Road cycling has evolved. So, too, has the endurance road bike. The VR provides an all-new perspective on experiencing the road, one centered around pushing the limits of distance, topography, and terrain. It’s a bike with which to go forward, to discover, and to evolve. From sunrise to sundown, the VR is your companion to heretofore unknown roads.
Highlights:
- Shimano Claris groupset
- Clearance for up to 30mm tires
- Custom butted aluminum frame, Advanced-level carbon fork
Riders all over the world are pushing their bodies farther, and the limits of their equipment further, than ever before. They’re getting off the beaten path and away from their regular grind. They’re exploring new roads and spending more time in the saddle on solo excursions, group adventures, and epic gran fondos, all to satisfy their passion for the ride. These are the cyclists that inspired us to create the VR, the most versatile and capable endurance road bike in our history. Drawing on decades of frame building expertise and aluminum innovation, our engineers meticulously crafted each and every VR model with the most refined geometry and functional amenities to harmoniously meld together comfort and performance.
While carbon fiber is undoubtedly the most popular bicycle frame material of this day and age, it’s by no means the only one. Aluminum road bikes first began dominating professional racing several decades ago, and it’s easy to understand why. Aluminum was lighter than steel, and frame makers had more freedom in the size, shapes, and profiles of tubes at their disposal. Aluminum technology has continuously advanced over time, and today’s aluminum bikes offer incredible performance by any standard. What’s important for all cyclists to remember is that frame material alone doesn’t yield a high-performance or poor-quality bike. Just like how the finest food ingredients demand the skills of a chef to yield a truly exquisite meal, bicycle frame materials require engineering expertise to produce a truly great bicycle. While aluminum itself is slightly heavier than most types of carbon fiber when all other things are equal, this isn’t always the case. In fact, a well-designed and finely crafted aluminum frame will be lighter, pedal more efficiently, and ride more smoothly than a poorly designed carbon frame.
The VR | 60 frame is constructed from our FLite (as in, “F” for “Felt” and “Lite” for “lightweight”) aluminum, which isn’t just a silly moniker—this frame truly is amongst the lightest on the market compared with similar aluminum endurance road bike frames. More importantly, however, our engineers worked tirelessly to ensure that the VR | 60 maintained the same ride experience as the various carbon models in the VR range. This ride experience includes the same geometry that is optimized for comfortable body position over a long day on the road, as well as stable and predictable handling that is light enough for optimal control down fast mountain descents. The frame is paired with a fork crafted from our UHC Advanced-level carbon fiber to further aid precise handling and mitigate excessive road chatter on the bike’s front end.
Seeking out new roads demands the very best equipment. Whether riding pristine tarmac, eroded thoroughfares abandoned to the elements, or even groomed gravel paths leading to parts unknown, the modern endurance cyclist must be prepared for whatever comes his or her way. To accomplish all of this, the VR ushers in a new era of capability with thoughtful features that provide functional benefits for any type of ride. First off, disc brakes come standard on every bike in the VR series. They offer better modulation and performance in every kind of weather, as well as far greater durability for all-day riding, than old-fashioned rim brakes. The VR also features a clever cable management system, which is compatible with every drivetrain in the world, for clean aesthetics and easy maintenance. The VR also sports an optional storage solution location along the top tube, with standard water bottle bolt spacing for use with a host of aftermarket bags or other “bento box”-style accessories. The VR is also capable of utilizing tires up to 30mm wide (with ISO clearance—6mm of clearance on either side of the tire).
