Felt 2010: Cranking it up a few notches

‘Tis the season to introduce 2010 bikes, and Felt Bicycles recently unveiled their new line to dealers at their Irvine, California headquarters. 

The company have gained recognition for the bikes they design for the Garmin-Slipstream professional road racing team, but they also offer highly-rated mountain, urban and time trial machines. Here are some of the 2010 highlights.

AR-1

The US$9,999 (approx £6,100) Felt AR-1 ‘aero road’ model pictured at the top of this article uses Felt’s UHC-Nano Ultra Hybrid composite carbon fibre with Nanotube technology.

The modular monocoque carbon frame has a 3KP finish, internal cable routing, carbon dropouts and a replaceable derailleur hanger CNC-machined from 7075 aluminium.

The component spec is pure Shimano 7970: Dura-Ace Di2 electronica with a 53/39-tooth crankset and 11-23T 10-speed cassette. The 50mm deep carbon Dura-Ace wheels have 16/20 spokes front/rear, with Vittoria Diamante Pro-Light Kevlar bead 700x23c tyres.

Other components include Oval Concepts’ aero R910 carbon drop bars and RBT carbon/aluminium stem with front cap upgrade kit and titanium bolts, Felt’s carbon bladed monocoque seatpost and a Devox Team Issue saddle with carbon weave base and rails.

Naturally, a Shimano Di2 battery and charger round out the bike. Colour is Matte Clear & Red. Sizes are 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm.

B2R

The US$4,599 (approx £2,800) Felt B2R is a time trial model made from Felt’s UHM (Ultra-High Modulus) modular carbon with a 3KP finish. It’s a full aero tubeset, with front and rear wheel recesses, internal cable routing and forged horizontal dropouts.

The clever Felt Bayonet II carbon fork handles steering up front. The gruppo is SRAM Red, including a 53/39T crankset and 12-25T 10-speed cassette.

Other component highlights include Felt’s own Bayonet 6061-T6 base bar (with integrated and adjustable length carbon tri-position extensions plus aluminium arm rests with gel arm rest pads), Bayonet II integrated CNC-machined aluminium stem, 3.1 UHM bladed monocoque seatpost and 3.2 Tri/TT saddle (with carbon-injected base, gel nose, custom waterproof cover with carbon inserts and extended-length hollow chromoly rails).

Wheels are Felt’s deep-section aluminium TTR-2 700c with 18/20 DT aero bladed spokes front/rear, and Vittoria Rubino Pro folding 150tpi 700x23c tyres. Colour is Gloss Navy & Clear. Sizes are 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60cm.

F1-SL

The US$6,999 (approx £4,300) Felt F1-SL is a 900g carbon road racing frame with a 300g carbon fork, made of Felt’s UHC-Nano Ultra Hybrid composite carbon fibre with Nanotube technology. The modular monocoque carbon frame has a 3KP finish, internal cable routing, carbon dropouts and a CNC-machined replaceable derailleur hanger.

Component highlights include a Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 gruppo with a 53/39T crankset and 11-23T 10-speed cassette. Felt’s Devox carbon handlebar and stem, 1.1 UHM carbon seatpost and Devox Team Issue saddle top off the spec.

Wheels are Shimano Dura-Ace, with16/20 spokes front/rear and Vittoria Diamante Pro-Light Kevlar bead 700x23c tyres. Colour is Matte Clear. Sizes are 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60cm.

F15X

The US$2,799 (approx £1,700) F15X cyclo-cross model highlights Felt’s custom-drawn and custom-butted ultra-light oversized 7005 aluminium tubing, with a hydroformed and shoulder-friendly top tube. Up front is Easton’s EC70X ‘cross-specific carbon fork with a 1 1/8in aluminium steerer and crown.

A mix of SRAM’s Red and Force components power the drivetrain, with a S500 3D cold-forged aluminium 46/38T crankset, and an 11-26T 10-speed cassette.

