Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1506555
RIDE REVIEW I FELT IA FRD 2.0 ULTIMATE FORCE ETAP AXS TRIATHLON BICYCLE P96 Unplanned lock-ups on tri bikes aren't good. Tri bikes tend to be twitchy and handle ultra-quick, but I found the light-feeling Felt more stable than expected and not too scary in moderate crosswinds. And the seat was excellent; no issues whatsoever. My bike came fitted with 404 front and 808 rear carbon fiber Zipp rims that rolled well and didn't seem overly fazed by the wind. The Felt also uses larger 28mm (Continental) tires, which improves handling and allows the use of lower tire pressure which I prefer for better traction and a less-jolty ride. The bike performed flawlessly in the race. Luckily, no flats, either. If I did get one, though, I was pre - pared, having practiced tube changes several times at home. I admit, I missed not having the quick- release axle skewers that most bikes have, but with a pro-level bike like the Felt IA 2.0, that's one of the small prices you pay for ultra-aero and going fast. MADE IT I crossed the Ironman Coeur d'Alene finish line at 15:42:00. Not great, but eh, I finished. And, to be honest, going in, I was worried about finishing this one, mainly because of the hilly bike course. In case you're unfamiliar with an Ironman race, it is a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and full 26.2-mile marathon run with no breaks in between and a 17-hour limit. I honestly thought it was a bit of a gamble attempt - ing such a race on an unfamiliar F1-type bicycle with "little" training time on it, but the Felt was remarkably easy to ride, performed flawlessly and made my life as easy as possible in a not-so-easy race. CN FELT IA FRD 2.0 ULTIMATE FORCE ETAP AXS ($13,999) AERO BASEBAR: Felt Dagger Direct 2.0 ASC / Devox Ergomod Extensions CASSETTE: SRAM XG1270 12-speed 10-33T CHAIN: SRAM Force 12-speed BAR END SHIFTERS: SRAM S-900 AERO HRD, Hydraulic Disc, Flat Mount TIRES: Continental Grand Prix 5000 700x25 WHEEL – FRONT: ZIPP 404 Firecrest Disc / Tubeless Ready / 12x100mm WHEEL – REAR: ZIPP 808 Firecrest Disc / Tubeless Ready / 12x142mm FRAME MATERIAL: Felt IA 2.0 - integrated Aero / UHC Ultimate+ TeXtreme Carbon Fiber FORK: Felt IA 2.0 - integrated Aero-Dagger / UHC Ultimate+ TeXtreme Carbon Fiber HEADSET: IS (IS-2) SEATPOST: Felt Aero TRI IL 2.0 VM / UHC Advanced+ TeXtreme Carbon Fiber FRONT DERAILLEUR: None REAR DERAILLEUR: SRAM Force eTap AXS, 12-S CRANKSET: SRAM Force 1 DUB w/Power Meter 48T BOTTOM BRACKET: CeramicSpeed BSA for SRAM DUB BRAKE CALIPERS: SRAM S-900 AERO HRD, 2-piston, Hydraulic disc brake STEM: Felt Dagger Direct 2.0 ASC / Devox Ergomod Extensions AERO CLIP-ON BAR: Felt Dagger Direct 2.0 ASC / Devox Ergomod Extensions SADDLE: ISM PS 1.0 Satin Steel S P E C I F I C AT I O N S Here's proof that I did, in fact, finish the CDA Ironman, and the Felt IA 2.0 definitely helped me get there with plenty of time to spare.