Scott Plasmanck - a 2008/2011 Scott Plasma TT bike build

[cybernck]

A little bit of history first. Unlike previously, in 2008 racing season I discovered that
I'm mentally and physically ready for time-trialing and first time did a TT race properly.
I enjoyed it too. I finished 2nd in Bosnia & Herzegovina National Championships in Elite
category. The plan was to go one place better in 2009.

Unfortunately, in 2009 I got ill during the first part of the season and never managed get in
shape that year. In 2010, I even decided to build a dedicated TT bike. However, a twisted
ankle nailed me to bed for a couple of months, so that was another season put to waste.

We are in 2011 now. Third attempt at the National title and time to build a new old-stock
2008 Scott Plasma frameset I bought last year. It's pink, as it's a Contessa (women)
model, but with normal men geometry ;-).

A quick mockup using my Spinergy wheels. The plan was to make red stickers to cover
the pink bits and redo the wheel stickers in a different style too.

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck

 

[cybernck]

Bear in mind I'm building this bike for a single event, therefore the parts are
nothing to drool over, but still there are some nice components in the mix!

- Ritchey Carbon internal headset (plus various carbon spacers, not pictured)
- Ritchey WCS 4-Axis 100 mm stem
- Shimano 105 5500 bottom bracket
- Shimano 105 5502 Black 172.5/53/42 crankset
- Shimano 105 R540 Black pedals
- Shimano 105 5502 Black front derailleur
- Shimano 105 5600 Black rear derailleur
- Shimano Ultegra 9-speed 13-23 cassette
- KMC X9L Gold chain
- Tektro R750 Carbon brake calipers
- Tektro RX 5.0 Carbon brake levers
- Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 (SLBS77H) 9-speed bar end shifters
- White gear and brake cable outers + black cable doughnuts
- PRO Synop HF aero bars with PRO Synop S-bend extensions
- Deda Gold bar-tape
- Selle Italia SLR T1 saddle in white
- Specialized Virtue aero bottle and cage
- Continental GP4000 Red clincher tyres
- Polar CS400 heart-rate cycling computer

Those were all the parts I needed. Next up - the build.


Full-size photos with comments on parts: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck

 

[Matt_wood55]

Good luck to you mate, Champion next year!!

 

[cybernck]

Day 1 of the build - arrival at Sokovic Sport. It's my usual bike mechanic,
building my third bike now, except now he's got his own shop .

Today's work is mostly about checking all the parts, fitting the headset and fork,
bottom bracket, crankset, front and rear derailleurs, brakes and cockpit.

PRO Synop and Ritchey WTC components, built into an aero cockpit.

End of Day 1 - a skinny looking "rolling frameset" as a result. At this point, I started
really liking the unusual "Giro pink" colour and decided against the common red.

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=2

 

[cybernck]

Day 2 of the build - Started by preparing the Spinergy wheelset.
Bearings were perfect, but we fitted better freewheel on the rear wheel.

New Continental GP4000 tyres fitted on as well. They were a really tight
fit though! I've had to take it out for a photo. Looking much better now .

Next up, a delicate work of measuring and routing cable outers, followed by
the cables too. Then, connecting up and adjusting everything. My fancy KMC
golden chain was unconserved and ready to be fitted.

Fitting it was the last bit of work for today... and it's aliiive!

End of day 2 - the bike not finished yet, but I took it for a quick spin, to figure out
my position and test everything. The initial thoughts were that it's fast, very fast,
compared to my aluminium road bike!

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=2

 

[keithb]

An excellent write up and I quite like the pink details on the frame (maybe add more pink to other areas)

Keep us updated, especially about how it performs in an actual TT (I bet it'll fly)

 

[cybernck]

Thanks .

It's not quite color-coordinated (yet), due to a change in direction (pink instead of red), so I'll probably get some pink tyres later on.

Still, it's not finished and there's a third day of the build coming up .

 

[cybernck]

Day 3 of the build - The tricky part of cutting down the seat post, fine-tuning
everything and adding finishing touches, such as the handlebar tape, refreshing
the wheel graphics etc.

A (mobile phone) photo of the finished bike. Not completely colour-coordinated,
due to a change of heart about the pink graphics earlier on and I've had an intention
of getting a rear disc wheel, so I hadn't put the gold stickers on the rear wheel.
Anyhow, that's it - time to start riding it now!

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3

 

[cybernck]

23/Jun/2011

Packed up and ready to go on the National Time Trial Championship race on a local race track.

Although it was 34'C in the shade, the spirits were high as well!

As hot as it was outside, I've still had to get warmed up, of course.

The moment of truth!

To be continued...


Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3

 

[cybernck]

First lap and already dedicated to the max, with a heart rate of over 190 bpm.

It was scorching out on the track. My Polar (ooh, the irony!) HRM recorded ambiental
air temperature of 37 degree C! For that reason, the race was shortened from seven
laps to six. In such conditions, I couldn't really push big gears, so my speed was down
a bit, compared to the training rides. Lucikly, the conditions were the same for everyone .

With a hairpin curve in each lap, which brings the average speed down by a considerable
amount and breaks the pedaling rhythm, I completed the 19 km course in just over 27
minutes, with an avg speed of around 42 km/h and max speed of 49 km/h, avg HR of
193 bpm and max HR of 198 bpm.

That was enough for a Gold medal in Elite Category. Additionally, I was also the fastest
competitor in general classification, therefore an absolute National Time Trial Champion!

So there you have it - three years full of various misfortune waiting for the opportunity,
eight months of hard training and a dream come true!

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3