A new big wheeler for the race circuit made the light of day at Sea Otter last week as Felt pulled the covers of their brand new 29er, their Edict 100mm full-susser.
It’s based on the 26in-wheeled bike of the same name, with the same FAST (Felt Articulating Stay Technology) suspension platform, a single pivot with a short linkage pivoting on the seat stay driving the vertically aligned shock. Unlike some similar designs there’s no pivot at the dropouts, instead presumably relying on flex designed into the carbon stays.
The frame is made fully from carbon fibre, as befits a bike that Felt describes as being “designed to burn up World Cup courses and tame the most rugged, gruelling marathon XC courses.” Felt didn’t rush this bike to the market, instead choosing to take a measured approach to developing their first full-susser 29er bike. The time was well spent, as the bike looks stunning.
“Every tube, every angle, every frame component of the Edict Nine was manipulated to make a faster, better ride,” Felt suspension engineer Mike Ducharme tell us. The bike combines the best qualities of the company’s Nine hardtail and Edict 26in-wheeled cross-country race bike, a marriage made in heaven, it would seem.
Geometry for the new bike looks like this; 71.5 degree head angle, 73 degree seat angle, 110mm head tube, 1103mm wheelbase, 450mm chainstays and a 655mm front centre. Figures quoted are for a medium, four sizes from small to XL will be offered.
On the top model a UHC Ultimate+ Nano composite frame uses precise layering to optimise the properties of the different grades of carbon used. Felt use a proprietary moulding process for constructing the frame. Called “InsideOut”, the process uses specially designed polyurethane inserts inside the frame that eliminates excess material inside the carbon tubes. This not only lends the inside a clean finish but weight is reduced.
Titanium hardware (bolts and pivot axles) further reduce weight, and a Ti Nitride pivot coating improves performance. Up front a controlTaper head tube flares from 1.5in at the lower bearing race to a standard 1.125in at the top. Cables are routed internally.
The front triangle and swingarm are made from carbon, with an forged and machined aluminium rocker linkage driving the Fox shock, rolling on sealed cartridge bearings. The Felt FAST suspension design eliminates a chainstay or seat stay pivot, instead relying on flex along the carbon stays.
This bike picture is the LTD model, and is built with no expense spared parts list of Shimano XTR, Fox forks and Reynolds Carbon wheels. Weight is in the region of 24lbs.
Share