Storck Scenario 0.9 Review

• BUILD DETAILS:
  • Storck Scenario CD0.9 frame, 55cm
  • Storck Stiletto Aero fork
  • FSA K-Force carbon seatpost
  • San Marco Zoncolan Power saddle, white
  • No headset spacers
  • ACROS AI-24 integrated headset
  • Thomson X2 stem, black 90mm
  • FSA K-Force carbon bars, shallow 40cm
  • Campagnolo Record 10 shifters
  • No handlebar tape
  • Jagwire cable housing, white
  • Yokozuna cables
  • SRAM Red ceramic bottom bracket
  • SRAM Red cranks, 170mm 39/53T
  • Campagnolo Chorus chain
  • Campagnolo Centaur derailleurs
  • 20/24h Gigantex carbon wheelset
  • Campagnolo Chorus cassette, 11-23T
  • Schwalbe Milano tubulars
  • Time RXS carbon pedals
  • SRAM Red brake calipers
  • Kool Stop carbon brake pads

  RIDE CHARACTERISTICS

  

  Having now spent eighty-some hours aboard the Storck: in the rain and the wind, sprinting and spinning, out to Indiana, north along the path, and up and down the rollers around Argonne -- I've come to several conclusions about this bicycle, some of which were surprising. If Storcks are known for nothing else, it is their stiffness. For competitive riders, maximum stiffness is a very important attribute -- but not the be-all for typical club riders such as myself. And so it should be understood that while every Storck is incredibly stiff and responsive, there is a spectrum within the range, and it is not linear.

  

  The Scenario 0.9 is the precursor frame to the current Absolutist 0.9. These frames are lighter (by about 100g) than their 1.0 counterparts, and about $700 more at retail. They share the same mold and therefore the same geometry, but the 0.9 is more compliant. I have been shocked to find that, indeed, this is a bike that sprints like nothing I've ever felt -- and yet is reasonably comfortable on a four hour ride. In fact, I would put it in the same comfort class as the frame I rode last year, a custom titanium TATI frameset.

  

  However, these frames are certainly not for every rider. The 0.9 has an incredibly light and stiff front end. The Stilleto Aero fork has a very short rake at 37.5mm and this 70kg rider cannot seem to make it budge, even under relatively hard downhill cornering. The bike corners so quickly that you simply must countersteer in order to maintain stability. Even a slight flick of the handlebars will cause the rider to lose his line and likely crash. So for experienced riders, this cornering is the bee's knees -- very fun indeed. I found this feature to be very rewarding: finally, a high end bike built for grownups! But it's not for everyone. If you cannot corner, it's best to stick to something like an R3, a Madone, or the like.

  AESTHETICS

  While it is true that Storcks sometimes appear to have been designed by blind aerospace engineers, the 0.9 comes in a relatively muted mix of bare 3K weave and white decals with blue accents. The C1.1 also comes in a similar colorway, whereas the Absolutists now sport UD carbon and bolder decals.

  

  The graphics might not please everyone, but the real controversy tends to focus on Storcks' massive forks and head tubes. Mine appears to be slightly pregnant -- an impression that only grows on larger frames, as all Storcks sport proportional tubing (ie tube diameters are different on every single size for every model). But it's fairly easy to see (and feel) the functional benefit of the bulbous front end, so this is a forgivable sin.

  

  One area that has been improved on the Absolutists vs. the Scenarios is the seat tube cluster. It just looks a bit busy on my frame. The bottom bracket is gigantic and well thought out. The chainstays and seatstays are, if not elegant, at least proportionally bulky. But as these elements join beneath the saddle, there just doesn't seem to have been much attention paid to the form's integration. On the Absolutist, the top tube cleanly morphs into a super rigid plane that splits into seat stays about 8cm past the seat tube. That said, I love the rear facing dropouts. Mysterious and sexy.

  

  FIT

  Storcks are long and low. They have incredibly low stack heights, steep angles, and reasonably long top tubes, making for a very aggressive position for the average rider. Taller riders with shorts torsos might have difficulty fitting a Storck properly. I was very fortunate to find that my 55cm fits beautifully, and with no additional spacers on the head tube. The one significant problem with Storck's fit is simply the lack of sizes. Most frames are 47-51-55-57-59-63, with the Vision Light being unavailable in a 47.

  

  DRIVETRAIN

  

  It's difficult to fault modern Campagnolo equipment, even a motley mix such as the one I've outfitted the Storck with. I'm running some old Record 10 shifters without hoods or bar tape, mainly in order to ensure the Storck stays UCI-illegal. Mated to a fresh set of Centaur carbon mechs and a Chorus chain/cassette, the shifting is crisp and clean. And loud. Just as a proper road bike should be. The SRAM Red cranks are just OK. They're mainly on the bike to match the TIME pedals.

  

  BRAKES & WHEELS

  Here is the one major problem with this particular build. First of all, SRAM Red brake calipers simply do not modulate as well as Campagnolo, and flex more than Zero-G. So next time, I'll be looking elsewhere. But more importantly, the shoes are shod with some Kool Stop carbon-specific pads which have apparently been manufactured by demons intent on my impending death, because they simply will not lock up these Gigantex tubular carbon hoops. And they squeal.

  

  The wheels themselves are fine -- though hardly world-beating. At 1600g, these are a middle of the road set of carbon tubulars. They accelerate well. They are difficult to handle in crosswinds. And the rear hub has a nice buzzing noise at speed. The Schwalbe Milano tires, on the other hand, have been a pleasant surprise. At only 250g and $40, these are some inexpensive tubulars that perform like tires twice the price. While some would criticize the tread pattern and skinwalls as a bit too retro, these tubular grip and ride very similarly to high end Vittorias and Soyos. I'm sold.

  EVERYTHING ELSE

  

  The jury is still out on the San Marco Zoncolan saddle. I do love the look, and the idea of a saddle that combines the length of a Fizik Arione, the padded nose of a tri saddle, and the profile of a Flite... it's very close to perfect, but it does encourage a little too much fore/aft movement for my taste. It's too malleable. I think I prefer a saddle that enforces positional discipline.

  

  This is the first bike I've ridden in years that *looks* expensive, even when it's not moving. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Also, I wish the head tube badge wasn't plastic and glued on.

  

  The truth is, I secretly wanted to hate my Storck. Well... not really hate it, but dislike it enough to be able to go back to a custom ti frame later this season and breathe a sigh of relief. I would have liked to be relieved that, while super light and super stiff, and perhaps the best of the bunch in the carbon world -- Storcks still couldn't touch the comfort and fun quotient that ti offers. And sadly, I haven't been able to dislike it. At all.

  There are admittedly a few nits that I'll pick with my Storck, but several of these criticisms have been corrected in the Absolutists. And the Storck certainly doesn't have that "steel feel" -- that wonderful resonance that high end steel and ti frames get when really turning over the pedals. But in every other measurable and subjective category, this thing wins out handily. It wins out handily over every road frame I've owned or ridden. This bike is in fact so good that it has caused me to question several long held beliefs about carbon fiber, isolated stiffness, geometry, and especially the mix of other frames in the TATI offerings (more on that later).

  And so this makes me wonder: how can this only be Storck's fourth best frameset? And if so, what am I missing out on?