Advice on a bike (Felt B12)

[FREE2RHYME2K]

Hi all,

I'm new here. I enjoy riding bikes, but I have very little knowledge about bike tech and performance. I have a 2013 Felt B12, having being given it by a friend last year. I rode it a few times and it felt pretty decent. My question is, are there any obvious upgrades that I could make? I guess as a secondary question, is this bike any good...and if not, should I just flog it and get something new?

This is the bike in question: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-b12-2013

Bike Specification Frame Details:
Model Year: 2013
Material:  Felt Aero TT/Tri UHC Performanced MMC carbon fibre Frame with 3KP Weave, InsideOut internal molding process, aluminium BB30 shell, internal electric or mechanical cable routing, carbon fibre dropout & aluminium rear derailleur hanger
Double bottle cage mounts
Braze on front derailleur
Replaceable forged aluminium rear dropout
Internal Cable Routing
Fork Details:
Felt Aero TT/Tri UHC Performance monocoque fork; 100% carbon fibre blades, dropouts with aluminium 1.125" steerer tube & crown
Wheel Details:
Felt TTR3
Groupset:
Speed: 20 gears
Bar Shifters: Vision Metron TT
Brake Levers: Tektro Aero
Chainset: Vision TriMax Pro TT BB30, 52/38T; 51cm=170mm, 54cm-56cm=172.5mm, 58cm-61cm=175mm
Bottom Bracket: FSA BB30
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra
Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra
Brake Calipers: Felt Integrated Aero with cartridge brake pads
Chain: FSA Team Issue 10-speed
Cassette: Shimano, 11-25T

[Jupestar]

Upgrades? Probably not that would be worth doing. These bikes are so specific that it ends up being a can of worms.

Looks a pretty decent spec, TT/Tri bike. If that’s the type of thing you use it for and not looking to brake any records.

Depends on what type and level of cycling your doing if it worth ‘upgrading’. If you looking for a upgrade for a more modern TT/Tri you’ll probably find it runs to a few £k till you feel a difference.

[philvantwo]

Yeah sell it and get a bike with a threaded bottom bracket.

[Jdsk]

Welcome.

Are you comfortable on it?

Does everything work the way that you think it should?

Does it allow you to ride where you want to ride?

Jonathan

[FREE2RHYME2K]

Thanks all for your comments. It does allow me to ride where I want to ride. I think my question really is, is this bike a limiting factor? I've read bits on the internet about different bikes, but i'm really a novice when it comes to all the bike spec and tech stuff (I don't know what a threaded bottom bracket is...i'll have a look on google!)

I think i'm at the point where I may want to focus on things that will improve my position in races. I'll move into the 40-45 year age group next year and want to be in with a chance of placing high in local events. I am around 1:04 - 1:05 on the bike over 40k (with a 24-25 min 1500m swim & a 35-36 min 10k).

With a budget of say, around 4k, is there something else I could look at? Can get discount via work cycle scheme.

[Jdsk]

I don't know what a threaded bottom bracket is...i'll have a look on google!

There are lots of useful videos on eg YouTube. But I'd always recommend starting with:

Sheldon Brown:
https://sheldonbrown.com

Park Tool Repair Help:
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

Jonathan

[mattsccm]

Right, you have a budget TT bike.
Fine for starting time trials on. Very soon you will start looking at deeper, more aero wheels. Then the spending starts. Look for used kit.
Better off going to a time trial forum where you will get sensible knowledgeable and relevant advice from people who time trial. Not all of what you wil get here will be informed.
If you are not time trialling on the bike, wait a couple of months until newbies start thinking about their first TT bike after they have done a couple, and flog it, and buy a suitable bike.

[mattsccm]

Seriously ,and nicely, ask on a TT forum. Or Tri forum. Many more people who do such things there.

[Jupestar]

Honestly at that level - (great 10k time!) You probably want to see what over competitors are using, and speak to the local clubs.

You will almost certainly get a discount if you have access to C2W and you are buying new.

In terms of upgrade - buying a really decent wheelset with deep aero rims. and making sure you have fast tyres on could make a big difference. BUT...

Your bike is rim brake, i think alot of the TRI tech has moved to disc, due to deep aero carbon rims, so if you were to upgrade the whole bike and move to disc brake your upgraded wheels would not move over.

Your bike also originally came with 23c tyres, alot of bikes come with slightly larger tyres now - apparently its been found to be faster. 28c I believe the notional sweet spot, and more modern TRI frames come with clearance for the larger tyres.

At that level, gains can also be very specific to the route. Flat/hilly, clean/rough tarmac, lots of bends/traffic/on a race track.... so it could be tweaking set ups to help.

If you've not had a bike fit, I would say that would be really useful, make sure its the right size and you can get into a comfortable aero position.

[Jamesh]

Your wheels are poor tbh

http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/ind ... and-specs/

Get some lighter deeper carbon wheels....

Look at Ribble and planet X for the best value.

Cheers James

[Slowtwitch]

Felt make great frames. I recently built one up for a friend and was very impressed by the end result.