Felt Nexar Review: A Brilliant Aero Concept With a $13,000 Catch

Felt Bicycles has unveiled its new Nexar road bike, a design spearheaded by engineer Cesar Rojo, known for his mountain bike expertise. The Nexar is touted as a lightweight aero concept featuring a tall stack, but its launch is overshadowed by a significant hurdle: a reported $13,000 price tag. This high cost was highlighted in a recent VeloNews review, which praised the bike's innovative design but pointed out its prohibitive expense.

This introduction of a high-concept, high-cost road machine by Felt, a brand with a solid history in performance cycling, signals a continued push towards the ultra-premium segment. Rojo's involvement, bringing a mountain bike design philosophy to road, suggests an attempt to disrupt traditional aero norms, potentially prioritizing rider comfort and integration alongside speed. However, in a market already saturated with elite-level, five-figure bikes, the Nexar enters a fiercely competitive arena where innovation must be matched by perceived value, or at least a compelling narrative beyond mere performance.

Ultimately, Felt's Nexar is a fascinating engineering exercise, but $13,000 for a road bike, however brilliant, will always be a conversation starter – and often, an immediate conversation ender for most.