Force eTap groupset and even more orange for the American Pro Team
(Image credit: Rally Cycling)
For 2021, Rally Cycling might be using the same Felt bikes they used in 2020, but the team's new bikes have been brought into the new season with a fresh coat of paint.
To show off their new bikes, the folks at Rally have kindly shared a close-up gallery of both models that their men's and women's teams will be racing this season, including the AR aero road bike, and FR lightweight bike. The bikes' first outing will be this weekend at la Clásica de Almería, where new signing Joey Rosskopf - formerly of CCC Team - will make his team debut.
Previously, the team's signature orange colour was found only in a circa-10cm wide strip that extended diagonally through the frame, separating a predominantly white frame from a contrasting black. This year, the white has all-but gone, the orange leads the way before fading quickly to black through the white Felt logo on the down tube.
In the pro ranks, it's common to find top-tier groupsets at almost every turn, so it's perhaps surprising - if a little refreshing - to see Rally's bikes are fitted with SRAM's tier-two Force eTap AXS groupset and brakes, proving the lower-priced option is still more than capable of performing at such a high level in the most testing environments.
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(Image credit: Rally Cycling)
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For flatter days, the Felt AR will provide aerodynamic efficiency and maximum power transfer for outright speed and sprints. In our recent Felt AR Advanced review, we concluded that if flat land speed is the goal, then anyone buying the AR would be very happy with their purchase. The bike's split seatpost is a focal point, and it helps to offer a secure hold, retain aerodynamic efficiency and increase compliance.
The AR uses a fully-integrated aero cockpit to hide cables from the wind, utilising Felt's bulky Sprint stem and integrated handlebars from Vision. Maximising aerodynamics, deep-section Metron 55 Tubular wheels also come from Vision.
The team's Wahoo Elemnt Roam computer is positioned on a centrally-positioned BarFly front mount which is fitted to the faceplate of the stem.
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Frameset: 2021 Felt AR
Front brake: Sram Force AXS Hydraulic Disc
Rear brake: Sram Force AXS Hydraulic Disc
Brake/shift levers: Sram Force AXS
Front derailleur: Sram Force AXS
Rear derailleur: Sram Force AXS
Cassette: 10-33t Sram Force AXS
Chain: Sram Force AXS
Crankset: 48/35 Sram Force AXS Power Meter
Bottom bracket: Sram DUB
Wheelset: Vision Metron 55 Tubular
Tyres: Kenda SC Tubular
Handlebars: Vision Metron Aero
Handlebar tape: FSA Cork
Computer mount: Bar Fly
Computer: Wahoo Element Roam GPS
Stem: Felt AR
Pedals: Time X-Pro 10
Saddle: Prologo
Seatpost: Felt AR
Bottle cages:Arundel Mandible
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(Image credit: Rally Cycling)
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(Image credit: Rally Cycling)
(Image credit: Rally Cycling)
For the more mountainous days, the lighter-weight Felt FR will be the bike of choice. Prioritising weight savings, the FR is fitted with an FSA K-Force bar and stem with a Vision Metron seatpost, as well as Vision's shallower Metron 30 tubular wheels.
Both bikes are shod with Kenda SC tubular tyres, as well as the highly-renowned Arundel Mandible carbon bottle cages. Time provides one of the touchpoints with its X-Pro 10 pedals. FSA Cork bar tape provides the second, and Prologo's range of saddles supplies the third.
Power data comes via the Quarq power meter built into the SRAM Force carbon crankset, and the data is sent to a Wahoo Elemnt Roam computer which will be held in place using mounts from BarFly.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
