Felt F4 - Will it hurt

solboy

Found this last night and seems a bargain but for me (an overweight recreational roadie) i think the geometry will be too aggressive. any thoughts on this?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f4-2011/?u ... _F4%202011

sloppyschleckonds

Ideal for winning a few Sportives

APIII

It will depend on your flexibility, or lack of. Most people are restricted by their hamstring flexibility which means you could end up with an arched back at best, or unable to reach a comfortable position at worst. Are you able to touch your toes with your knees locked out? If you are within a few inches of touching the floor you should be ok. If you're a foot away, you'll need to work on the body first before getting a new bike.

Squillinossett

Mrs has one and they have very short headtubes & really are very aggressive.

Fab bike

RoadyForever

If you are slightly overweight, then I don't think such a aggressive setup is for you. It doesn't matter how flexible you are, if you have any belly on you then legs are going to be hitting it every time you bring a peddle up!

I would go with a sportive bike, they're slightly more upright and as you get fitter/ more flexible, you can remove the spacers to lower the handle bars.

APIII

RoadyForever wrote:

If you are slightly overweight, then I don't think such a aggressive setup is for you. It doesn't matter how flexible you are, if you have any belly on you then your knees are going to be hitting it every time you bring a peddle up!

I would go with a sportive bike, they're slightly more upright and as you get fitter/ more flexible, you can remove the spacers to lower the handle bars.

Wrong imo. Unless you are properly overweight of course. Riding doesn't increase your flexibility either, what you do off the bike will.

Guyzie

Just collected my F2 from the shop this morning :-)

Same geom as the F4 I believe and I'd say a fairly aggressive setup.
Very similar to my (now winter bike) Giant TCR (2004) but way stiffer and more lively. Stiff in a good way so still rideable.

I guess I'm reasonably flexible for a 45 year old and don't mind/prefer a sizeable drop from saddle to bar.

My brother who is similar build (6' 3" and 13st approx) can't ride that setup as he's not as bendy. I got to the gym and stretch after riding. He doesn't. He has a Ribble Sportive which to me feels like I'm pulling a wheelie.

Sure someone else will say it, but the best bet is to go and give them a try and see what suits best.

G

solboy

thanks guys i think i will keep looking

Craig McA

not as agressive as the previous models, i have the old f4 as t training bike and has a very agressive position

AidanR

How "aggressive" a bike's geometry is has to be determined within the context of each rider's riding style, flexibility and proportions. A bike with a short head tube may feel ultra-aggressive for someone with long legs and a short torso, but positively upright for someone with short legs and a long torso.

EarlyGo

That F4 is a steal at that price!!! ... and beautiful too!!

jonbristol

It would be a steal if they had stock, which they dont.

The f series are not sportive bikes, they are aggressive geometry - if anyone wants a sportive bike from felt check out the excellent z series.

How much was the f2 that was mentioned above? Beautiful bike, just bought one myself.

daniel_b

Hello all,

F70 owner here and tempted by the F4.

However I too was a little soncerned about the 'too aggressive' geometry, which led me to look at the Z eries.

However, check out how these compare for a 56 frame:

F Series:
TT Horizontal: 560
TT C-C: 547
Headtube: 140
ST C-T: 540
ST C-C: 492
Wheelbase: 983
Standover: 770

Z series:
TT Horizontal: 560
TT C-C: 538.6
Headtube: 180
ST C-T: 520
ST C-C: 467
Wheelbase: 1012.1
Standover: 767

I'll be brutally honest with you, I do not understand the ins and outs of frame gemoetry, and how it works, and am not pretending to, but I thought that a sportive frame would have a shorter top tube, where as this measurement on these two bikes is identical.

So what is the main difference, the Headtube being 4cm higher...?

Would that not be achieved by using all the spacers on the F bike and flipping the stem?

Please educate me, as I suspect I have missed something glaringly obvious here!

The two noticable differences I see are headtube, and wheelbase, which i assume means a more relaxed geometry.

But I was definitely expecting to see a shorter top tube, and that is what is confusing me,

Many thanks

Dan

markos1963

APIII wrote:

RoadyForever wrote:

If you are slightly overweight, then I don't think such a aggressive setup is for you. It doesn't matter how flexible you are, if you have any belly on you then your knees are going to be hitting it every time you bring a peddle up!

I would go with a sportive bike, they're slightly more upright and as you get fitter/ more flexible, you can remove the spacers to lower the handle bars.

Wrong imo. Unless you are properly overweight of course. Riding doesn't increase your flexibility either, what you do off the bike will.

+1 In fact too much riding will decrease your flexibility because it's the cycling which is causeing the hamstrings to shorten. I'm having to go through a program of stretching set for me by a physio because of this.

To the OP have you looked at the Felt Z range? These are more aimed at spotive riders and have a less aggressive position. I have ridden the F4 and it is a great bike if you want a racer.