The Breed singlespeed cyclocross bike by Felt Bicycles: Aluminum frame, tapered steerer UHC Advanced carbon fork, Avid Shorty 4 cantis, SRAM S350 alloy crankset, 36×16 gear. $1199 MSRP.
Cyclocross Magazine headed down to Orange County on Tuesday for a sneak peek of Felt Bicycle’s latest cyclocross lineup for 2014. Felt Bicycles brings a whopping seven cyclocross bikes to the market in 2014, plus a top-of-the-line carbon frame that is available as a frameset only.
We first got an early look at a few of Felt’s cyclocross bikes at Sea Otter when we saw the 2014 lineup including the F2X, F5X and F65X cyclocross bikes for adults and the F24x for the kids. While we were there, we also got a chance to look at some of the company’s 2014 ’cross bikes that we hadn’t seen before, including the singlespeed Breed, the F75x and the F3x.
“The Fx line was built for the rigors of elite level cyclocross racing,” Felt explains. In keeping with current trends, the new higher-end models feature disc brakes, and all of the complete bikes except the kids’ F24x offer a tapered steerer, Felt’s UHC Advanced carbon cyclocross fork and flattened underside of the top tube for easier shouldering. Felt Bicycles has lately placed a big emphasis on seatpost comfort, and all the framesets accept a “standard” diameter 27.2mm seatpost.
2014 Felt Breed Singlespeed Cyclocross Bike
The Felt Beernuts axle wrench and bottle opener on the Felt 2014 Breed Singlespeed Cyclocross Bike. © Cyclocross Magazine
One nice touch is the integrated Beernuts wrench and bottle opener. It makes changing a rear flat more tolerable. Crack open a cold one and then loosen the axle bolts to change your tube.
2014 Felt F3x Carbon Cyclocross Bike
Felt 2014 F3x Carbon Cyclocross Bike with Ultegra and Dura-Ace 11-speed, TRP HY-RD brakes. photo: courtesy
At $3499, the F3x is Felt Bicycle’s second best cyclocross model (behind the SRAM Red-equipped F2x at $4149). The disc-brake model has a UHC (Ultra Hybrid Carbon) Performance MMC matte carbon frame with UHC Advanced carbon fork and comes spec-ed with Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra 11-speed components (46/36T x 11-28T) and TRP Brakes’ HyRd hydraulic disc brakes with superlight ASHIMA rotors.
Alex Wheels’ A-Class CxR1 “Road Tubeless” certified tubeless disc brake wheels with Vittoria’s new aggressive 32c Cross XL Pro TNT tubeless tires complete the build, and show how the industry is slowly making the Cyclocross Magazine-approved move to tubeless over tubular tires. Although both the F2x and F3x will come with Vittoria’s TNT (Tubes No Tubes) Cross XL Pro tubeless cyclocross tires, the complete bikes will come with inner tubes and shops are unlikely to sell the complete bikes set up tubeless, but a little sealant will get you rolling in tubeless style.
The F3x, with Felt’s UHC Advanced monocoque carbon fiber frame, features the same frameset ridden to multiple victories by Ryan Trebon under the LTS / Felt team colors two seasons ago.
2014 Felt F75x Aluminum Cyclocross Bike
Felt 2014 F75x Aluminum Cyclocross Bike brings Shimano 105 to a $1349 complete bike. photo: courtesy
The aluminum F75x cyclocross bike is Felt’s entry-level ’cross bike, retailing at $1349, less than half the cost of its carbon brethren, the F3x. Made with Felt’s Cyclocross UltraLite Custom Butted Dynaform aluminum and equipped with a UHC Advanced carbon fork, the F75x is still a canti brake bike, with stopping power provided by Tektro brakes. The drivetrain is composed of a Shimano 105 STI levers and rear derailleur, matched with the excellent cyclocross-specific Shimano CX70 front derailleur and an FSA Omega BB30 crankset. The F75x rolls on Felt’s CxR3 wheels mounted with Vittoria Cross XL Pro tires. It’s an impressive package for the price.
The F75x and F3x cyclocross bikes were not on display at the Felt launch, but with an impressive seven cyclocross models, the company has demonstrated its company’s commitment to the sport of cyclocross. Stay tuned as bring you more details on the F2x, F5x, F65x and F24x we saw at Sea Otter, and review the F2x and F75x cyclocross bikes this ’cross season.
Felt 2014 Cyclocross Bikes Photo Gallery:
