Hey Guys,
I am a recent college grad, ex cross country and Track athlete and I am attempting the transition into Tri’s. Because I am on a budget I wanted to get the most bang for my buck so I purchased the 2011 Felt B16 Tri Bike with the following Spec’s:
http://university.tri-sports.com/2010/06/29/2011-felt-b16/
I have a few Tri’s coming up and I am looking for the slowtwitch opinion as to what would be the best upgrade for the bike. Keep in mind I’m on a tight budget.
Thanks!
wheel cover
aero helmet
and nothing intended to lighten the bike, make the colors match or decrease the bearing friction
.
Aero basebar is one thing that jumps out at me.
Depending on your location, buy an indoor trainer like the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine.
Consider getting fitted. Some people need it more than they need anything else.
So I’ve purchased a aero helmet (Gray Aero) and I’ve been fit to the bike (although the guy had a broken arm when he was fitting me to the bike so I’m not sure how accurate he did it).
I am interested in getting a set of Aero Bars for the bike (perhaps vision aero’s?). Is there a certain type of aero bars that this bike needs or is there a universal set that would work for my bike specifically.
I appreciate the help guys.
I have the same bike (2011), and my upgrades are as follows.
Disc Cover and Michelin Pro Race 3 Tires: Couldn’t afford race wheels, so better rubber and the disc cover paired with the 30mm rim isn’t terrible. I’m waiting to purchase a Flo 60/60 combo. I think that according to the experts here, if you really wanted to optimize this setup you would get a narrower tire at least for the front.
3T Aura and 3T Pro Stem: I got a pretty great deal on these, and though they aren’t the most aero or the most adjustable, they work for my position and they are certainly better than the stock base bar. And CARBON!
Shimano Ultegra 6750 Compact Crank: I like my compact crank and the Ultegra crank was a huge upgrade over the Gossamer. I bought it used.
Adamo Podium: Hated the stock seat.
Rudy Wingspan: Not an upgrade to the bike, but according to the ST aero wizards, very important.
Beyond that, obviously a better wheel set is about all that is left on my list (but more expensive than all my other upgrades). In my opinion, upgrades beyond what I’ve done (DuraAce, 3T Brezza, Lighter Parts) begin being extremely costly without massive return.
Regardless, aside from an aero helmet and wheel cover, the bike is plenty fast, all my changes are incremental at best and more for my own personal satisfaction and a bit of bike bling with the Aura. I’m completely convinced that you could ride the bike out of the store and win Kona if the engine was good enough. So don’t obsess unless they are for fit or personal preference.
Vision has a 26.0 clamp diameter, so you can get any Vision bars without having to replace the stem. A lot of other bars are going to be 31.8, but if you found some you like you could probably get a 31.8 stem for as cheap as $20.
This is great advice. It is nice to hear from someone who has the same exact model as I do…From here I will purchase a new set of aero bars (not that I think they will make me into Lance, more that I hate the look of the Felt stock bars).
I will be riding the B16 in my first “major” tri in Mrogan Hill, CA on Sunday. Wish me luck!
With my upgrades at IMNOLA.
Nice Pic. The wheel cover looks good on there. Aggressive position too.
I’m just happy I was able to pick up on “the greatest value it tri bikes” and now I have some leftover cash for upgrades.
The good thing is it’s not all about the bike.
Here’s a pic the first time I raced on the bike…not sure if the link will work or not:
Well, now that you have the picture posted…Spend $0.30 on 4 zip-ties and get that watterbottle between the aerobars and off the frame!
Haha I’ve got the water bottle off the frame and purchased the profile design drink system. Still working on the tires.
Actually, I have a water bottle between the aero bars in my pic, you just can’t see it. As for the other bottle, I was under the impression that it isn’t that much of an aero nightmare and in some instances may improve aerodynamics.
Though, I had an aero bottle there up until 6 hours before the race when it went missing.
I upgraded the crankset to an ultegra 6700, the saddle to an arione tri2, and just ordered some 58mm carbon wheels (and rear cover). I have no other changes planned, including the bars. Sure they’re heavy, but I find them very comfortable.
Actually, I have a water bottle between the aero bars in my pic, you just can’t see it. As for the other bottle, I was under the impression that it isn’t that much of an aero nightmare and in some instances may improve aerodynamics.
Though, I had an aero bottle there up until 6 hours before the race when it went missing.
On the seat tube a round bottle costs ~+55g of drag vs. no bottle on that frame with a Zipp disc on a average of -15, 0, 15 degree yaw sweep. Or between 30-80g.
Aero basebar is one thing that jumps out at me.
The base bar IS aero. It is only 26mm thick so you’ve already minimized the frontal area vs. many “aero” base bars that retain a round leading edge, larger 31.8mm clamp section, and often use upturned extensions. Often times a good design does not need to cost more. A vision clip on may be an improvement but it certainly is far less adjustabel and may not provide the length, extension shape or bend for the rider. A wheel cover is a great first place to go, you could proably save more in cleaning up the cockpit cables than a base bar swap, etc unless you made a jump to something like the 3T Ventus, DEVOX Bayonet or USE bars.
-SD
The B16…well…it IS an upgrade;) That bike is so nice I’m not sure what you would need to change. Want…well that is wide open. I can’t imagine ‘needing’ to upgrade a single item on there unless maybe your saddle isn’t making you smile.
Just wondering what other bikes you were looking at and why you chose the Felt B16. I am in the process of shopping for a new bike and this one is on my final list. No doubt this is a lot of bike for the money
Hmmm…
Well Dave, I agree with you in some manner.
I understand the fact that a minimal front area is key to a basebar. In that regard, yeah, an untaped 26mm round bar is not terrible.
However, a good aero basebar offers a 15mm wing section or less, like the Vision basebar or Syntace(though it is 31.8 in the center, the clamping area is small, obviously a great thing if position allows).
So ~18 cm(total width of bar that is actually reduced by blading the basebar) x 1cm = ~ 18cm^2 frontal area reduction; I’ve heard the rule of thumb is .001^2 meter in frontal area reduction is about 4 seconds/40k tt; so maybe 8 seconds for the OP? Ehh, it’s not a ton, but it beats the poop out of some suggestion like ceramic crankset bearings.