Zwift’s May update included the two new “triathlon-specific” TT frames: the Felt IA 2.0 and the Scott Plasma RC Ultimate. Both are upgrades to existing frames in game (the Felt IA and Scott Plasma), and both are rated at 4 stars for aero performance, 1 star for weight – just like every other TT frame in Zwift.
Normally we do separate posts for each new frame and wheelset, but it turns out these frames perform identically, are priced identically, and are level-locked almost identically… the Felt is available to level 34+ Zwifters, while the Scott is available at level 33+.
Here’s how each is described in the Drop Shop:
Felt IA 2.0: The IA 2.0 is the latest incarnation of Felt’s venerable IA platform. Entirely redesigned, the exciting new silhouette, smart integrations, and massively adjustable riding position is purpose-built for triathlon. If solo speed is your thing, you’ve got to try the IA 2.0.
Scott Plasma RC Ultimate: With the Plasma RC Ultimate, Scott really decided to flex their “Aero Muscles”. This triathlon-specific bicycle features fully integrated cables, a hydration system, and storage boxes. They’ve also made it versatile, making sure that anyone can find their most efficient cockpit position on the bike. If you thought the last Plasma was the fastest in the world (it was) then you ain’t seen nothing yet.
We ran both frames through our normal testing procedure in order to discover exactly how they stack up against other frames in the Zwift universe.
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new Felt IA 2.0 and Scott Plasma RC Ultimate frames in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
Both the Felt IA 2.0 and Scott Plasma RC Ultimate turn in very fast flat times. In fact, they’re tied for 2nd place in the universe of TT frames on Zwift, only slower on the flats than the Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc.
Both frames are faster than their older versions in Zwift, but while the Felt IA 2.0 trims just 1 second off the Felt IA, the Scott Plasma RC Ultimate trims 15 seconds off the older Scott Plasma.
The Felt and Scott both turned in a test time of 49:43. By comparison, the Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc is 2 seconds faster, while the slowest name-brand TT frame (Pinarello Bolide TT) is 16 seconds slower on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
The Felt and Scott both turned in a matching Alpe du Zwift test times, and those times were faster than any other TT frame in the game.
Both frames are faster than their older versions in Zwift, but while Scott Plasma RC Ultimate trims just 2 seconds off the older Scott Plasma, the Felt IA 2.0 trims 8.5 seconds off the Felt IA.
Their Alpe time was 50:01, which is 41 seconds faster than the slowest TT frame in Zwift (Trek Speed Concept SLR 9) and 1 second faster than the previous best climber, the Specialized Shiv S-Works.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm carbon wheelset.
Conclusions
On a pan-flat TT course like Tempus Fugit, the zippy Canyon Speedmax CF SLX disc is still the best frame. But if the course includes hills, you’ll want to be riding the Felt IA 2.0 or Scott Plasma RC Ultimate. That’s because they outclimb the Canyon (and every other TT frame in game), and are only 2 seconds slower than the most aero frame over a 50-minute flat test!
So which of these new frames do you pick? Whichever one looks the best to you! Be warned, though – as has been the case with other frames lately, the color slider shows up but doesn’t actually work. So what you see is what you get:
The Felt IA 2.0 and Scott Plasma RC Ultimate are now listed on our Master Zwift Frames List. We’ll also be adding them to the following posts:
- Fastest TT Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level
- Zwift Speed Tests: TT Frame Ranking Charts
- Speed Tests: Zwift’s Fastest TT Bike Frames
- Speed Tests: Zwift’s Fastest TT Bike Frames for Climbing Races
- Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy At Each Level
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike’s performance relative to others may also change. We don’t always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
So for example Canyon speedmax vs Felt IA 2.0 up Box Hill .how much faster is the Felt .thanks.
So right now these are the best for any TT that’s rolling or has any climbs. Any thoughts on whether they’re likely to stay that way or get nerfed? The fact that they’re locked to a higher level than the Canyon Speedmax is promising, but, while I don’t care about the drops, I’d hate to clutter my garage with another frame that I won’t end up using due to the stats changing (shoutouts to Chapter2 TOA and many, many others).
If the.past 6 months have taught us anything, it’s that Zwift frames lose that “new bike smell” within 1-2 updates after they’re released and performance is nerfed. I think. I’ll wait at least a month before adding either one.
The Felt looks faster in my opinion 😜 The Scott has that huge gap between the front wheel and the frame. I know almost nothing about aerodynamics but it looks inefficient
both are ugly AF
We have a new Bologna candidate!
I love that you’ve added a disclaimer about performance metrics potentially changing in the future. Zwift’s monkeying with metrics after publication date has gotten so bad that a disclaimer is now required
Would you be able to update the scatter charts post too please? It’s the one at zwiftinsider.com/scatter/
Seconded. I find these much more useful than the “ranking charts” because you can see easily which items are even worth considering (because there isn’t an option that is just as fast in one axis but faster in the other axis).
Thinking about TT bikes that climb ok (at least for TT bikes), I am curious about using them for shallow hill climb races. Take for example, a hill climb race up the Volcano KoM. There’s no drafting and the entire race is the KoM segment (3.8 km at 3.2%). As it is, I’m going with an all-rounder on something like that rather than a straight climbing rig, but, is there a point when the gradient is low enough that one of these lighter (though not really light) TT bikes provide enough aero benefit to beat out their weight penalty? Maybe… Read more »
The old test data shows you can save maybe 1 second or 2 on the climb part with a TT bike https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_dvNbBEKAztJwjX-2CDdWmVSR4jP92o-eiNCB7hl5IY/edit#gid=1812742034
Thanks. I can’t pull 4 W/kg for quite that long, but it’s good to know that at high speeds it might be worth considering a TT bike. I’d forgotten about those sheets. Will have to look at them more.
With the Zwift Classics Finale of the Bologna Time Trial coming up next week, have these bikes been nerfed at all, or are they still the 2nd fastest on flats and the fastest climbers? On a semi-related note, has there been any work done to see where on the power curve the break point is between time trial bikes and an all-rounder like the Tron on the Bologna TT course? I know that at 4 W/kg the TT bikes are ~20 seconds faster. When I was a D, I tried the course on both TT bike and the Canyon Aeroad… Read more »