VR | Advanced | Ultegra | 2020
VR | Advanced | Ultegra | 2020, Road cycling has evolved. So, too, has the endurance road bike. The VR provides an all-new perspective on experiencing the road, one centered around pushing the limits of distance, topography, and terrain. It's a bike with which to go forward, to discover, and to evolve. From sunrise to sundown, the VR is your companion to heretofore unknown roads.Buy it if: You want a modern road bike designed for all-day, epic road rides, with a focus on comfort and a smooth ride quality. You also prefer the classic tactile sensation of mechanical shifting.Don't buy it if: You're looking for electronic shifting-If so, check out the VR | Advanced | Ultegra Di2 model. Or, if you're looking for the road race bike chosen by our pro teams, check out the FR series. Or, perhaps you want a bike designed for mixed surface riding with massive tire clearance and dual-wheel compatibility? Check out both the Breed and Broam series.Highlights:Advanced-level carbon layup with TeXtreme carbon, optimized for a smooth rideClearance for up to 30mm tiresModern endurance geometry for a broad fit rangeUpgrades over VR | Advanced | 105:Shimano Ultegra mechanical drivetrainReynolds carbon wheelsRiders all over the world are pushing their bodies farther, and the limits of their equipment further, than ever before. They're getting off the beaten path and away from their regular grind. They're exploring new roads and spending more time in the saddle on solo excursions, group adventures, and epic gran fondos, all to satisfy their passion for the ride. These are the cyclists that inspired us to create the VR, the most versatile and capable endurance road bike in our history. Drawing on decades of frame building expertise and carbon fiber and aluminum innovation, our engineers meticulously crafted each and every VR model with the most refined geometry, materials selection, and functional amenities to harmoniously meld together comfort and performance.The VR is the ideal companion for riding farther than you ever have before. The VR | Advanced line is crafted from several unique types of carbon fibers. UHC ("Ultra Hybrid Carbon") Advanced fiber is high-modulus, meaning that it's incredibly stiff to maximize pedaling efficiency and handling feedback. But, when properly manipulated, it also yields a superbly supple chassis to mitigate road feedback and suppress rider fatigue over the course of a long day in the saddle. TeXtreme is another type of carbon that is not only found on our best-performing framesets, but is also utilized in the aerospace industry and on Formula One race cars to both add strength to a structure, as well as reduce its weight relative to alternative composite options. In the case of the VR, the use of TeXtreme allowed our engineers to reduce the bike's overall weight while ensuring incredible durability and an ineffably sublime ride quality. The VR's geometry includes a taller stack height relative to its road racing-focused sibling, the FR, which gives VR riders the option of taking advantage of a more upright riding position without having to rely on superfluous headset spacers that are not only aesthetically unappealing, but also subtract from the bike's overall handling prowess. The VR also has a longer wheelbase than the FR, along with slightly slacker head and seat angles. This gives it a more stable ride quality, making for predictable steering and a solid, planted feel when rolling down fast mountain descents. Finally, the VR also has a shorter seat tube, meaning that a greater amount of seatpost is exposed in order to provide additional compliance where the rider feels it the most.Seeking out new roads demands the very best equipment. Whether riding pristine tarmac, eroded thoroughfares abandoned to the elements, or even groomed gravel paths leading to parts unknown, the modern endurance cyclist must be prepared for whatever comes his or her way. To accomplish all of this, the VR ushers in a new era of capability with thoughtful features that provide functional benefits for any type of ride. First off, disc brakes come standard on every bike in the VR series. They offer better modulation and performance in every kind of weather, as well as far greater durability for all-day riding, than old-fashioned rim brakes. The VR also features a clever cable management system, which is compatible with every drivetrain in the world, for clean aesthetics and easy maintenance. The VR also sports an optional storage solution location along the top tube, with standard water bottle bolt spacing for use with a host of aftermarket bags or other "bento box"-style accessories. For those riders determined not to let a little wet weather derail their riding plans, the VR is compatible with a proprietary fender kit that can help shun the effects of even