How is the ride?
What else did you consider buying/what else did you try?
Why did you go with the 5 vs. 3?
would you buy it again?
Thanks, just looking for some input. I just sold a bike, and stoppedby a shop to pick up a box and the ar5 had me thinking. I have an older allez from specialized, but dont ride it much, I love being on my tri bike.
I have an AR4 - that’s the one with Ultegra. I love it. I use it for my all around training and racing bike. It’s good up in the mountains for climbing and descending, or I can just lay down for long stretches in aero.
On descents, this bike just picks up speed. I think my fastest speed descending a straightaway in the drops was like 51 mph, and I’m not a heavy or particularly fast rider, it’s the bike.
I have an AR5 but it’s basically like an AR1 now with all the upgrades. Not that the original equipment wasn’t good I just wanted to customize my bike this time around. When I was looking for bikes I considered in this order:
Giant Propel
Argon18 Nitrogen
Cervelo S3
Fuji Transonic 2.7
Scott Foil 10
Specialized Tarmac
In the end I went with the Felt because first and foremost I’m a believer in their philosophy. I like that it is the same group of guys (for the most part) who’ve had this dream of making the best bikes we can ride for the best price they can manage. Honestly I wish they’d move to a Canyon style model because they are one of, if not the best, at building bikes at a reasonable value/performance MSRP.
I’ll let others comment on the ride quality as I’m not the best at those nitpicky critiques but I will say after trying all of the above bikes only one was comparable in ride feel for me. I’d love to go back and try those same models against the upgraded AR5 of today.
Thanks. That is a sharp looking bike. I would prefer a mostly black (I think the 16 is black) bike with accents. But the 15 is probably going to drop in price soon…
Mine is the 2014 model. 2015 had red highlights and 2026 I haven’t seen yet, but I haven’t been looking. My mechanic poked fun at me last week when he brought it to my attention my only original component is the rear brake and drop outs lol I didn’t realize I had gone buck wild on it haha I loved it from the get go though so don’t think you need top of line.