The original Z-Series carbon frame set the standard for Felt’s distance bike range as it combined endurance-focused geometry and decent components at competitive prices. More recently, though, the frame was starting to show its age, lacking provision for electronic drivetrains and in need of losing a few grams to keep up with the advancing competition.
Ride & handling: Comfortable and light for sportive riders and climbers
The ride is absolutely defined by a beautiful smoothness, which is impressive seeing seeing as Felt haven’t resorted to fitting a 25c tyre, relying on Mavic’s standard 23c Aksion’s that come as part of the Aksium wheelset package. We’d love to try the Z5 with a bigger volume tyre, as we’d expect it to become a cobble-busting blaster perfect for the Classics.
The ride position is quite upright and, though the geometry of 72.5-degree head angle and 72.5-degree seat angle combined with a 200mm head tube and 575mm effective top tube length isn’t particularly relaxed, we quickly dropped the stem down as it comes with over an inch of spacers below.
We’d still like to drop it further but a cone-shaped headset bearing top limits slamming it down any further. We recommend changing this cone spacer as soon as you can, especially if you’d like to use the Z5 for racing duties as well.
Despite the slightly elevated position, the Z5 still has impressive handling traits. The front end reacts quickly without getting nervy and the head tube never exerts any drama. The long 102.5cm wheelbase adds to the stability but it does dull the edges a little when you’re snapping through a pack or railing through a section of S-bends.
Frame & equipment: Future-proof frameset with smooth 105
For 2013 the Z-Series carbon has been revamped from the ground up, not that you’d know from its quietly understated looks and thankful lack of overstated acronyms.
Up front there are all new, all carbon forks with a steerer that tapers from 1.25in to 1.5in. The fork design features a ridged central spine on the legs that’s continued into the oversized head tube. These ridges change the profile of the head tube into a more ovalised shape, which Felt claim bolsters the front-end stiffness.
This leads into a squared profile, oversized down tube flowing into a huge BB30 compatible bottom bracket. Oversized chainstays with full carbon dropouts curve upwards in their final few inches flowing in one continuous piece into slender seatstays.
While the bottom half of the frame is all about the business of stiffness and power transfer, the top sections are designed to offer comfort. The top tube starts wide and broad but quickly tapers down to a very slender joint with the equally slender seat tube.
Unlike the previous generation Z-Series carbon frames, the new chassis features full internal cable routing. That keeps cables out of the elements and away from grime, meaning it’ll keep running smoother for longer. It also adds compatibility to the latest electronic drivetrains, as where the cables enter and exit the frame it’s a dual fit design to take either wider (mechanical) or narrower (electronic wiring) cables.
The 105 gearing works smoothly and efficiently. Felt have used an FSA Gossamer chainset in place of the expected 105 unit. That’s due to compatibility with the BB30 standard bottom bracket shell and Shimano’s reluctance to produce their chainsets in this ever more popular standard.
Felt have taken a considered approach to gearing, specifying a 50/34 compact combined with a wide-ranged 11/32 cassette. That gives a decent gear for speed and a 34/32 bailout gear that will get you up and over the most extreme climbs.
As mentioned above, Mavic provide their complete wheel system. It combines the great value Aksium wheelset with matching Aksion tyres. These may be marketed as a budget package but the French manufacturer’s quality is still present and they’ve been hassle free and smooth rolling throughout the test.
Stopping duties are handled by Shimano’s 105 brakeset. Quite often this is a place where manufacturers will try to save some cash but Felt’s choice of speccing great quality brakes (and importantly quality cartridge pads) means the Z5’s braking prowess is absolutely spot on, consistent in feel and power whatever the weather conditions might throw at you.
The frame’s smoothness is further enhanced by the quality 27.2cm diameter Felt UHC carbon seatpost. This is topped with a Prologo Kappa saddle. We got on really well with it, despite it being firm and narrow.
The shallow and short Felt drop bars are very easy to live with and the compact dimensions make switching between hand-holds quick and fuss free. The shorter reach makes for a relaxed on-the-hoods position that we were more than happy to spend hour after hour in.
This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.
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Douglas R. Petersen Lala J. Poindexter Anna W. Hartman Walter M. Martinez Madge J. Bonner
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