Felt F80

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Craigslist

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Bike Tour of Colorado

Bike Setup:
stock. would recommend new wheelset.

Summary:
This bike has a great stiff tighy geometry. It really fit me well. Crushes hills. I do rides and tear up NYC. Really nible for cutting traffic buy some of my buds that tour call it "fidgety" but i like it. Great components, was my second road/tri bike and my first real contender (the other was a GT ZR 5.0 for $200) quite a step up. Rode it over 5000 miles and the headset doesnt creak and the BB is still tight as a... well you get it its tight. I bought it used (i always do) and it was lightly ridden, has lasted the years in terms of paint and main compnents (frame welds, headset, fork, brifters and BB). Whenever the mechanic looks at it never any major probs.

Strengths:
Geometry. Nimble. Headset. realiable

Weaknesses:
Wheelset

Similar Products Used:
upgraded to 2006 Fuji Team Pro

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Bicycle Warehouse

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Olympic Pkwy

Bike Setup:
everything stock except for pedals.

Summary:
The F80 was my first road bike. Compact frame was a bit small for me, but i logged in over 2000 miles on the bike. Came with Wellgo SPD pedals, switched them out for Look 5.1's...everything else was stock. I guess i got what i paid for. I do not recommend shopping at Bicycle warehouse...support local bike shops instead!

Strengths:
Good bike for beginners. Top bar brake levers.

Weaknesses:
compact frame, cheap brakes, cheap headset, RD shifted on its own sometimes.
Cheap Alex DA-22 wheels

Similar Products Used:
Just purchased a 2007 Specialized Tarmac Comp. Ford Pinto vs. Chevy Corvette

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Charleston Bicycle C

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Amish Country PA

Bike Setup:
-Truvativ Elita Double Crank
-Ultegra 12-27 9spd cassette
-A mix of Tiagra/105/Ultegra bits
-American Classic CR-420 wheels

Summary:
This was my first road bike, and it has served its purpose as such very well. It is a stunning color (the pewter with yellow accents in 2005), and gets many complements. The frame is a very solid and livable aluminum (not too chattery), and the parts spec was okay - Tiagra shifters are a great step up from the sora, 105RD is a nice touch. Brakes were fine, but Shimano from the get go would have been nice. Still, for $850, I can't complain.

Since buying it, the bike has grown with me. I got rid of the clunky triple chainring, in favor of a Truvativ double. Took off the bartop cyclocross levers (good for beginners). Brake calipers are now ultegra, as are the some of the shifter bits. Wheels have gotten replaced with some lightweight American Classic CR-420's. This bike is now really fast and a whole lot of fun.

The F80 has been a great bike to learn on, and the frame is high quality enough to upgrade as you gain experience...

Strengths:
-Beautiful frame
-Decent parts spec
-High quality enough to grow with the rider
-Tiagra shifters way better than Sora
-Lots of bang for your buck

Weaknesses:
-No carbon legs
-Noname brakes
-Heavy wheelset

Similar Products Used:
-Fuji Cross Comp
-Fuji Team Full Carbon

Price Paid:  $400.00 at e-Bay

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Rolling country roads

Bike Setup:
Ulegra RD
FSA 53/39 crank
ISIS BB
Salsa stem - shorter for better fit
Stock otherwise

Summary:
My bike was actually a 2004, not in the drop down for whatever reason.

Bought second hand off e-bay and the frame ended being a little big, so in the end I sold the bike to find something smaller. However, it didn't stop me from enjoying the bike and clocking over 1000km on it. I did swap out a number of components, stem for comfort. But also the crank, BB and RD.

For whatever reason I could not get the 105 RD dialed in properly and it would sometimes shift on it's own, very frustrating. I went to an Ultegra short cage RD and had no issues since. This prompted a change to a double up front with a compatible BB.

I liked the Tiagra STI shifters, and really liked that I could upgrade the rear, and go to a double without changing the shifters, just use the limit screw and you're set. The Tektro brakes are perfectly adequate. I've heard people complain about the Alex DA22 rims/wheels but I had no issues at all. Then again I'm only about 170lbs, maybe it'd be cause for concern ofr a bigger rider. The stock tires on the other hand were complete garbage, I shreded one braking on gravel and the second one warped out of shape.

Now the important part, the frame is stiff, responsive and light. This bike is not a true racer, but if you have problems keeping up with the pack then the bike is not the problem.

In summary it's a solid bike to start out with decent components, my RD difficulties not withstanding.

Strengths:
STI Shifters
Easily upgradable
Good frame
Nice paint job

Weaknesses:
Stock tires are garbage
I found the 105 RD lacking
Stock RPM crank would make a good boat anchor, but the triple is nice in theory

Similar Products Used:
older Spcialized Allez
Redline Conquest Pro

Price Paid:  $900.00 at lbs

Model Year:
2006

Summary:
I have had the bike for about a year and three months now. Overall I would give the bike a B-. I have a mix of components that consist of 105 shifters, tiagra front, and 105 rear derailluers.

Strengths:
The bike is comfortable and responsive enough on sprints and climbs. The bike is also versatile which is nice. I have used it for casual rides and tri's.

Weaknesses:
the tiagra Front derailluer is extremely touchy which i was not to surprised about, and the front crank could be better. I am currently replacing these. The paint also chips very very easily.

Similar Products Used:
cannondale caad5