Felt showed off two 2020 models of what it calls its “Mixed Surface” line of bikes at Sea Otter 2019, both in sparkling white.
For the most part at Sea Otter during the past few years, “Mixed Surface” has meant gravel. And yes, one of Felt’s new bikes is a gravel bike. However, the company also has an updated model of its workhorse cyclocross bike, giving something for our #crossiscoming tendencies as well.
We take a look at the updated Fx cyclocross and Breed gravel bikes.
Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1
The 2019 Felt F1X returns in a 2020 model with a simple, white dress but more complicated name. It’s now called the Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1, complete with the pipes.
The 2020 Felt Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 cyclocross bike features in white is similar to the white frame Wout van Aert used, but with red and blue accents. The company offers its flagship lighter FRD frame with UHC Ultimate and TeXtreme carbon as a frameset only. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
While the name changed, the materials have not. Felt’s top-of-the-line complete bike pairs a UHC Advanced and TeXtreme-enhanced carbon fiber frame with the UHC and TeXtreme carbon cyclocross fork. The pairing of the Advanced and Ultimate materials forms the Advanced+ designation.
Felt will have three carbon cyclocross bikes, the top two with the Advanced+ frameset, while the most affordable model loses the plus sign by swapping the UHC Ultimate and TeXtreme carbon fork for a UHC Advanced and TeXtreme fork.
Still developed in California after the acquisition by Rossignol. 2020 Felt Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 cyclocross bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1, as the name suggests, features SRAM Force 1 components. The updated bike features a white paint job similar to the bike that Wout van Aert rode and we profiled in 2017, but instead of world championship color accents, it features a more American-centric red and blue color scheme.
An American color scheme on 2020 Felt Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 cyclocross bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 is designed to be a dedicated cyclocross race bike, not your do-it-all gravel machine with big tires and huge wide-range cassette. It officially has clearance for 36mm tires and pairs a 38t or 40t X-Sync ring with an 11-36t cassette out back.
Felt’s updated Fx cyclocross bike has clearance for 36mm tires max. 2020 Felt Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 cyclocross bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Just like Wout’s former bike, the Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 has a full suite of SRAM/Zipp components. The Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 features Zipp’s Service Course SL stem, Service Course SL-70 short reach handlebar and the designed-to-be-flexy Service Course SL carbon post.
The alloy Zipp Service Course SL stem handles steering. 2020 Felt Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 cyclocross bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The company continues to offer its flagship F FRD X frame that features its UHC Ultimate and TeXtreme carbon, only it’s now renamed the Fx FRD | Ultimate. It’s the company’s lightest cyclocross frameset, as you might expect.
Without a scale or microscope, you can’t tell the difference between any of the frames because they all share the same shape and geometry.
Felt doesn’t have pricing yet on this 202
0 model. It should have details on the other cyclocross models later in May.
Felt’s updated cyclocross bike has Zipp 30 Course wheels and Schwalbe X-One tubeless tires. 2020 Felt Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 cyclocross bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Breed Gravel Bike
Felt offers two other Mixed Surface models in the Broam and the Breed. The Broam is the company’s adventure bike, built for long days, touring and even bikepacking.
The Breed is now the company’s gravel bike, although years ago before the gravel trend, Felt used the name for its singlespeed cyclocross bike.
The 2020 Felt Breed Force 1 gravel bike is ready to party with new Terreno treads and a new confetti-like paint scheme. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The Breed looks to be a versatile do-it-all machine with a plethora of mounts, lots of tire clearance and racey geometry with short 42cm chainstays and low 7.2cm bottom bracket drop.
With the Felt Breed, there’s no excuse for leaving home without something. Everywhere you look, there are mounts, enough to carry the kitchen sink. The 2020 Felt Breed Force 1 gravel bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
In 2019, the Breed came with both 1x and 2x drivetrain options, with a SRAM Force 1 drivetrain and a Shimano 105 R7000 model.
For 2020, both models go 1x. We got an early preview of the updated Breed 20, now called the Breed | 20.
Praxis Works Zayante 1x Direct Mount crankset carries over from 2019. The 2020 Felt Breed Force 1 gravel bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The bike pairs a SRAM Force 1 shifters and derailleurs with an Apex 11-42t cassette and Praxis Zayante Direct Mount crankset. For 2020, Felt opts for a bit more knobs, eschewing the smooth WTB Byway 47mm rubber for the fish scale-like Vittoria Terreno Dry tread.
The 2020 Felt Breed Force 1 gravel bike swapped WTB Byway tires for a few more knobs on the Vittoria Terreno Dry rubber. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Cockpit and wheel duties are handled by the company’s Devox house brand. The 650b wheels are tubeless ready.
The 2020 Felt Breed gravel bike pairs Force 1 with a bit of flare from the house brand Devox Gravel Race SL bar. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The frame features mounts for just about anything. Everywhere you look there’s a mount, including at the seat clamp. The Felt-designed clamp features an integrated rack mount.
The proprietary seat clamp on the Felt is a clean, creative way to add rack mounts. The 2020 Felt Breed Force 1 gravel bike. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
While the carbon cyclocross models are built around a 386 EVO bottom bracket shell, the alloy Breed models use a T47 threaded shell. Nicely sculpted chainstays offer clearance for up to 650b x 2″ or 700c x 45mm rubber.
The carbon fork on the 2020 Felt Breed Force 1 gravel bike features plenty of clearance, plus a fender mount. 2019 Sea Otter Classic. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
The model got a paint update too, with white remaining the year’s theme. The frame gets some colorful confetti-like accents, helping you bring the party to your next gravel ride.
For a closer look at the Fx | Advanced+ | Force Cx1 and Breed | 20, see the photo gallery below.
All of our coverage of new bikes and products is available in our 2019 Sea Otter Classic archive.