Braking is handled by TRP’s Euro X ‘cross cantilevers, and other components include Felt-branded bars, stem, seatpost and saddle. Vittoria Cross XC Pro tyres roll on Felt’s CxR2 wheels with a CNC-machined braking surface and 20/24 front/rear spokes (straight-pull double-butted DTs with alloy nipples). Colour is Gloss Pewter & Black. Sizes are 49, 51, 53, 55, 57 and 59cm.

Compulsion 2

The US$2,999 (approx £1,800) Compulsion 2 uses the company’s Equilink “aggressive trail/all-mountain” full-suspension frame, with 150mm travel coming from a Fox 32 Float RL fork and RP2 shock.

Made with Felt’s custom-drawn double-butted 7005 aluminium tubing, with a hydroformed top tube and aluminium rear triangle, the Compulsion 2 includes a Shimano SLX drivetrain, shifters and disc brakes (180mm/160mm front/rear rotors).

It sports Felt’s own-brand XAM stem, riser bar, seatpost, saddle and folding tyres. WTB Speed Disc AM rims are laced to SLX Centre-lock hubs (15mm front). Colour is Bronze/White. Sizes are S (15.5in), M (17.5in), L (19.5in) and XL(21.5in) .

Nine Race

The US$2,499 (approx £1,500) Nine 29er carbon cross-country hardtail uses Felt’s UHM carbon fibre, with a “dingle guard” replaceable Kevlar down tube protector and bolt-on Kevlar chain watcher.

Suspension is handled by a RockShox Reba Race dual air-sprung 29er fork with 80mm travel. Drivetrain duties are performed by a Shimano Deore XT crankset, front/rear derailleurs and shifters, and brakes are also XT (180mm/160mm front/rear rotors).

Felt spec their own RXC stem, zero-rise bar, seatpost and saddle, plus a custom cableset and dual density grips. XT centre-lock hubs are laced to WTB Lazer Disc trail rims and shod with WTB Vulpine tyres. Colour is Gloss Super Black/Gloss Super White. Sizes are S (15.5in), M (17.5in), L (19.5in) and XL(21.5in).

Six Team

The US$4,999 (approx £3,000) Six carbon cross-country hardtail uses Felt’s UHM carbon fibre with “dingle guard” down tube protector and bolt-on chain watcher.

A Rockshox Sid Race provides 100mm of front travel. The spec includes SRAM X-9 front and X-0 rear derailleur and shifters, a Truvativ Noir crankset and Avid Elixir CR brakeset with 160mm rotors.

The Six also features Felt-branded RXC components including the stem and saddle, Devox zero-rise carbon bar, custom cableset and dual density grips. A Fulcrum Red Metal One wheelset with Felt Devox RXC folding tyres rounds out ground contact duties. Colour is Clear Carbon/Gloss Baron Red. Sizes are S (15.5in), M (17.5in), L (19.5in) and XL (21.5in).

Virtue 1

The US$4,299 (approx £2,600) Virtue 1 uses the company’s Equilink “XC-trail” full-suspension platform, with 130mm of travel coming from a Fox 32 RLC fork up front and Fox Float RP23 shock in the rear.

Made with Felt’s custom-drawn, double-butted 7005 aluminium with a hydroformed top tube and carbon fibre rear triangle, the Virtue 1 comes with an XT crankset, front/rear derailleurs and shifters.

Felt-branded components include their RXC stem, 680mm riser bar, seatpost and saddle, custom cableset and dual density grips. XT disc rotors (180mm/160mm front/rear) handle the slowing and stopping, while Felt’s Devox TAR tyres handle the dirty stuff. Colour is White/Red/Black. Sizes are S (15.5in), M (17.5in), L (19.5in), and XL(21.5in).

Gridloc

The US$1,199 (approx £750) Gridloc is a fixie-lookalike three-speed, built with hydroformed and butted 7005 Super-lite aluminium tubes. It comes with rack and mudguard mounts, and a carbon fork with clearance for mudguards.

