"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - new aero felt frame = the new soloist?

here's the link with some low quality pictures on slowtwitch:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Revealed:_New_2009_Felt_AERO_road_bike._(New-_side_view!)_P1834004/

even through the pixelation, i can tell that the bike is s'wheat.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2008/jun08/veenendaal08/MARTIJNMAASKANTSLIPSTREAMPHILIPPEGILBERTFRANCAISEDESJEUX

http://www.dutchfoodvalleyclassic.nl/bigfoto.php?image=fotos/IMG_1528.jpg

Sweet! I was hoping for a new frame for next year... We're sponsored by them and I've been waiting to pull the trigger on a Felt until the '09's came out!

Sweet! I was hoping for a new frame for next year... We're sponsored by them and I've been waiting to pull the trigger on a Felt until the '09's came out!

What frames can you guys get? Were sponsored by Felt as well but can only get the Felt FC "team"... Really wanted a deal on the B2 TT frame but no luck :)

Felt's really upping their game. So quality products lately.

I look forward to seeing how it compares to the soloist.

^^ overall, or in the wind tunnel?

If we're looking overall, then you have to consider that the Cervelos are fugly (exceptions being the new frames that are all black, all white, or the new P2.... The P3's and the most frames that aren't '08's are god awful ugly). Plus, the paint quality on the Cervelos is absolutely terrible.

That aside... I'm sure it will do just fine against the P3 if they've done their homework. It might not beat it, but it gives another option to the Soloist. The new B2's wind tunnel results show it fairly close to the P3 (though, arguably, not beating it, and also without a rider on board, I believe).

That said, I'm really not sold on the whole needing aerodynamics on a road bike. TT bike, yes. And no, I'm not arguing it wouldn't help, anything helps. In the grand scheme of things, though, I'd rather be on a road bike that puts me in the most powerful and aero position than one that has the most aero tubes.

That bike almost looks like their new Tk1 Track bike that Tylor Phinney

If we're looking overall, then you have to consider that the Cervelos are fugly (exceptions being the new frames that are all black, all white, or the new P2.... The P3's and the most frames that aren't '08's are god awful ugly).

...In the eye of the beholder. I really dislike some (I'm thinking of one in particular) other, non-Cervelo, high-end bikes, but they seem to get some others on the forum rather moist.

I personally like Cervelos. I would prefer they do a ****ty-finish, nude carbon version; but hey, you don't get your druthers all the time.

Hey... I like my 'velo ('08 P2C), but it's the only one I like in looks except for the SLC-SL, R3, and R3-SL.

If we're looking overall, then you have to consider that the Cervelos are fugly (exceptions being the new frames that are all black, all white, or the new P2.... The P3's and the most frames that aren't '08's are god awful ugly). Plus, the paint quality on the Cervelos is absolutely terrible.

That aside... I'm sure it will do just fine against the P3 if they've done their homework. It might not beat it, but it gives another option to the Soloist. The new B2's wind tunnel results show it fairly close to the P3 (though, arguably, not beating it, and also without a rider on board, I believe).

That said, I'm really not sold on the whole needing aerodynamics on a road bike. TT bike, yes. And no, I'm not arguing it wouldn't help, anything helps. In the grand scheme of things, though, I'd rather be on a road bike that puts me in the most powerful and aero position than one that has the most aero tubes.

While I agree on the "most powerful and aero position" vs. "most aero tubes" I might be naive in thinking that pretty much across the board, for MOST people, you can get the exact same position to within a few millimeters through the use of seat adjustments, and stack/reach sdjustments at the stem. As such, the only difference (ignoring stiffness, vertical compliance, blah blah) from one bike to the next besides look (and the previously ignored 'feel') is aerodynamics.

Considering that cycling resistance is made up of a combo of rolling resistance and wind resistance, even in a pack,and when not pounding out threshold wattages, better aerodynamics saves energy. Why would you consider that not important?

And then there are the guys like myself who are constantly on or off the front. Aero is VERY important. And to point it out yet again, When Cancellara took the stage from the sprinters in the tour, it was probably possible because of the aerodynamics of the bike that he held them off (Cervelo did the calculations...I don't have the link).

And to point it out yet again, When Cancellara took the stage from the sprinters in the tour, it was probably possible because of the aerodynamics of the bike that he held them off (Cervelo did the calculations...I don't have the link).

I think you're mis-remembering that calculation - or perhaps I am.

From memory, the frame saved him 'X' seconds (I remember 9?). But that doesn't take into account how the pack would start chasing sooner...

...the bottom line is that he was in the pack, then broke away, from my memory. He was already caught, and won by a few seconds(?). The frame didn't make a difference.

oh please, Cancellara's frame/wheels didn't win him that stage, or MSR. Cancellara won that ****.

I'm just not convinced that the effect of an aero frame is worth much. I'd argue your wheels and stuff like that make a bigger difference.

