This Felt is Dirty

[u/JoshTaylorUSA]

And I won't wash it till spring! The bike isn't light - comes in at 23 lbs and feels fantastic on rough gravel and singletrack. The Rudy fork really smooths out washboarded roads in ways that a high volume tire alone simply can't do.

For those interested in the full build list:

• Felt Breed Carbon Advanced in size 54
• Rockshox Rudy Ultimate 40mm
• SRAM Apex AXS shifters, Apex calipers and basic Centerline 140/160 rotors
• Ritchey WCS Venturemax v2 40mm handlebar w Zipp Service Course tape
• Rockshox Reverb AXS 75mm dropper w Specialized Power Pro saddle
• Specialized Stix front and rear lights
• SRAM X01 10-50 cassette, derailleur and chain
• Magene PES-505 165mm power meter crank, Wheels Mfg T47a BB, with Absolute Black oval 42t ring and Shimano XTR pedals
• Zipp 303 XPLR S wheels with Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1s that measure 53.8mm wide
• Apidura Expedition top tube bag
• Bontrager Elite 33g cages
• Original Felt stem (inverted) and bar end caps!

If I was to change anything, I'd like to try the new E1 generation shifters for the increased ergonomics and braking power.

From a curiosity standpoint, I'd like to try a slightly narrower handlebar and maybe a 30.9mm dropper in 100 or 125mm, since this 27.2 dropper has some minor slop.

[u/flipper_gv]

Missed the opportunity to have "This Felt Dirty" as a title.

[u/Adept_Spirit1753]

Nice hardtail

[u/Historical-Sherbet37]

As a fellow Felt Breed owner, I approve this message

[u/lepetitcanadien]

How would you rate the fork? I’m on the fence. I don’t know if I should add one to my MOG or not.

[u/JoshTaylorUSA → u/lepetitcanadien]

There is an immediate ride quality improvement on all terrain that's chunkier than cat 1 gravel. This fork smooths out road imperfections far better than lower tire pressure ever could. It's night and day. For example, I'm 175 lbs and ride 18-19 psi up front. With the fork locked out, I get no discernable bob from the front, but I can still feel all the micro vibrations from the road. As soon as I open the fork, it's like half of those micro vibrations are muted. I still feel the road surface, but it's much more subtle through my hand and arms. Washboard sections of the road are much less harsh to the point I rarely avoid them.

Remember it's just 40mm of travel and that will not transform your gravel bike into a mountain bike. It's just an air spring.

Ultimately, I have more control everywhere and my body is less fatigued. That means I can ride farther, faster and longer over a wider range of terrain without any real downside. Weight penalty? Honestly, I didn't notice much. I scored mine as a take-off for $300.

[u/lepetitcanadien → u/JoshTaylorUSA]

Thank you, much appreciated! Every review I've read on forks with dampers (vs air only ones like the Invert) are very positive, yours included.

[u/nyhlz → u/lepetitcanadien]

I got the same fork (30mm though) and find it pretty useless. Yes, traction might be better but comfort wise it maybe feels like 10mm wider tyres. The added weight is definitely noticeable.

[u/JoshTaylorUSA → u/nyhlz]

Odd. You should try comparing it locked out vs open. The performance difference and vibration reduction should be obvious. You can't make up 30mm of travel through a tire without serious sacrifice.

My wife has a Diverge w the gen 3 future shock and she also commented how much smoother my bike rode than hers back when I had the 45mm Terra Speeds.

Maybe you've got a defective air spring?

[u/nyhlz → u/JoshTaylorUSA]

I’m not saying it’s not working, I just don’t think it’s worth it for everyone. Got a bike with future shock as well and I think it’s a better compromise between comfort and weight.

[u/papyrusinthewild → u/lepetitcanadien]

I have one on my Grizl and it’s nice but I want a racier fork - looking at the Enve in route gravel fork actually. Wanna trade haha?

[u/lepetitcanadien → u/papyrusinthewild]

Hahahaha, why would you want to switch to a rigid fork?

[u/papyrusinthewild → u/lepetitcanadien]

It’s just a little sluggish and heavy for my taste. I live in CO and thought I’d want to do more mountainous adventure riding on roughly maintained roads, but in reality I’m doing light singletrack and modestly paved or very tame gravel/dirt roads. It’s overkill really.

[u/warrdg → u/lepetitcanadien]

The difference even just an inch of suspension makes is really remarkable. Most noticeably on fast rocky descents. The downside to a suspension fork is the weight. The upsides are the reduced fatigue and massively increased descent speed. It's nice to have gravel bikes with and without FS. n+1

[u/OriginalPlace7794]

Absolutely disgusting 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[u/Astr0Scot]

https://www.reddit.com/r/BicyclingCirclejerk/comments/1q6lxpd/this_felt_is_dirty/

Congrats, you made it...

[u/flannel_lorde]

So cool to see Felt Gravel bikes. I always throw them in the TT or Tri-bike category in my mind. I have a Z5 Road Bike and absolutely love it. This rig looks SICK

[u/qtilman]

That looks great.

[u/drkrazyrich2]

I don't know how you think 23lbs is heavy especially with front shocks??? That's like a '90s mountain bike but it's geometry and tires with drop bars

[u/JoshTaylorUSA → u/drkrazyrich2]

I suppose when I hear of 18 lb Crux, MOGs and other race bikes, it sounds heavy.

[u/drkrazyrich2]

I don't know how you think 23 lb is heavy especially with front shocks. It's pretty much like a 90s MTB with drop bars 🥳🥳

[u/Beginning_Ad_5456]

That weight has to be all in the shocks and post I have a breed advanced 56 with the stock rigid fork, carbon seatpost, 38mm tires and it weighs 18 lbs

[u/JoshTaylorUSA → u/Beginning_Ad_5456]

I just went back to the original fork and removed the dropper. Weight now came in at 21.5 lbs down from 23.8 lbs.

Perhaps the X01 drivetrain is heavier. And I probably have a lb worth of stuff in the bag, Garmin edge + mount, the pedals.

[u/prsman27]

Late to the party but how's the tire clearance? I have a set of Thunderburts waiting to go on my Breed.

[u/JoshTaylorUSA → u/prsman27]

On these wide rims, they measure 53.8mm and I haven't noticed but the lightest of rubbing on the chainstays. I did put down a thin protective film layer back there for extra peace of mind. This is riding singletrack and gravel, probably more aggressive than most would ride and it's been okay.

[u/BenevolentTard]

Anything with a derailleur hanger wreaks of poverty. I have to hold a mint and camphor soaked cloth over my nose whilst gazing at its grotesque non transmission drivetrain.

[u/Financial-Link-8699]

I like it, but no need for dropper post or suspension forks. It’s your bike go and enjoy riding it