Gearing is courtesy of a Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub. Tektro Long Reach dual pivot brake calipers and cowhorn handlebars give the Gridloc a distinctive look, topped off with a Selle San Marco Regal Vintage series suede saddle and 24-spoked front and rear wheels.

The Gridloc comes with a 15mm tool to remove axle nuts for fixing flat tyres with a built-in bottle opener. Colour is Matte Primer Red/Copper. Sizes are 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm.

TK-2

The US$1,399 (approx £850) TK-2 is a velodrome-specific track racing bike built with Felt’s custom-butted, smooth welded Super-light 7005 aluminium tubing. Frame features include an aero 70mm deep cutout seat tube with a rear wheel recess and a semi-aero downtube, a bladed monostay and aero seatstays connected to horizontal CNC dropouts with stainless steel inserts.

The Felt carbon fork has 25mm of offset for quick track handling. Component highlights include a SRAM TruVativ Omnium Track two-piece cold-forged aluminium 48T crankset and 15T fixed gear driven by a KMC Z510HX track 1/8in-pitch chain.

A Deda Pista aluminium handlebar joins own-brand kit including a TkR 2014 aluminium 3D forged stem and bladed carbon fibre micro adjust seatpost, Felt 1.2 saddle with a carbon-injected base and TkR-2 42mm deep aluminium Aero Track wheels, with 28 spokes radially laced in the front and 28 spokes three-crossed in the rear for strength. Colour is Gloss White, Black. Sizes are  52, 54, 56, 58 and 60cm.

X-City 1

The US$1,499 (approx £900) X-City 1 is a 700c-wheeled urban commuter using Shimano’s Alfine internal eight-speed hub. It’s made with Felt’s custom-drawn, double-butted 6061 aluminium tubing and boasts a signature hydroformed top tube.

An eccentric bottom bracket ensures correct chain tension. The carbon unicrown fork is painted to match. The component package includes Shimano Alfine hydraulic disc brakes; Felt dual density ergo grips, Moon Unit bar, aluminium stem and seatpost; and a Selle Royal Viper saddle.

Mavic A-317 rims are laced to a Shimano Alfine SG-S500 eight-speed internal rear hub and RM-65 Centerlock front disc hub with butted stainless spokes. Felt spec their X:City 120tpi tyres with a folding bead. Colour is Super White. Sizes include 48, 52, 55 and 58cm (men’s), and 44 and 49cm (women’s).

Z2

The US$5,999 (approx £3,700) Felt Z2 is an ‘endurance’ road racing bike made with Felt’s UHM modular carbon fibre with 3K finish, including forged dropouts and Felt’s 1.2 carbon fork up front.

Felt mix Shimano’s Dura-Ace 7970 Di2 electronic gruppo with a touch of Ultegra (compact 50/34T crankset, chain and 11-25T 10-speed cassette) for more climbing-friendly gearing over the long haul.

Felt’s own Devox carbon bars and 7050 aluminium 3D forged stem handle steering duties, while their carbon seatpost and road saddle round out the other contact points.

Shimano’s RS80 carbon wheelset (16/20 spokes front/rear) comes with Vittoria Rubino Pro 150tpi 700x23c folding tyres. Battery and charger are included. Colour is Gloss Hyper Black. Sizes are 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm.

ZW2

The US$4,999 (approx £3,000) ZW2 is a women’s racing model, built with Felt’s custom UHM modular carbon fibre with 3KP finish, forged dropouts and a Felt 1.2 carbon fork up front.

Component highlights include a mix of Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra, with a 50/34T compact crankset; a Ritchey Pro Evolution carbon handlebar; a Felt Devox H-Clamp stem, carbon seatpost and women’s race saddle.  

Wheels are Mavic Ksyrium Elites, with Vittoria Diamante Pro-Light Kevlar bead folding 700x23c tyres. Colour is Gloss Clear & Magenta. Sizes are small, medium and tall.