LONG TERMERS

LAURA’S SCOTT CONTESSA RANSOM 910

£4,949 / 29in / scott-sports.com

MONTH 5: Laura feels overbiked on her lockdown loop but takes the chance to put the Scott’s travel modes to the test

With lockdown still underway as I write this and racing calendars cancelled, I’ve not had a chance to use the Contessa Ransom in earnest. And with decidedly flat riding from my door, I’ve been focusing on experimentation. No, not the psychedelic type, just riding the same trail back to back – which can get a little disorienting – to see if the TwinLoc remote on the Ransom really makes it more efficient.

The test went like this. I rode the same loop three days in a row, once in 170mm Descend mode the whole way, once in the 120mm Traction-Control setting and the final day in a mix of Lockout and the two travel settings to make full use of the TwinLoc remote.

So first things first. On the 5km uphill road ride to get to the woods, the Ransom felt like a seriously bouncy sofa in the fully open setting. Still, I was shocked to discover that it was 10 per cent faster up the same climb in the Lockout setting on the final day of testing, despite my tired legs.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. On day one, in Descend mode with the full 170mm travel at my disposal, the Ransom was basically overkill when there were no descents to be had. Yes, it was faster on the two rooty sections of the test loop, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the leg-sapping response when pedalling hard and the energy loss on flat corners.

Day two in Traction-Control mode and the Ransom did exactly as described. With the reduced spring volume and increased damping propping up the rear suspension, I found