felt gravel bikes 2020 Felt Breed Race Apex/S1000 AXS Bike

The Felt Breed Race Apex/S1000 AXS Bike is FELT's entry point into the BREED gravel racing platform — a purpose-built race machine developed from the ground up for competitive gravel riding. FELT designed the BREED as a complete system, not a road bike adapted for dirt, bringing aerodynamic shaping, race-focused geometry, and real-world versatility into a single carbon platform. The brand traces its DNA to Jim Felt's first purpose-built frame in 1991, which went straight to a World Championship victory at Kona. That engineering-first identity carries directly into how the BREED was conceived and developed.

The BREED Race uses FELT's UD benchmarking carbon layup — the same category as the BREED Expert, and sitting below the 12k carbon found in the Pro and FRD models. The distinction is construction efficiency, not geometry or intent. Every BREED model shares the same race-ready platform, with head tube angles ranging from 70° to 71.5° across the six sizes (49 through 61cm) and a consistent 430mm chainstay throughout the range. That chainstay consistency means handling character doesn't shift as sizes scale. The seat tube angle runs 74° to 75°, keeping riders in a forward, efficient pedaling position across long efforts. FELT individually engineers each frame size rather than simply scaling a single template, which produces more consistent handling for riders at the smaller and larger ends of the range.

The frame was engineered to FELT's updated aerodynamic standards, producing a 10.5% reduction in drag compared to the previous BREED generation (which itself set benchmarks when it launched in 2022). That improvement comes from a redesigned frame, fork, and integrated cockpit profile optimized specifically for the wider tires and varied positions of gravel racing — not a road tunnel test applied to a different product. Tire clearance is 54mm front and 52mm rear, accommodating anything from fast 40mm race rubber to wider mixed-terrain setups. The frame supports up to four bottle mounts for distance racing, accepts suspension gravel forks, and integrates a dropper seatpost for riders who want that option on technical terrain.

SRAM Apex/S1000 Mullet Drivetrain

This build runs what FELT calls a "mullet" drivetrain configuration: SRAM Apex AXS XPLR components at the front — cranks, levers, and hydraulic disc brakes — paired with a SRAM S1000 Eagle AXS T-Type rear derailleur and XG-1270 10-52t cassette from SRAM's mountain bike lineup. Both systems run 12-speed wireless AXS, so they're electronically compatible. What the combination produces is road-ergonomic levers and gravel-focused crank geometry on the front end, with the climbing range of an MTB cassette at the rear. On the Breed Race's 42t chainring, the 42/52 combination yields a 0.81:1 low gear — more than adequate for loaded long-distance riding or technical gravel climbs — while 42/10 provides a respectable top end for road transitions and descents. SRAM Apex AXS D1 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm Paceline Centerlock rotors front and rear handle stopping. The SRAM DUB BSA threaded bottom bracket provides broad crankset compatibility for future builds or upgrades.

Vision Team 30 Wheels and Continental Tires

The stock wheelset is the Vision Team 30 i23 — a 30mm-deep alloy gravel wheel with an internal rim width of 23mm, tubeless-ready, and built for a balance of weight and durability at this price point. At $4,899, the Breed Race makes a deliberate spec choice in using an alloy wheelset to keep costs down while investing in the carbon frame and wireless drivetrain. The Team 30 is a capable wheelset for the majority of gravel use cases. Factory rubber is Continental Terra Competition Trail Grip in 700x45, a gravel-specific tire that performs across hardpack and looser terrain without being so aggressive that it penalizes riders on paved connectors. Max tire width sits at 54mm.

Cockpit and Contact Points

The handlebar is the FSA A-Wing AGX alloy — a flared drop designed for gravel, widening the hand position in the drops for improved control on rough terrain while maintaining a manageable position on the hoods. The FSA NS SMR alloy stem pairs with an FSA Energy alloy seatpost at 27.2mm diameter. The Prologo Dimension AGX New Steel saddle in 143mm width is a widely used gravel racing saddle, suited to the rotated forward pelvis position of performance gravel riding. Pedals are not included.

FELT's BREED platform was developed and is engineered at the brand's headquarters in Barcelona. The Race model gives riders access to the full BREED architecture — same geometry, same aerodynamic profile, same tire clearance and accessory compatibility as the Pro and FRD — with a construction spec calibrated for the $4,899 price point. For riders who want a race-ready gravel platform and intend to grow into it, the BREED Race is where the FELT gravel lineup starts.