John Degenkolb's Argos-Shimano Felt F-Series FRD(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
The 5'11"/180cm Degenkolb rides a 54cm frame(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
Taking the 'most subtle logo' award, the 1t4i blends right in with the frame(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
Felt uses a new carbon fiber - UHC Nano TeXtreme - for this new frame(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
The TeXtreme carbon fabric is made by the Swedish company Oxeon(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
The TeXtreme fabric uses flat-tow strands instead of circular yarn, which means, Felt says, more fiber and less resin for a lighter and stiffer frame(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
Felt says the TeXtreme fabric also makes for good impact resistance — always a good thing for race bikes(Image credit: Daniel Simms)
John Degenkolb went after the breakaway himself but had to settle for fourth in Paris-Tours(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)
John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)
Bubbly time for John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano)(Image credit: Susi Goetze)
John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) in green before the start(Image credit: Susi Goetze)
John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) was a force to be reckoned with at the Vuelta, pictured taking his fourth of five stage wins in the Spanish Grand Tour.(Image credit: AFP)
Young sprinter John Degenkolb had a great 2012, especially later in the season as he took five stages at the Vuelta a España and finished just off the podium at the road world championships. This year Degenkolb, racing a new Felt for Argos-Shimano, is again aiming for success at the Vuelta. Here we take a look at the Felt F-Series FRD bike he rode at the Tour of Qatar.
Degenkolb's Felt looks like the current F1, but it uses a different carbon fiber. Felt uses a blend of fiber it calls UHC Nano TeXtreme spread tow. Using the same mold as the F1, Degenkolb's frame has a blend of uni-directional fibers baked with a resin Felt claims as proprietary.
TeXtreme is made by the Swedish company Oxeon. Instead of standard carbon yarn, TeXtreme uses flat tapes of carbon fiber, which Felt claims allows for more fibers (and thus less relatively heavier resin) to be packed into a given area. TeXtreme is based on Oxeon’s Tape Weaving Technology that uses tapes instead of yarn. In any given area, more fibers can be packed in tape form than in a yarn. This material is then woven and used for the base structure of the frame.
Degenkolb's 54cm frame has a tapered steerer (1.125” to 1.5”), internal routing specific for Shimano Di2, carbon fiber dropouts, a threaded bottom bracket shell and, naturally, Argos-Shimano/1T4i graphics.
Taking the 'most subtle logo' award, the 1t4i blends right in with the frame
Complete bike specifications
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Frame: Felt F1 FRD, UHC Nano TeXtreme carbon fiber, 54cm Fork: Felt Road UHC Ultimate+Nano carbon fiber, tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" Headset: PRO RI-11 integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" tapered Stem: PRO Vibe Team Issue, 130mm x -10° Handlebars: PRO Vibe Team Issue Tape/grips: PRO Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070 Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 w/ 'sprint' and top-mount satellite shifters Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000 Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Crankset: SRM Wireless PowerMeter DuraAce Compatible, 175mm, 53/39T Bottom bracket: BB30-to-24mm adapter Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL PD-9000 Front wheel: Shimano Dura-Ace WH-9000-C50-TU Rear wheel: Shimano Dura-Ace WH-9000-C75-TU Front tire: Vittoria Rear tire: Vittoria Saddle: PRO Turnix Ti Seatpost: PRO Vibe Bottle cages: Elite Pase Custom Carbon (2) Computer: SRM PowerControl 7
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.80m (5' 11") Rider's weight: 77kg (170lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 728mm Saddle setback: 66mm Seat tube length, c-t: 520mm Seat tube length, c-c: 472mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 584mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 113mm Head tube length: 120mm Top tube length: 545mm
