Felt bicycles: models, recommendations for selection

Felt is a world renowned bicycle company. It makes excellent products in all categories, from BMX to simple and elegant single speed models.

America is believed to be the country of origin of Felt bicycles. but components are manufactured in Taiwan, and only assembly is carried out in California, in the city of Irvine.

Felt is a firm committed to innovation and creative design. In 2006, she launched carbon fiber bicycles. Thanks to its extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, carbon fiber is an engineer's dream. It is lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel, so a properly constructed frame made from this material not only delivers a high ride quality, but also stiffness, agility and efficiency.

In 2007, the company developed the Equilink suspension, which eliminates the problem of the bike swaying when pedaling uphill. Outside magazine named this development "Mechanism of the Year". And this is just one of the many innovations that Felt has brought to the cycling world.

The company offers a huge number of models to choose from: for triathlon, for fitness, track, road and mountain, cyclocross, cruisers, BMX, time-trial bicycles, electric. In 2019, Felt sponsored the American professional Rally Cycling team with FR and DA triathlon bikes custom-painted in the team's traditional orange colors.

There are many popular models.

Mid-range road bike.Designed for professional riders and just for those who love fast driving. It is noteworthy that the frame is made of aluminum, while the Felt brand is associated mainly with carbon fiber... But it is still present in this model: from it the fork and seatpost are made.

The upper frame tube is horizontal for a lower ride position. Combined with a light fork, this helps you tackle steep inclines and downhill allows fast cornering. The steering wheel is slightly wider than usual (46 cm), which provides good stability when maneuvering in heavy traffic. Seat material is dual density foam combined with carbon fibers.

The Road F75 is equipped with Shimano 105 gear with 11 speeds and extremely practical compact 34/50 chain... The brakes on this model are not Shimano's but are very similar to their latest Tiagra.

A triathlon bike, with the "W" for women. When creating this model the proprietary FitWoman technology was used, which takes into account the peculiarities of the structure of the female body when developing the frame geometry and selecting equipment. The frame and fork are made of carbon fiber, which, combined with the signature TTR3 aerodynamic wheels, makes this bike ideal for racing.

One of the best crossbikes in its price range. The frame and fork are specially designed for the tough conditions of the cross. They are made from carbon fiber and are highly durable and durable. The bike resists shock and vibration well. The model has a very high quality package.

Derailleurs - Shimano Ultegra level 6700 - are currently the most comfortable and efficient derailleurs on the market. The chain and cassette are also Shimano, albeit of level 105. The crank mechanism - FSA Energy BB30, is made of high strength light alloy. The only weak point is, perhaps, the lack of disc brakes. However, the Tektro cantilever brakes found on this model are common among motocross bikes.

Mountain bike middle class. The highlight is the combination of trendy new 29-inch wheels with a classic 2-suspension design. Carbon fiber frame. The bike is equipped with FAST suspension and Avid Elixir disc brakes. This model is characterized by Excellent value for money and quality.

Designed for women, the Café line combines classic design with modern technical advances, including lightweight materials and high-quality hardware. This model was created in order to quickly and comfortably move around the city. The frame is made of lightweight aluminum tubes.

The choice of a suitable model depends on many factors, but the purpose of purchasing a bicycle is decisive: it is needed to simply lead a healthy lifestyle or is purchased to participate in races. Other factors to look out for:

• presence or absence of cycling experience;
• the area in which the trips are planned;
• personal preferences: type of brakes, type of derailleurs, shape and material of the saddle, general silhouette of the bike, its color and pattern.

If you are planning mainly high-speed rides on excellent roads, then a road bike is recommended. Road bikes are designed exclusively for riding on tarmac. They are very light, with good aerodynamics, but do not forgive the slightest road irregularities.

Cyclists who ride mostly on good roads, but rarely on dirt roads, may choose a hybrid. A hybrid is a cross between a mountain bike and a touring bike. It has smooth tires that allow for high speed on the highway, but they are also suitable for gravel roads.Hybrid bikes have a more upright ride compared to road bikes, which provides good visibility and handling while riding.

Wide tires and heavy suspension make them quite sluggish, but irreplaceable on uneven dirt roads.

Cyclocross is designed for off-road driving, but surprisingly comfortable. At first glance, they bear a strong resemblance to road bikes, but are actually much stiffer and much more maneuverable. Usually, they are lighter than mountain bikes, and due to the fact that their tires are thinner, they can reach a fairly high speed.

For an overview of the Felt VR series bikes, see below.