Bike Diva

ABOVE: 2009 Felt Breed Cyclocross Bike

It's official. Your very own Bike Diva is about to purchase her very first cyclocross bike! If I were independently wealthy, I'd already have the cross bike on order. But I have to wait until I sell my Cannondale, full suspension mountain bike, to free up the funds for my cyclocross bike. I finally decided a few weeks ago that mountain biking is just not for me. I haven't even been on my mtn bike in over a year, when I took it out a few weeks ago I didn't have any fun. I told my husband to sell it ASAP!

Entry Level Cyclocross Bike

I am buying an entry level cyclocross bike. I don't have a lot of money to spend at the moment, so an entry level bike will keep the price at a reasonable level. And I'm not 100% sure if I'm actually going to start racing cross bikes, so anything but an entry level bike seems like a bit of overkill.

Single Speed Cyclocross Bike

After looking at various cyclocross bikes I've decided to go with a Felt Breed singlespeed cross bike. Why single speed? Even if I don't use the bike to race cyclocross, the Breed will make a terrific urban/commuter bike. I already own a mondo cool Trek Madone 6.5 road bike. I want my cross bike to be totally different than my road bike. Riding a single speed bike may be a bit of a challenge, getting used to not having any gears, but I live in FLAT south Florida so the bike should be ridable in most areas. Because it is a cross bike, with a rugged aluminum frame, semi knobby tires and catilever brakes, I can also ride the bike in conditions, like gravel, sand, grass and light mud, that I could never go near on my Trek road bike.

Cyclocross Racing

I'm also still thinking about racing the bike. There are 3 cyclocross races near me in January. I would be in the beginner girls class, which is only half the number of laps that the other classes race. So what the heck, just show up and race. I don't even care if I come in last place, I just want to see what a cyclocross race is like. My husband says I am crazy to consider a single speed bike. But he isn't the one that's going to be riding it. If I'm spending $$ on a new bike, I want it to be something I'm absolutely going to love. And getting rid of the gears and derailleurs saves a TON of weight. The Felt Breed cyclocross bike only weighs 19.66 pounds, not bad for a cross bike! Cross racing involves a lot of carrying the bike and running across obstacles, so anything that will make the bike lighter is idea. 2009

Felt Cyclocross Bikes

Felt makes 3 other models of cross bikes, but they are more expensive than the Breed which has a MSRP of $949. The F60X weighs 23.48 pounds and has a MSRP of $1199, the F35X weighs 20.78 pounds and has a MSRP of $1599, while the top of the line F15X cross bike weighs 17.62 pounds with a MSRP of $2499 - WAY out of my price range.

On Your Mark Performance Center

My friend Matt GoForth sells Felt bikes at his On Your Mark Performance Center bike shop in Palm Beach Gardens. My husband and I race for Matt's OYM bike team. I like purchasing my bikes from a local store, that way if there are any problems with the bike, it's just a short drive to the store to get it fixed. Matt's store is also sponsoring one of the south Florida cyclocross bike races. The race, Dyer Consequences, takes place on January 17th at Dyer Park in West Palm Beach.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva