What is "FRD"?

FRD, or "Felt Racing Development," is the epitome of cycling excellence. It's where our team of boundary-breaking engineers and visionary scientists unleash their creative genius to craft nothing short of cycling masterpieces.

Our FRD framesets are born from a fearless pursuit of perfection. We don't hold back, and we don't settle for anything less than extraordinary. These bikes are the result of relentless innovation, tireless testing, and unwavering dedication to performance.

When it comes to racing, we leave no stone unturned. We listen to our world-class professional athletes and race teams, incorporating their feedback to create bikes that are purpose-built for specific disciplines. From triathlons to criteriums to road races, our FRD bikes are designed to dominate every scenario.

And our commitment to pushing the limits knows no bounds. We break free from conventional constraints, exploring new materials, pushing aerodynamics to the edge, and leveraging the latest technology to gain every possible advantage. We don't settle for ordinary, we strive for extraordinary.

With an FRD bike, you're not just riding a bike, you're riding a statement. A statement of confidence, boldness, and unwavering determination to be the best. It's a badge of honor that represents our passion for delivering the ultimate in performance, and our promise to always stay ahead of the curve.

So join us on the cutting edge of cycling technology with an FRD bike. Experience the thrill of pushing your limits, the exhilaration of unmatched speed, and the unrivaled confidence that comes with riding a Felt masterpiece. Get ready to leave your competition in the dust and make your mark on the racing world with Felt Racing Development.

What models are available in FRD versions?

 

What are some distinguising features of FRD-Level bikes?

FRD is not just one thing, it's the culmination of all our efforts to create the ultimate performance machines. When you see "FRD" on a Felt bike, you know you're looking at a bold, piece of engineering mastery. Take the FR FRD, for example, which is a stripped-down and refined version of our popular road race bike. It's designed to help you achieve maximum performance on the road, with features like optimized carbon fiber, tweaked tube shapes, and enhanced aerodynamics.

Or consider the IA FRD, our lightest and most aerodynamic iteration of our six-time Kona-winning triathlon race bike. It's designed to help triathletes push their limits and excel in competition, with cutting-edge design elements that reduce drag and optimize power transfer.

And then there's the TA FRD, a revolutionary track bike that pushes the boundaries of what's possible on the velodrome. It's unlike anything the world has ever seen, with unique engineering and design that's been fine-tuned for track racing at the highest level.

But it's not just about the features, it's about the passion, dedication, and hard work that our professional athletes and engineers pour into every FRD-level platform. These bikes represent the culmination of all their blood, sweat, and tears, and are crafted to give you the best-performing two-wheeled machine on the planet.

It's designed to help you achieve maximum performance on the road.

THE WORLD'S FINEST MATERIALS

No expense is spared in sourcing the very best ingredients from the world’s leading carbon and composite developers. Many of the materials used on FRD-level bikes aren’t found on any other bikes on the planet.

FRD CARBON LAYUP EXAMPLE

Our FRD-level frames are crafted from around 400 individual carbon pieces. This adds incredible amounts of time, cost, and labor in order to both design and produce a frame like this. But it’s worth it to achieve the lightest, best-handling, and highest-performance bicycle frames in the world. (Note that this is an artist’s rendering, and does not reflect an actual carbon layup.)

NON-FRD CARBON LAYUP EXAMPLE

Most of our non-FRD frames consist of around 175 individual carbon pieces, each one precisely tuned to balance a stellar ride quality, superior pedaling stiffness, and low weight. Compare its complexity with an FRD-level frame. (Note that this is an artist’s rendering, and does not reflect an actual carbon layup.)

CUSTOM CARBON LAY-UPS

FRD-level framesets can include over 400 individual pieces of carbon fiber (more than twice the number found on other frames), all of which combine to create a level of performance and a ride quality that far exceeds the sum of its parts.

Our engineers develop every frame in-house. FRD-level carbon lay-ups also require a unique molding process that adds even more time and cost to the finished product, but makes for a frameset that offers even more performance and a better overall riding experience.

FRD CARBON MOLDING PROCESS

FRD-level frames are also built by hand, but utilize a unique hollow EPS core that molds the carbon fiber with more precision and to tighter tolerances. This means that the frame’s internal structure is identical to the outer structure, which reduces weight and helps the frame realize its full, intended potential.

NON-FRD CARBON MOLDING PROCESS

The carbon fiber pieces for our non-FRD frames are laid up by the hands of skilled workers. The molding process involves a solid EPS core and a silicone sleeve to create the frame’s shape.

Our FRD-level frames are a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence.

Attention to detail

When it comes to crafting the finest bicycle frames in the world, our FRD-level frames are a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. Our skilled factory workers invest extra time and attention in every step of the manufacturing process to ensure that every FRD frame is truly exceptional.

One of the unique features of FRD-level frames is the use of hollow EPS cores, which demand meticulous care during the carbon molding process. Our skilled team takes the time needed to remove these cores with precision, ensuring that each frame meets our stringent quality standards.

The finishing process for an FRD-level frame is not rushed. It's a labor of love that takes well over an hour to prepare the frame for the next phases of production. Our factory workers painstakingly inspect and refine each frame, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of perfection.

These extra hours of hard work and attention to detail may add to the cost and resources involved, but we believe that they are necessary to create the finest bicycle frames in the world. We take immense pride in our FRD-level frames and their unmatched quality, and we are confident that they stand in a league of their own.

So, when you choose an FRD-level frame from us, you can ride with confidence, knowing that you're getting a product that's been crafted with passion, expertise, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. Experience the boldness and confidence of our FRD-level frames - the epitome of excellence in cycling craftsmanship.