Writers’Rigs: We now have all seen Chuck Peña’s positive Felt FC bike in his wheel, chainring and saddle opinions previously, however we’ve not heard an excessive amount of in regards to the steed its self. To not miss an opportunity to point out off his bike and describe the ins and outs of its existence… Chuck’s Writers’ Rig intimately.
Title: Chuck Peña
Location: Babylon on the Potomac
Bike: Felt FC
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra 6800 11-speed mechanical
Wheels: Irwin AON TLR 38/58 blended depth
Pedals: Speedplay X
Saddle: Selle San Marco Shortfit Carbon FX
Different: 3T Dorico Staff (white) carbon seat publish with 25 mm setback, 3T ARX Professional (alloy) 11 cm stem -17 levels, Bontrager Elite Aero (alloy) handlebars (40 cm), Marque bar tape, Ok-Edge Professional chain catcher, KMC X11SL gold chain (are you able to say bling?), Absolute Black oval chain rings (50/34), Wheels Manufacturing outboard backside bracket, Elite Cannibal water bottle cages, Precision 4iiii energy meter
Weight: 17.2 kilos (7.8 kg) with pedals, cages, and laptop/mild mounts (utilizing the extremely correct technique of weighing your self first on the dimensions after which weighing your self once more holding the bike)
When did you purchase it?
My spouse purchased me the body as a fifty fifth birthday current towards the top 2014 (my birthday is in June, nevertheless it took me some time to determine on components and construct so my first experience on it was in November). I had been again to using a 12 months after a 15 12 months hiatus and as a lot as I really like my #steelisreal Hollands that was my race bike within the 90s (I nonetheless experience it), I wished a contemporary carbon fiber bike.
What made you select this bike?
My spouse was within the bike trade on the time and he or she was capable of get an worker deal (Felt knew it was a present and was OK with that) in order that was a part of the equation. However an even bigger a part of the equation was that the geometry (together with stack and attain) had been just about spot on equivalent to my Hollands (which is a customized body as a result of for my peak I’ve a considerably longer torso and attain so want an extended prime tube). However that meant sizing “up” from Felt’s really helpful body dimension to a body dimension that will be too huge (standover peak) if the body had a horizontal prime tube however suits me simply positive with a barely sloping prime tube. So it appears to be like a bit of extra “conventional” in that I don’t have a ton of seat publish displaying or should run an ungodly lengthy stem (though at 11 cm, my stem isn’t all that quick both and appears longer as a result of it’s -17 levels) in comparison with lots of trendy professional bikes. And Felt had been ridden by the likes of Marcel Kittel and the Argos-Shimano workforce to stage wins and the yellow jersey within the TdF, so I knew their product was as much as snuff.
Have you ever carried out any modifications/additions to it?
I constructed the bike from a naked body so I assume you possibly can say every thing is a modification! I thought of Dura Ace (as a result of that’s what I used to experience once I raced) however determined to go together with Ultegra as a result of it was simply the cheaper factor to do. No matter efficiency achieve I might get from Dura Ace simply wouldn’t actually matter as a result of I’m not that good. I initially went with an “oddball” 50/36 chain ring combo (with 11-28 cassette) as a result of I wished to have the ability to keep within the small ring longer on the flats. After which I made the swap to Absolute Black oval chain rings. However after doing the likes of Flèche Buffoon, my getting old legs determined I ought to most likely be using 50/34 (so I obtained an Absolute Black 34T small chain ring) and I modified my cassette to 11-30. After a number of years of using on Shimano chains, my pal Chris within the UK satisfied me to attempt a KMC chain (I’m advised they make chains for Shimano). I like the thought of a fast hyperlink plus love the Mr. T gold bling. I rode the unique FSA BB30 backside bracket with spacers for the crankarms for a 12 months, however then switched to a Wheels Manufacturing outboard backside bracket (on the urging of my pal, Chris, who’s a fellow Felt rider) to thrust back the inevitable creaking and different sounds that appear endemic with press match backside brackets. My authentic saddle was a Fizik Kurve Bull that I completely cherished, nevertheless it wanted changing and isn’t made anymore so I’m now using a Selle San Marco Shortfit Carbon FX. My authentic handlebars had been 3T Ergonova (alloy) however I just lately swapped them out for Bontrager Elite Aero (additionally alloy) — not for any efficiency achieve however simply because I just like the look of aero highway handlebars. And my authentic wheels had been Shimano RS81 C35s that had an alloy brake observe with a carbon fairing (on the time, I believed the very best of each worlds), however I’ve since gone full carbon and am really an envoy for Irwin Wheels.
Slicing by the wind on blended depth wheels
Pardon the battle scars on my crank arm, however simply name me Mr. T
Selle San Marco saddle tops off a 3T seat publish
Life behind bars … that’s a Knog Oi bell
What number of miles/kilometers do you do a 12 months?
