Godzuki26's Wife goes aero - Felt AR FRD 48cm

[godzuki26]

Hello everyone,

Rather than continue posting on Godzuki26 Wife's Cannondale Evo HiMod 48cm, I thought I would create a dedicated thread for this build process. I was able to pick up a 48cm Felt AR FRD frame. My thought was this would be the lightest aero road frame available. I recall seeing a video where a 56cm was weighed in at 895 grams. So, I thought I would be close to that weight with a frame 3 sizes smaller. Well, I was very disappointed as this frame was not even close to that weight. Aside from the weight, I also wanted a frame that had all cable entries through the top tube. I originally wanted to get her a Cervelo S5 48cm, but it has a brake cable that enters the top tube on the non drive side which I do not like.

I was going to just keep this thing stock, but it is too heavy so I have to do some weight weenie things to it.

Here it is. Appears to be minimal in paint with a nice matt finish.



Under the sunlight you can see the Textreme a little better.

[godzuki26]

Here is the frame minus the rear derailleur hanger and the grommets. 1063 grams!!!! Ugh!!! Mediocre!!!!!! Very heavy and very disappointing for this size. I have seen AR1's in larger sizes which are lighter than this. Maybe I have an extra layer of clear coat? The only way to find out is to strip the frame down to bare Textreme. The Cervelo S5 is lighter than this. However, the Scott Foil is even lighter. As mentioned earlier, I wanted all cable entries through the top tube which the Cervelo and Scott do not have.

[godzuki26]

Here is the seat post. Again, heavy. The Cervelo S5 Seatpost is around 190 grams. Also, with the Cervelo I would have had the option to go with a DASH seatpost to cut some serious weight. I am not off to a good weight weenie start here. I will need to sand this down too to see what I come up with.

[godzuki26]

Ok, finally a decent weight. But I am still way behind the weights of a Foil and S5.

[dudemanppl]

My opinion is to sell it off before you start touching the finish so you don't ruin the resale value. Then buy something you ACTUALLY want and aren't disappointed with.

[godzuki26]

It is too late. The process has begun and the frame finish is now altered. If I can't make this uber light I can at the very least make it look cool. I already have some help lined up in that department.

[SLCBrandon]

This prob isn't the best time to tell you my AR FRD is the single most disappointing frame out of well over 25 I've owned. Others haven't had the same experience and guessing your wife doesn't weigh 77kg like me (lots of flex issues front and rear).

It did and this does look good though.

[godzuki26]

@SLCBrandon - what year was your AR? Maybe the first year it came out it was flexy? But since then it has been revised and made heavier like mine? Just a theory.

[SLCBrandon]

2016, I believe yours is as well?

[RyanH]

SLCBrandon is a watt monster. Your wife has a few more months to go.

[godzuki26]

My wife breaks cranksets and rips apart chain rings with her max 250W output. This is a 2015 frame.

[SLCBrandon]

Err...mine was also 2015 then, same paint and logo instead of the newer one.

And, @ryanh "LOL"

[rekhyt]

My opinion is to sell it off before you start touching the finish so you don't ruin the resale value. Then buy something you ACTUALLY want and aren't disappointed with.

Judging from Godzuki's other threads, the only thing that's not an issue building up bikes is money.

(Please don't get this wrong, it's always cool to see someone putting up detailed build threads that most of us just couldn't afford .)

[livestrong1986]

nice frame . i want too aero frame .

[DJT21]

Your other thread was brilliant, I'm looking forward to this one.