an XL/58cm size, and the available sizes are shipped with a 10mm shorter stem compared to the non-Contessa versions, making it kind of the deal of the range for riders looking for a shorter overall fit. Especially if they like the colorway and already have a preferred saddle on hand.
Riders with a position they like on their road bike should have no trouble getting comfortable on the Addict Gravel. Transitioning from my main road bike (a 2021 Giant TCR) to the Addict Gravel felt seamless. The bike is available in five sizes (XS-XL) and has a max system weight limit of 265 lbs (including rider and equipment).
With the 2022 version, Scott goes longer and lower in the Addict Gravel's geometry. The main changes from the 2021 model are a 9mm increase in reach, a 1mm increase in fork rake, and the bottom bracket drops an additional 3mm. The seat stays also got a hair shorter. Scott paired the longer reach figure with a shorter stem across all sizes for better control and predictability.
With most gravel bikes now using 1x drivetrains, Scott stands out by equipping the Addict Gravel 10 with SRAM's Force 46/33 T 2x crankset. The 2x drivetrain benefits riders who prefer smaller gear jumps or have to deal with frequent elevation changes (1x remains the preference for many gravel riders due to its simplicity). 2x can make sense on a race bike, giving riders more gear choices for flatter terrain, descents, and long road sections where a specific cadence is handy for steady efforts.
Scott chose a mostly integrated front end for the new Addict Gravel 10 with a mix of house-brand Syncros parts. The Creston 1.0 X handlebar has an ergonomic shape which worked particularly well for me. The bar also features a 16-degree flare from the hood position to the drops. It feels like the right amount of flare, offering some extra stability in the drops without feeling too wide.
The downside of this integration is that Scott (and many other brands) routes brake hoses through the headset bearings. The routing makes routine maintenance tasks on the Addict Gravel's front end more complicated and expensive. Fortunately, the brake lines on the Addict Gravel 10 do not run through the stem (as on some competitors' bikes) but are hidden by a plastic cover on the underside of the stem. Riders can use whatever bar they like, plus swapping out stem lengths will (most likely) not require a full brake bleed or re-routing hoses. This is one of the reasons to choose the Addict Gravel 10 over the pricier Addict Gravel Tuned model, which features a fully-internal one-piece handlebar and stem configuration.
Riding Scott's new gravel bike for the first time, the lightweight and agility stood out to me the most. The bike's low weight is a great asset when going uphill, but its geometry also gave the bike a very planted and solid feeling underneath me.
However, even the best bikes have their limits. With the Addict Gravel, the climbing ability was great up to the point where the grades became very steep (over 10%) and the road was very uneven (think cobbles or deep ruts). In this situation, the longer and slacker front end of the bike made the front wheel wander a bit more. This created a slightly twitchy feeling, though not an uncommon issue for gravel bikes with this kind of geometry.
During my several months of testing the Addict Gravel, I participated in Rooted Vermont, a popular gravel event in the Northeast that offered the perfect mix of terrain for the bike. The Rooted course had everything from a bit of singletrack to dirt roads, gravel, and some paved surfaces with quite a bit of climbing. Here the Addict Gravel 10 excelled; its low weight, combined with the broad gear range, helped on the many climbs. On Rooted's long, rolling road sections, I appreciated the Addict Gravels 2x drivetrain. I could select the gear I wanted more precisely as compared to a 1x system.
The bike's comfortable geometry and wide tires helped soak up bumps and smooth out the terrain for the long day in the saddle. I was particularly impressed with how the bike balanced comfort and stability with precise and direct handling on the descents.
Descending on the Addict Gravel was very controlled. Even when I was hitting washboard-lined roads dotted with multiple potholes, I was able to keep my selection on point. For me, this is where the bike shined brightest. When cornering, I could easily keep the Addict Gravel on my chosen line. Even on rough and loose road surfaces, I never felt the need to nudge or correct my lines as the Addict Gravel just went where it was pointed.
Given the Addict Gravel's stiffness, I was pleased with its comfort. A big part of this was Scott shipping the bike with 40mm Schwalbe G-One tires, which provided a grippy and plush option that also rolled exceptionally well on almost all surfaces. They only faltered on exceptionally steep, loose, and rough gravel roads; where they tended to lose traction, especially when transitioning from seated to standing climbing.
I must also dedicate a few words to the paint job on this particular frame: Sage green with gold dusting and a matte finish. The looks got a lot of praise from other riders, and after its first ride on a dry summer day, the frame was slightly covered in dust that blended in with the matte airbrush finish. Plus, it looks slightly different under different lighting. You can’t discount the power of a simple but beautiful paint job.
The Addict Gravel is not a do-it-all, adventure-ready gravel bike. It does not accept a dropper post, and its frame is devoid of any suspension devices. Instead, it's a gravel bike that prioritizes speed, low weight, and efficiency. When combined with its aesthetic, from far enough away, you might confuse it for a modern road racing bike.
If your idea of gravel involves overnight adventures or riding terrain best suited to 2-inch wide tires, then the Addict Gravel might not be your best option. However, if you are approaching gravel riding from the roadie side of the sport, a bike that feels, rides, and performs like a modern road racer (just with much more tire clearance), the Addict Gravel, might be a perfect choice.
Rosael is an avid cyclist and seasonal runner who is in the pursuit of getting more people on bikes. All bodies. All bikes. As the editor of special projects, she gets to work on initiatives that further engage our audience and provide additional value to our readership. Lately, she has been dipping her cleats into gravel racing and other off-road adventures.
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