the nastiest of rainy days. The VR is also capable of utilizing tires up to 30mm wide (with ISO clearance-6mm of clearance on either side of the tire).We partnered with Shimano to deck out the VR | Advanced line with three different component packages to give riders the freedom to choose how they interact with their VR and with the road itself. In addition to one built with Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, as well as a Shimano 105-equipped iteration, we're pleased to present this fantastic bike with Shimano's Ultegra mechanical shifting. Every component in Shimano's lineup offers rock-solid dependability, and there's a reason that Shimano sells seemingly endless amounts of Ultegra groupsets worldwide. Each bike in the VR | Advanced line includes hydraulic disc brakes for complete control on fast descents and reliable modulation in all weather conditions. Every bike in the VR series also includes optimal endurance road bike gearing: a 50/34 chainring and a cassette with a 34-tooth largest cog. This pairing provides plenty of range, all the way up to the hallowed 1:1 gear ratio for conquering any climb. This particular VR | Advanced | Ultegra model rolls on carbon, tubeless-ready Reynolds wheels for a fast-rolling ride and instant acceleration under power. They're wrapped in Vittoria Rubino G+ tires in size 28c-but the VR can accept up to size 30mm tires (measured, and to remain within ISO standards that call for 6mm of clearance on either side of the tire between it and the frame). A cockpit component selection from Devox completes the build, including an aluminum handlebar and stem, as well as a carbon fiber seatpost topped with a Prologo saddle.The VR is a jack-of-all-trades, but it's also a master of many. With all of the performance credentials for which Felt bikes are renowned, a sublime ride quality that will keep your legs feeling powerful even at the end of an all-day ride, and a host of unique technologies that make it incredibly versatile, the VR is your ideal companion for chasing every road on the horizon. Road cycling has evolved, and so, too, has the endurance road bike. Now it's your turn.TECH SPECSFrame:Felt Variable Road UHC Advanced + TeXtreme carbon fiber, MMC with InsideOut construction, carbon fiber BB386 bottom bracket shell, 12 x 142mm with Syntace style thru axle, flat mount disc brake standard, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, internal mechanical or electronic cable routingFork:Felt Variable Road UHC Advanced + TeXtreme carbon fiber monocoque construction, size specific ControlTaper carbon fiber steerer tube, integrated crown race, crown and blades. Flat mount disc standard, 12 x 100mm thru axleHeadset:FSA integrated sealed cartridge bearing with Felt VariableHeight Cone Spacers (20mm PC, 4.5mm aluminum), Felt top cap, 43 - 47cm: IS-21, 1.125", 51 - 61cm: No.42, 1.125 - 1.5"Stem:Devox SL, -7A rise, A-31.8mm, 43 - 47cm: 80mm, 51cm: 90mm, 54 - 56cm: 100mm, 58cm: 110mm, 61cm: 120mmHandlebar:Devox Road Endurance, 65mm reach, 125mm drop, A-31.8mm, 43-47cm: 380mm, 51cm: 400mm, 54 - 56cm: 420mm, 58 - 61cm: 440mmBar Tape:Felt VelvetGel tape with 3M reflective base with reflective Felt Bubble-Tech F-Wing bar end plugsShifters:Shimano Ultegra R8020 11-speedFront Derailleur:Shimano Ultegra R8000 braze-onRear Derailleur:Shimano Ultegra R8000 11-speed long cageCrankset:Shimano Ultegra R8000, 50/34T, 43 - 47cm: 165mm, 51cm: 170mm, 54 - 56cm: 172.5mm, 58 - 61cm: 175mmBottom Bracket:Token BB386 with 24mm bearingsChain:Shimano 11-speedCassette:Shimano 11-speed, 11-34TBrake Levers:Shimano Ultegra R8020, hydraulicBrake (Front):Shimano R8070 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotorBrake (Rear):Shimano R8070 hydraulic disc, 140mm rotorSaddle:Prologo Dimension Space T4.0Seatpost:Devox UHC Performance carbon fiber with microadjust head, 43 - 51cm: A-27.2mm x 344mm lengthSeatpost Clamp:Felt single bolt, A-30.6mmRims / Wheelset:Reynolds AR29 DB Custom carbon, tubeless ready, 21mm inner width, 29mm depthFront Hub:Reynolds Series 1, straight-pull design, 12 x 100mm thru axle, Center LockRear Hub:Reynolds Series 1, straight-pull design, 4 pawl, 24T ratchet, 11-speed, 12 x 142mm thru axle, Center LockThru Axles:Front: 12 x 100 x 123, thread: M12 x 1.5P x 16L, Maxle; Rear: 12 x 142 x 163 (163L + 7 head = 170 total), thread: M12 x 1.0P x 19L, SyntaceSpokes:Sapim Sprint double buttedTires:Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ folding, 700 x 28cAccessories:Carbon assembly paste, chain plate protector, tubeless valve stemsFinish (Accent):1) Aquafresh / TeXtreme, 2) Midnight Blue Fade / TeXtremeWeight:17.2 lb, 7.83 kg*Bike weights are for a 54cm sample bike. Final weights will differ based on sizes and production variations across frame and component parts. Specifications subject to change without notice.GEOMETRY