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Felt's left-hand drive Olympic track bike goes on sale - for $25,999

UCI rules means bike designed to beat Team GB has to be sold commercially

Remember the striking bike Felt created for the US women’s team pursuit squad at the Rio Olympics this summer that had the drivetrain on the ‘wrong’ side? Well, it’s going into production – but if you want one, it will cost you a cool $25,999.

The Irvine, California-based company doesn’t expect to shift more than “a handful” of units, according to Bicycleretailer.com – that’s no surprise given it was designed specifically for a team event – but it needs to make it commercially available to meet UCI rules.

Company spokesman Michael White told the website: "The price does seem astronomical at first glance, but interestingly, when you factor in the costs of what you’re getting, it’s actually not too bad a value.

“We’re confident enough to say that this is the most advanced track frame in the world, and it comes with two sets of wheels (including double HED discs), multiple custom parts like two different FSA cranks, Stages power meter, custom bike box, CeramicSpeed bearings, etc.

“And each customer will receive a custom front-end and handlebar assembly made for their measurements," he added.

The bike, called the Felt TA FRD, was designed specifically to try and give the American women an edge over their British rivals in Rio – as it turned out, they took silver behind Team GB, as they had done in London four years earlier.

Our tech editor Dave Arthur ran the rule over the bike when it was launched back in May and explains some of the thinking behind the design process here.

As for that price tag, if you’re in the UK and have your heart set on the bike, you’ll also have to factor in shipping costs, VAT, import duty, and a post-referendum pound-to-dollar exchange rate that is going through the floor.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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4 comments

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Condor Andy | 7 years ago
1 like

The sarcasm is strong on this website today laugh

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
0 likes

That bike just screams LOSER  3

 

 

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jollygoodvelo | 7 years ago
1 like

Nice bike.

 

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handlebarcam | 7 years ago
2 likes

Does it also come with a bargepole, custom made from high modulus crabon fibre, with which to fend off Jeremy Santucci if he ever comes round asking to borrow it to go crit racing?

Personally, I'm going to wait for the Rapha-branded special edition, costing $29,999, but worth it because it'll have an extra stripe of paint around the seat tube.

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