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Pro bikes, June 6, 2006
Mark McCormack's Felt F1C
Maaahk the ShaaahkBy Steve Medcroft
In homage to Mark McCormack's New England roots, it says Maaahk on a strip of label tape on the top tube of his Felt F1C. It should say Maaahk the Shaaahk after his performance in the CSC Invitational in Arlington, Virginia last Saturday Like a shark prowling shallow waters for the leg of an unwary surfer, The former U.S. professional road and cyclo-cross National Champion patiently and skillfully maneuvered through a churning sea of racers and into the final group - one of only 24 riders to remain of the more than 120 starters. Elite racers know that even if they make the final selection, if they're more than ten spots from the front they stand little chance of winning in a tight, 0.6-kilometer, five-turn criterium like CSC. McCormack, instead of waiting to fight it out in a straight-up sprint, took an aggressive line outside the group on the final turn and found himself protected enough from a headwind by the right-field barriers that he was able to break twenty yards clear for the win. The reason he was able to take tricky turn number five at high speed, a turn that sent riders to the hospital and crashed breakaway rider Brent Bookwalter (Priority Health) out of the lead? The unique cornering characteristics of his Felt F1C, says McCormack. Started by motocross engineer Jim Felt just five years ago to offer frames for triathletes, Felt has grown from a US-only company with just six models to distribution across 27 countries and 140 models in the catalog. McCormack has been riding Felt's road and cyclo-cross machines since he joined the Colavita squad in 2004. The F1C pictured here was issued to him at the team's pre-season training camp in January, 2006. According to McCormack, his first impression of the three-piece construction, high-modulous carbon F1C frame was all positive. "I loved it from the moment I saw it," he said from his hotel between Commerce Bank Triple Crown races. "The look, the feel, the responsiveness were all amazing and it's the lightest bike I have ever ridden." In the 60cm configuration (McCormack's size), the F1C is put together with 74-degree head tube, 73.5-degree seat-tube and a 600mm center-to-center top tube length. The all-carbon frameset is laid up in three pieces; front triangle, seat stays and chain stays separately. Felt says that the process allows them exploit the benefits of working with carbon; namely being able to shape tubes to maximize stiffness where you want it (laterally and torsionally) and to reduce it a little for comfort where you don't (vertically). Taking advantage for Felt means changing tubing configurations all over the front triangle. The top tube alone shifts through three diameter, radius and shape changes. Felt swears this isn't an aesthetic exercise. "The large diameters at the head tube and bottom bracket along with increased wall thickness promote stiffness," Felt says on its Web site. "They then transition into smaller diameters with a reduction in wall thickness, providing a beautiful hourglass-shape and effectively damping out vibrations." McCormack says all these design elements are the reason he was able to get through turn number five at CSC so well. "In high-speed corners on slightly bumpy pavement, this bike doesn't get the shuttering feeling as it seems to soak up the bumps and keep my tires in contact with the pavement." That soak of road jitter in corners has given McCormack more confidence in the turns. "I feel like I have even better control due to the forgiving nature of the bike on the smaller bumps." McCormack says although Felt's carbon road frame (which is matte clear-coated rather than painted or glossed) is as high-performance as a bike can get, he still rides his 7005 Superlite custom-butted aluminum F1X cyclo-cross bike and Easton SC7000 Scandium SC1 road bike. "I train on and race on the SC1 when I'm at home. I race the F1X in winter." As for the rest of the build, whereas some pros tinker with every little component on their bikes trying to eke an ounce here and an ounce there, Colavita takes a straight-up approach to sponsor components; running a Reynolds Ouzo Pro carbon fork, Maxxis Courchevel tires, Profile Design bars, stems and seat post and Shimano Dura-Ace for everything else. "We have input on which Profile bars and stems and Maxxis tires to ride," McCormack says, "but I have nothing but great things to say about everything on my bike. It rides smooth, goes fast, and works just as well for hilly road races, technical criteriums, and long training rides." PhotosFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews.com
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Full specificationFrame: Felt F1C,
Ultra-high modulus carbon fiber modular monocoque with 3K weave, integrated headset, 60cm Handlebar: Profile Design Lava OS (Triple-butted 7075-T6 aluminum construction) Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace |
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace Hollowtech 2, 55/42 Tires: Maxxis Courchavel 3C 700x23 Saddle: Velo Cross Flow Additional info: www.feltracing.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||
