Contessa encompasses all SCOTT bikes that have been developed and equipped to specifically answer most female cyclists’ needs. Under the Contessa umbrella you will find road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes, e-bikes and of course kids’ bikes too. Actually, almost every SCOTT bike model comes in a Contessa version. So what makes them different to the rest of the line-up?

I’m pretty sure one of the first thing you will notice is the visual aspect. The Contessa collection has its own color palette and graphic line, which is established by designers dedicated to women’s products. But beyond the esthetics, here’s what to expect from a Contessa bike:

• Improved contact points: saddle, cranks, handlebars, grips – all these parts are thoughtfully selected to offer female cyclists the best comfort, performance and handling experience.
• Suspension tuning: suspensions are carefully chosen and set-up to function at their best, even with lighter riders.
• Unique models: some of our bike frames, such as the Contessa Active mountain bikes, have been exclusively designed and engineered for the Contessa collection.

If you are still reading, you are probably already thinking of getting a Contessa bike. That’s great! Now, it still leaves us with a bunch of bikes to choose from. So we will try to define your cyclist’s profile together.

SCOTT Contessa full-suspension bikes range from 100mm all the way up to 170mm front and rear travel. Long travel bikes (150mm to 170mm) usually have a geometry developed to offer you the best comfort, stability and confidence to ride downhill and clear steep, technical sections. Obviously, they will absorb bigger shocks but they will also be heavier and less efficient on the climbs than shorter travel bikes (100mm to 120mm). Your own weight and riding style should also be taken into account. If you are rather lightweight, you might want to save weight on your bike too in order to get a better rider/bike ratio and so you could opt for less travel. What’s for riding style, so-called aggressive riders usually prefer to have more travel to get maximum support from their bike.

SCOTT Contessa frames are either full carbon, full alloy, or a combination of both. For mountain bikes, this means the frame is carbon and the rear triangle is alloy. For road and gravel bikes, it can be an alloy frame with a carbon fork. In short, keep this in mind:

• Carbon bikes are lighter, stiffer and have a nicer finish, but they are more expensive.
• Alloy bikes have a great price value and are more resistant, but they are slightly heavier.

Just like every product, the parts which equip our Contessa bikes (brakes, suspensions, shifters, wheels, etc ) have different price and performance ranges. Logically, more expensive bikes come with more expensive parts. These are usually lighter, integrate most up-to-date technologies and are developed to offer the best performance. On the other spectrum’s end, entry-level bikes are usually equipped with less expensive parts which can be a bit heavier or bulkier, and generally offer more standard technologies and performance. Reliability and durability of bike parts, however, can vary and are not necessarily linked to the price of the bike or parts.

All in all, whatever the bike you chose to go for, the best way to keep your investment worth it and have your bike working at its best for as long as possible, is to take good care of it and have it checked and serviced regularly.

You can go to your local SCOTT dealer to get more detailed advice and maybe they will even have your dream bike ready to test! Look for the BIKE TEST CENTER icon on our dealer locator!

You can also test bikes at festivals. Check your country’s Facebook page to stay tuned for upcoming events!

Maybe you’ve already tested your future bike and don’t need further advice. In some countries, you have the possibility to directly order your bike online and have it shipped and mounted at your closest SCOTT dealer.