After seeing all the Interbike photos, reading the various threads, and going through Felt’s '07 catalogue, I’m deliberating on the DA. I’m dubious about the alleged drag reduction benefits of some features, such as the bayonet steering/fork system, but I suppose the jury is still out. What persuaded you to pull the trigger?
After what my LBS told me was list price, no. Too rich for my cheap blood. Beautiful bike, would love to have one, but can’t rationalize spending so much.
very nice bike (so it would seem) and although I have really considered buying one, I am going in the complete opposite direction and getting an inexpensive bike that is more to what I think I deserve at the level I can race at. Hello QR kilo. sexy bike I think. I did consider the felt s32 also but reeeeeaally like the lines and looks of the kilo. (this all depends on fit of course but truth be told, the Cervelo p2c fits me very well but I cannot bring myself to buy a one)
I currently have a K-factor but wil ride myself of it as I am not a good enough rider yet.
if the DA is too spendy, the B2 comes down to a more acceptable price when kitted with eastons instead of zipp race wheels.
I was at interbike and was told they would not do frame and fork only…so it’s $7200 bucks total. Great bike, but don’t like where they put the rear break just beyond the seat tube at the base…if you are to open your break just a little b/c it’s a little to close, your crank arm will hit the release and break it…the rep said “no one rides with there release open” well, I do b’c I like a bit of play in my breaks…just my opinion.
there will be a DA frame and fork only option for $3500, to be released after all the complete bikes are out - so by early 07.
Nytro is having a ‘launch party’ for the DA at their store 11/15 at 6pm. Reps and the engineer from Felt will be on hand with the DA and B2 complete bikes. I think it will be cool to meet the guy who designed this bike. I thought it was on their homepage, but i only have the info in the email they sent. Zipp and Vittoria reps will be there also. Has anyone been riding / racing on those new light weight Vittoria Triathlon tubies? So light, I just wonder how puncture resistant they can be?
if you are to open your brake just a little b/c it’s a little too close, your crank arm will hit the release and break it…the (felt) rep said, “no one rides with there release open”
this is the best marketing approach out there: if someone happens to alert you to a flaw or an important shortcoming in the design of your product, simply deny it.
priceless.
I run the quick release open with my race wheels on, closed with the traning clinchers. There is no issue with my brakes interfering with my crank arms.
WRT pre-orders, I cannot confirm hom many are sold, but we have hundreds of the new tri bikes on order from dealers.
don’t you mean at OUR store?
The rear break adjustor interferes with crank arm on new DA frame…unless they have fixed it after the show, which would be great!
I’m baffled as how you could state this as fact. The Dura Ace brake certainly does not interfere with the crank arm.
-SD
TBH, the price of most of these mass-produced in China/“finished” in Taiwan Carbon bikes seems ridiculous. After the molds are made the frames are nearly “cost free”…now, I know there are a few non-made in China carbon frames out there (Guru, Trek, Calfee to name most, but not all), but it is ironic how the beacon of cheap junk the world over has become a high-end-bike super power…
How can you be baffled? Were you at Interbike b/c your name sounds familiar? If you open the break release on the back break it will hit the crank arm…PERIOD…OR…IT DID AT THE SHOW!!! Now, if you’ve fixed it, then great, the bike is a winner anyway, I just was curious b/c that was the only flaw I could find, and believe me that’s an easy one compared to some of your competitors. But don’t challenge what I saw with my own two eyes and spoke with 3 Felt Reps about at the show. That’s bullshit.
“I currently have a K-factor but will ride myself of it as I am not a good enough rider yet.”
I don’t get it. You want to get rid of the K-Factor because you aren’t a good enough rider? That’s never stopped anyone before!
On a completely unrelated note, I might be interested that Kuota of yours so I can pose with the best of 'em!
I was lucky enough to be at the show, dirt demo, and about a dozen consumer shows since showcasing the DA. I work at the office it was developed. Looking at the brake now, the only way it would hit is if the brake were rotated around the hole with which it mounts. I suppose it is possible that the brake was not centered at some point during the show. It is possible for the front derailleur to hit the crank arm as well, but not if it is installed properly. The brake housing on the DA was kinked at some point, and some of our MTB demo items were broken, so it is possible that a show bike was not functioning or set up as it would be ready to ride. I am looking at the show bike now and there is no clearance problem with the brake quick release or the barrel adjuster. The cranks clear fine with it closed and with it open.
I am not challenging what you saw, I just wanted you to be aware that the brake QR clears w/o a redesign, and post my comments so all those that accept what they read on the internet as absolute truth have a counter-point which I hope recieves consideration.
Thank you for giving the DA a looking over.
-SD
I am in the process of pulling the trigger. I fell in love with it at Interbike, love the new design changes and overall sexiness of the bike. Just taking me this long to persuade the wife of a 7500.00 purchase. Ok it may end up costing me 15k as she is wanting new living room furniture.
We’ve sold a few based on fit alone, which in my opinion is the best reason to buy the bike. This year’s geometry is, as Slowman put it in his review of the '07 bikes, a significant improvement- several years improvement in one model year.
As a matter of fact, a regular poster on this very forum is the guy largely responsible for the improvement in geometry.
If you ever wonder if people in the bike industry at the highest levels are reading and responding to your posts, well, the DA used design cues that are influenced significantly by what has been seen on this forum about other bikes.
Some argument could be made to the effect that this is the bike you guys have been asking for- at least from a strictly geometry perspective.
Oh, I should add, I bought one.
you lucky son of a…
:-))
Cat’s out of the bag, and Fed Ex is shipping hundreds of the 56cm DAs today. If you were one of the lucky to get your order in early you’ll have a happy holiday.
-SD