For the final a number of years, I’ve managed to experience greater than 5,000 miles (however not fairly 6,000). With work and household, I determine that’s all I’m price.
Ok-Edge Professional chain catcher isn’t infallible … I’ve dropped my chain to the within on a few events
Wheels Manufacturing outboard backside bracket and 4iiii left-side solely crank energy meter
Elite Cannibal water bottle cages — not a weight weenie construct so not carbon
What do you’re keen on about this bike?
I’m certain each PEZ reader loves their bike as a result of it’s THEIR bike, which is the way it needs to be. That’s how I really feel about my Felt FC. Particularly, I really like that it’s constructed precisely to my spec since I did the construct myself from a naked body (when one thing isn’t proper with the bike, I simply blame my mechanic!) And I really like that it suits me completely (I feel match is one thing that too many riders overlook) — mixed with tubeless tires, it makes for an all-day comfy experience (however nonetheless loads stiff!) It’s not a very “flashy” bike (apart from possibly my alternative of neon pink handlebar tape), however nonetheless kind of stands out from the gang as a result of Felt isn’t as common a model (not less than with roadies — they’re huge within the triathlon world) as say Trek, Specialised, Cannondale, and Big — so it manages to get some appears to be like and folks ask about it once I do group rides. I additionally love the look of a -17 diploma horizontal stem that’s slammed on prime of the headset cone spacer. IMHO it simply appears to be like “proper.” Fortunately — regardless of my superior years — I can nonetheless experience a comparatively lengthy and low place, however even a number of the youthful guys wince simply it.
Say no extra
The flags on my prime tube inform a narrative
I used to be born in San Francisco in order that’s the flag for my title ID on my body and wheels
Favourite using space?
Due to time constraints, I do nearly all of my using proper from my entrance door so lots of it’s extra urban-ish. Despite the fact that I stay in a extra metropolitan-like setting, you’d be shocked at how a lot good using there’s. I do lots of using within the northern Virginia space (Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, McLean, and Nice Falls), but in addition like to do metropolis using in DC. And it’s all the time enjoyable to enterprise throughout the river into Maryland and experience out to Potomac, Poolesville, and Sugarloaf Mountain. I attempt to find time for a couple of rides a 12 months the place I put the bike on the automobile rack and drive someplace additional out. I did a enjoyable experience out within the Leesburg space final 12 months that included some prolonged unpaved sections (together with a climb). And two longtime favorites are the Blue Ridger and Skyline Drive.
My entrance and rear mild arrange … Made in China no-name model + Bontrager Blendr
My downtube flags – Arlington VA (the place I stay now) and the nations of its sister cities: Aachen, Germany; Reims, France; Coyoacán, Mexico; San Miguel, El Salvador; and Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Favourite using expertise in your bike?
I’ve two. The primary was the aforementioned Flèche Buffoon that I rode in April 2018 with my buddies Bob Goulder aka The Actual Bobke and Jeff Trinkle. Most likely the only hardest day of using I’ve carried out (together with doing workforce RAAM in 1992). It truly is a half Liege-Bastogne-Liege. 70 some-odd miles and practically 6,000 toes of climbing parsed out over 14 Ardennes-like climbs — all of which have double-digit grade. The worst is the Uhlerstown climb that averages 11 % (based on Strava), which is definitely a deceiving stat as a result of some components strategy 30 %! Positively offers you better appreciation and respect for the professionals (particularly within the Vuelta).
Pondering the 14 climbs that lay forward in Flèche Buffoon
My second was the Double Peak Metric+ that I rode final June with a gaggle of my common using buddies aka ineffective idiots. We thought the 2 huge climbs can be the toughest a part of the experience. We had been unsuitable. The final 30 or so miles was largely up and down with lots of steep climbs (most of them not that quick). We had been already fairly fragged plus it was sizzling. After which there was the wind. Like Fleche Buffoon, enjoyable in a sado-masochistic kind of method.
My crew at Double Peak (wanting recent as a result of it was the beginning of the experience)
I assume I ought to add that any time I can get out for a experience with my spouse is all the time a favourite.
The one factor higher than a espresso experience is a espresso experience with my spouse
Future upgrades?
Nothing deliberate, however you by no means know!
Final phrases?
Though my Felt FC is now occurring 6 years previous, it doesn’t look or really feel that previous (not less than to me). It’s not the most recent and biggest (Felt launched the following model of the FC with TeXtreme carbon fiber shortly after I obtained the body), however I’m very happy with it and might see using it for a lot of extra years. In the end, I do know any shortcomings or limitations aren’t in regards to the bike.
Nice to see Chuck’s bike, do you will have a motorbike that you just’re pleased with? Effectively how about sharing it with fellow PEZ followers and getting it featured in Readers’ Rigs so we will all stare at it! Ship us a Readers’ Rigs submission direct to [email protected] and your bike might be featured in all its glory right here on the pages of PEZ.
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