socalrider

First off, I am not going to be using the stock wheels or carbon seatpost. I will be using Mavic Open Pro's and Thompson alloy seatpost.

Saw a Felt F-55 and for the money seems to be a great deal, I can get one for 1700.00, seems like a decent deal. I am 6'3 - 235lbs right now.. Any 200+ rider using the Felt F55 frame and what are there opinions. I am more of a smooth pedaler and spin the pedals as opposed to a masher. Is the frame repsonsive and how does it hold it's line on descents..

Just seems with my wheels this bike will come in right at 19lbs which is much lighter than my Merckx..

Any and all opinions appreciated?

blandin

I weigh 220 lbs and although I don't have a Felt 55, I do ride a variety of frame types with success across the board. My KHS Flite 800 is Reynolds 853 steel, needless to say - no problems here. My KHS Flite 2000 is a 2.7 lb aluminum frame with carbon seat stays - stiff, responsive and no problems with my weight. I have a full carbon Scattante CFR Limited Edition with a carbon seatpost (you mention you're going to avoid using one) and have no weight related issues. Lastly, I have an full aluminum frame Basso Coral and as with the others, I have no weight related issues. The wheelsets I use with equal success: Velomax Circuits, Spinergy Xaero Lites, Cane Creek Aeroheads, FSA RD-400s (note: I have broken one spoke on the rear wheel), Ultegra Open Pro's, and my favorites, a set of custom built Velocity Aeroheads by Mike Garcia.

formulaben

Why? I originally ordered the F55 but upgraded to the F2c. I was 245 when I first got the bike and the carbon seatpost is just fine. You just have to make sure you don't over-tighten the clamp, and DO NOT put any kind of lube on the post or in the frame.

brooklyner

Ah, very happy to see this thread! I am 215 and also about to buy the Felt F55. My LBS sells it with the American Classic C420 wheels. Since they look pretty cool with matching yellow decals, I was thinking to just upgrade the spokes and/or hubs (which AmCl can do) rather than get different wheels. Hadn't thought about the seat post - what is the issue exactly?

socalrider

I don't think there is an issue with the seatpost, I am personally more comfortable with an alloy seatpost.. It's a long ride home with a broken seatpost..

biodiesel

200 lbs on a Felt F-65.
great descender, fast, responsive on sprints (really fast) and a good climber.

hi565

Please tell about times where a carbon seat post has snapped or broken. I have never heard of anything carbon fiber breaking unless it was a major crash.

hi565

even then CF has still held up, for what Ive read, seen, and heard.

formulaben

Every instance I have heard of was a result of an overtightened clamp.

hi565

exactley.

CyLowe97

The "CF" seat-post on the '05 F55 also is aluminum, I believe.... it's got 6061 listed on it. The outer-wrap is CF.....

If it's got 6061, does this mean that it's really an aluminum post wrapped in CF? Does this mix of materials reduce the potential for "catastrophic failure?"

brooklyner

any comments on the wheels? lots of contradictory posts on here - some saying clydsdales should only ride 32 or more spokes, other 250 lb guys saying they have never had problems with 20-24 spoke wheels. thoughts on the american classic 420s in particular??

Serpico

see if your lbs will swap them for hurricanes (am classics' clydesdale wheels) which only weigh 1545g (phenomenal for a wheel recommended at 235lbs). there's a better market for the 420s, so the lbs won't have trouble selling them for retail.

it's like asking the lbs to take the ultegra off a bike and swap with centaur, they will have no trouble getting rid of ultegra. same scenario, 420s are popular, Hurricane's aren't

WillW

230 lbs. here with F15 with a little over 2,000 miles. No problem. If my F15 works the F55 should be no problem and I have used a carbon seat post since around 250 lbs. No Problems.

Good luck and take care.

socalrider

My local LBS has the Velomax wheels with the Felt F55, any opinions on how durable those wheels are?

I am now not 100% sure that the seatpost is a full carbon seatpost.. Does anyone know for sure..

formulaben

Since those where the wheels that were supposed to come on my bike, I had done some research. Everything I found was good for that model. Not the lightest wheel, but probably a bit stonger than the ACs. I've seen them and I liked the looks.

Jambo

This thread got me thinking, so I went into the garage to look at the one on my F55 and it's 100% CF.

CyLowe97

My bad... I thought for some reason that the same post was on the F55 as on the F65 for the 2005 models.... my F65 has the alloy post that is CF and Aluminum.... still wondering if that Al/CF combination for the post would help prevent catastrophic failure.... hmmm....