We partnered with Shimano to deck out the VR | 60 with a component package to complement its utilitarian, go-anywhere and do-it-all spirit. The Japanese component maker’s 8-speed Claris group takes centerstage, including front and rear derailleurs, shifters, and crankset. Like every model in the VR range, the VR | 60 is optimized for disc brakes. In this case, a set of Tektro dual-piston stoppers do the deed. Every bike in the VR series also includes optimal endurance road bike gearing: a 50/34 chainring and a cassette with a 34-tooth largest cog. This pairing provides plenty of range, all the way up to the hallowed 1:1 gear ratio for conquering any climb. The cockpit component selection comes by way of our house brand, Devox, with a handlebar specifically designed for endurance riding serving as the star of the touchpoint show. The bike rolls on a set of Devox tubeless-compatible wheels shod in Vittoria Zaffiro tires in size 28c.
The VR is a jack-of-all-trades, but it’s also a master of many. With all of the performance credentials for which Felt bikes are renowned, a sublime ride quality that will keep your legs feeling powerful even at the end of an all-day ride, and a host of unique technologies that make it incredibly versatile, the VR is your ideal companion for chasing every road on the horizon. Road cycling has evolved, and so, too, has the endurance road bike. Now it’s your turn.
TECH SPECS
Frame:
Felt Variable Road Disc FLite custom butted aluminum, hydroform smooth welded construction, BB386 bottom bracket shell, 12 x 142mm with Syntace style thru axle, flat mount disc brake standard, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, internal mechanical cable routing
Fork:
Felt Variable Road UHC Advanced carbon fiber monocoque construction, size specific ControlTaper carbon fiber steerer tube, integrated crown race, crown and blades. Flat mount disc standard, 12 x 100mm thru axle
Headset:
FSA No.42, 1.125 - 1.5", integrated sealed cartridge bearing with Felt VariableHeight Cone Spacers (20mm PC, 4.5mm aluminum), Felt top cap
Stem:
Devox VariableAngle, ±8¡/±16¡ rise, ¯31.8mm, 43cm: 70mm, 51cm: 90mm, 54 - 56cm: 100mm, 58cm: 110mm, 61cm: 120mm
Handlebar:
Devox VR SuperLite Road, 86mm reach, 130mm drop, ¯31.8mm, 43 - 51cm: 42/45cm, 54cm: 44/47cm, 56 - 61cm: 46/49cm
Bar Tape:
Felt VelvetGel tape with 3M reflective base with reflective Felt Bubble-Tech F-Wing bar end plugs
Shifters:
Shimano Claris ST-R2000 8-speed
Front Derailleur:
Shimano Claris R2000 clamp-on, ¯31.8mm
Rear Derailleur:
Shimano Claris R2000 8-speed short cage
Crankset:
Shimano Claris R2000, 50/34T, 43 - 47cm: 165mm, 51cm: 170mm, 54 - 56cm: 172.5mm, 58 - 61cm: 175mm
Bottom Bracket:
Sealed cartridge, BSA threaded, square taper axle, 68 x 103mm
Chain:
KMC 8-Speed
Cassette:
8-speed, 12-34T
Brake Levers:
Shimano Claris R2000
Brake (Front):
Tektro MD-C550 dual piston flat mount disc, 160mm rotor
Brake (Rear):
Tektro MD-C550 dual piston flat mount disc, 160mm rotor
Saddle:
Devox MIG
Seatpost:
Devox Lite Road, ¯27.2mm x 43 - 51cm: ¯27.2mm x 300mm length, 54 - 61cm: ¯27.2mm x 330mm length
Seatpost Clamp:
Felt single bolt, ¯31.8mm
Rims / Wheelset:
Devox Variable Road VR21, tubeless compatible 21mm inner width, 23mm depth
Front Hub:
Devox RSL3D, 12 x 100mm thru axle, Center Lock, 28H
Rear Hub:
Devox RSL3D, 11-speed, 12 x 142mm thru axle, Center Lock, 28H
Thru Axles:
Front: 12 x 100 x 123, thread: M12 x 1.5P x 16L, Maxle; Rear: 12 x 142 x 163 (163L + 9 head = 172 total), thread: M12 x 1.0P x 19L, Syntace
Spokes:
2.0mm stainless steel
Tires:
Vittoria Zaffiro, 700 x 28c
