Felt FR5
Stats
Price - £1599
Frame - Felt Race Road UHC Advanced carbon fibre, MMC with InsideOut construction, carbon-fibre BB386 bottom bracket shell, carbon fibre dropouts
Cassette - Shimano 11-speed, 11-30T
The Felt FR5 is a great bike for those looking to move up from an aluminium frame into carbon fibre. It is designed for speed and sets up the rider in an aggressive position with a red and black paint job that looks very slick. Once you move into the carbon fibre bracket the prices starts increasing steeply in cycling, but the FR5 gives you a lot for the money.
The FR5 comes with a Shimano 11 speed cassette which gives a good gear range for different speeds. Each gear change is fluid and small so pedal cadence is not interrupted and allows for many options for those hills. This bike also includes a Shimano 105 drivetrain and a Praxis Works Alba crankset.
The Shimano 105 front brake matches in with other components on the bike, but the rear brake is a little unconventional. It is located by the crankset much lower on the wheel than the standard rim brake mount. The rear brake functions well, but is much more difficult to adjust than a standard rim brake which can be frustrating if the wheels or brake pads are changed.
9/10
The ride is good on the FR5 feeling rigid, but fast. This bike is made more for speed than touring and expedition. The Devox UHC Performance carbon fibre seatpost also absorbs some of the road buzz making a slightly more comfortable ride. Once up to speed the FR5 rolls nicely and its light weight makes the hills an easier prospect.
The Devox Road RSL3 wheels and folding 700 x 25c tyres are good to get out on the road with. Potentially an area where upgrades could be sought, as wheels are with many bikes, although they roll well and the tyres are fairly light.
Overall a really great frame and combined with the Shimano 105 components this bike is a great carbon fibre combination. A fast, well made Felt creation that looks and rides great.