Bike Check: Rachel’s Felt TK FRD
Track bike’s are usually quite straight forward race bikes: one gear, no brakes, standard fare. Rachel’s Felt TK FRD, however, is anything but standard. The ‘FRD’ means part of Felt’s ‘Racing Development’ line of bikes. On the TK, this means not only does it get the checkerboard UHC Ultimate TeXtreme Carbon layup, but a host of other changes that separate it from your normal or ‘classic’ track bike. Like, for instance, Felt’s ‘Bayonet 2’ integrated fork/stem combo. It also has full ‘track aero’ tubing, and titanium surfaced horizontal dropouts in place of standard steel dropouts.
The unique looking front end of Felt’s TK FRD: looks pretty solid
The Bayonet 2 system things attached, and Felt’s build in bumpers to protect the frame from the fork
The integrated system gives the TK FRD a strong looking profile, and the 3T bard don’t hurt the look
Cinelli’s Red Hook Crit edition bar tape on 3T’s flashy Scatto drop bars.
3-T’s Scatto bar’s are aero from the front, but definitely built tough
FSA chanrings are definitely built for power, not weight
50 tooth FSA chainring and KMC’s z-series chain
Felt’s FRD edition of the TK gets titanium horizontal dropouts, with built in chain tensioners
Rachel’s added some personal touches like leather Soma straps, sawed in half and zip-tied to Shimano 105 pedals. Because having your foot unclip mid sprint is just no fun.
The TK FRD is approved by Brian Catson. Or is it grumpy Pat MewQuaid, missing his presidency?
‘Track aero’ tubing throughout the TK FRD. Not sure if that’s different than normal aero, but it looks fast
Rachel’s got the red-carbon-black matched all the way down to the seat