During the road stages of the Tour, Fabian (just like most of his colleagues) rides the SLC-SL. As light or lighter than all but two of the frames used by his competitors (the R3 SL being one of the two other frames), the SLC-SL has another feature that makes it ideal for efforts like on stage 3: its aerodynamics. When you are out in front by yourself, Fabian Cancellara on his SLC-SL creates 3% less drag than he would on a standard, round-tubed frame (you can see photos of Fabian on a regular Soloist Carbon in the tunnel at left; aerodynamically there is no difference between the two bikes). 3% may not sound like that much, but over the kilometer he soloed that works out to around 10 meters, which makes a huge difference.

Cancellara wins because he wins. He is a beast of a rider. However, if the math above is correct, if he had been 30 feet back, he would not have won that stage (TdF...I can't remember how close MSR was)

Cancellara wins because he wins. He is a beast of a rider. However, if the math above is correct, if he had been 30 feet back, he would not have won that stage (TdF...I can't remember how close MSR was)

Hmm, maybe I was remembering 9 meters rather than 9 seconds. I stand corrected.

i cant say i feel any advantage in terms of aero-ness on my soloist over my old bike.. then again i dont have a computer on it yet so i'm just going from gut feel. it is nice having a bike that will convert to decent TT machine in a matter of mins.

New Felt = Old Soloist

New Felt = Old Soloist

my thoughts as well possibly

That bike almost looks like their new Tk1 Track bike that Tylor Phinney

That would make a lot of sense.

i think this is the first road frame that i have seen with that kind of starting-behind-the stem internal cable routing, ala several recent tt frames. the routing will be even cleaner with campy/sram/7900.

personally, i'm a big fan. every last little bit, right? if it's just as light, and at least as stiff... then why not more aero?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/jun08/veenendaal08/MARTIJNMAASKANTSLIPSTREAMPHILIPPEGILBERTFRANCAISEDESJEUX.jpg

Better pics here:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44160

Better pics here:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44160

absolutely, f'n, sick:

http://i28.tinypic.com/21j2n3p.jpg

too bad magnus's butt is blocking the top tube out.

absolutely, f'n, sick:


too bad magnus's butt is blocking the top tube out.

I thought carbon frames exploded if you sat on the top tube!

Yeah thats almost identical to the TK1 except for the seatpost

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/photos/2008/tech/news/06-17/gallery-06-17

(double post)
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/felt-introduces-ar-road-bike-for-tour-17022

They're calling it the Felt "AR"

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2008/06/16/feltARteamcolors-798-99.jpg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2008/06/16/feltarheadtube-798-99.jpg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2008/06/16/feltarrear-798-99.jpg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2008/06/16/feltarjimfelt-798-99.jpg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2008/06/16/feltarprotowindtunnel-798-99.jpg

http://mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2008/06/16/feltarrider-798-99.jpg

not attractive.

not attractive.

it's a tool, not a jewel.

So you go to all the trouble of internal cable routing because of drag from the cables, yet you run Dura Ace brifters with the cables hanging out in the wind in front of the bike.... I don't get it.

The overall shape is a little reminiscent of the Kestrel Talon.

I am guessing they have to run the Shimano STI w/the exposed break cable b/c that is their sponsor...though I am sure they will have the 2009 models installed soon enough.
What fraction of a watt do you think the exposed shifter cables cost at 25mph?

I am guessing they have to run the Shimano STI w/the exposed break cable b/c that is their sponsor...though I am sure they will have the 2009 models installed soon enough.
What fraction of a watt do you think the exposed shifter cables cost at 25mph?

36 feet of cable at 25 mph is quite a bit of drag.

36 feet of cable at 25 mph is quite a bit of drag.

How's the shifting with that?

36 feet of cable at 25 mph is quite a bit of drag.

By the way it works out to about 15 gmf/ft.

Somebody on our Wednesday morning ride had one of these today. Wanted to snap pics with the phone, but didn't want to look like a doosh. I'll see if I can sneak a pic next week.

Do we know a price yet for the frameset? Come on sub 2k...

That did not strike me as a sub 2k frame. The cables entering the frame behind the stem alone is worth what - an extra grand? :rolleyes:

I'll wait for the new Ridley Aero frame as soon as I destroy my Orca.

http://www.thefastestbikeintheworld.com/index.php?id=models

What fraction of a watt do you think the exposed shifter cables cost at 25mph?

According to this post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=6752062&postcount=25):


5. Cables. Cables create huge amounts of drag (on the order of 1 watt for every inch of exposed cable. Try to hide these from the wind by getting them in front f your frame, behind your hands, or against the frame. This includes computer cables as well. There is a reason Lance liked Dura AX brakes. They were center pull and positioned the cable in front of the head tube. John Cobb has an "Aero Brake" mod explanation sheet on the Blackwell research site, which significantly reduces your braking power, but makes the front end more aero by trimming the brake and bringing the cable in front of the head tube. Trim or bend extra brake and derailleur cable to get it out of the wind.