The Ultimate Triathlon Bike: Why the Felt IA 2.0 should be your next weapon.

So the time has come to say goodbye to your old steed and step up to the world of high-performance tri-bikes. Now, everything changes: every watt, every corner, every second, welcome to the club, where speed is now your obsession. The Felt IA 2.0 is designed not just to carry you through a race, but to allow you to set new limits. But what makes this bike stand out?

Hummingbird Collective took a deep dive into the construction of this beautiful beast. Below, we’ll dive into what makes this beast special, with the specs that Hummingbird Elite Triathlete Luke Tasker uses to customise his ride.

Bike fitting

Why this bike matters.

In triathlon and time trialing, the margins are razor thin. A few watts of aerodynamic drag, a bit of hesitation in shifting, or unreliable braking can cost you not just a place, but your confidence too. The Felt IA 2.0 is built to minimize those gaps, to offer you reliability and speed, letting you focus on your race rather than your equipment.

Key Benefits:

  • Aerodynamics first: everything from the frame shape to the integrated cockpit is optimized to reduce drag.

  • Precision shifting with low fuss: the electronic Sram Force AXS system gives crisp gear changes under load.

  • High-end components: from the wheelset to brakes and groupset, nothing is “just good enough.”

  • All-weather reliability: disc brakes, sealed systems, and a robust build make it a bike you can rely on even when conditions get messy.

Felt IA 2.0

The breakdown.

Below is a detailed spec rundown of the bike, with a little help from Hummingbird Athlete Luke Tasker and the mechanics at Bici, Vancouver.

Frame & General

  • Frame: Felt IA 2.0, UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme® carbon

  • Headset: IS (IS-2)

  • Aerobar / Stem combo: Felt Dagger Direct 2.0 ASC / Extensions: Devox Ergomod, carbon fiber

  • Saddle: ISM PS1.0, Satin Steel

Drivetrain & Shifting

  • Shifters: Sram eTap multiClics

  • Front derailleur: Sram Red eTap AXS

  • Rear derailleur: 12s Sram Force eTap AXS

  • Crankset: Sram Red AXS E1 Powermeter 56/43

  • Chain: Sram Force Purple

  • Cassette: Sram Force 10/33

Brakes / Rotors

  • Brakeset: Sram S-900 Aero HRD 2 piston hydraulic disc brakes

  • Rotors: Sram centerline CLX - R centerlock rotor

Wheels & Tires

  • Wheelset: Zip 404 / Zip 808

  • Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000, 700×25

Sizes & Options

  • Available in sizes: 48, 51, 54, 56, 58

  • Two main colorways: Chrome/Matte Black, Silver Glitter / White Fade

Felt Bike mechanic

What makes it a top performer?

Understanding raw specs is helpful, but what we care about is how this bike behaves when you're pushing it on race day or in training. Below are the strengths we’d expect (and which other users have reported) given the specs.

  1. Aerodynamic performance that holds under stress

    The combination of the TeXtreme® carbon frame and deep rim wheels gives this bike strong aero credentials. It’s not just about being slippery on paper, the integrated cockpit and clean cable routing help maintain that aero advantage even when you’re in the weeds (winds, position shifts, etc.).

  2. Smooth, silent, dependable shifting

    Sram force eTap AXS is one of Sram’s top electronic groupsets. You get rapid, reliable shifts with minimal fuss, reducing mechanical distractions midrace.

  3. Confidence in braking, in all conditions

    Hydraulic disc brakes are no longer “extras”, they’re essential for anyone who races. On descents, in wet roads, or in transitions, you want consistency. The Sram S900 setup with Centreline CLX-R rotors gives powerful, predictable braking.

  4. Balanced stiffness-to-weight ratio

    While outright weight is important, stiffness (so that pedaling input is not lost to frame flex) is equally critical. With its premium carbon and top-tier parts, the IA 2.0 should feel responsive when you push, every watt counts.

Felt Bike chain

So, who is the bike made for?

This bike is ideal for:

  • Serious triathletes or time trial competitors who want a high-performance, aero-optimized machine without compromising reliability.

  • Riders who value having top-tier components from the outset (rather than building up over time).

  • Athletes who race in varied conditions (wind, rain, technical descents) and need confidence in braking and shifting under pressure.

  • Anyone who treats every second as precious those performance gains at speed matter.

It might be less ideal if:

  • You’re a beginner looking for a more modest first race bike (this is a high-end machine).

  • You’ll ride mostly casual, non-competitive terrain, the full benefit may not be fully realized in every ride.

  • You have limitations on budget or plan many component upgrades anyway.

Tips for getting the most out of it

To truly make this bike deliver its potential:

Get a proper bike fit
Aero position is sensitive. To take advantage of the frame and cockpit design, you’ll want optimal reach, height, and stack.

Use the Sram app
Learn how to set up multi-shift, synchonous shifting, and diagnostics via Sram’s software. You can squeeze small gains by fine tuning shift behavior.

Choose your tire pressure wisely
The GP5000s are great all-around tires. Adjust pressure for road conditions (smoother roads = higher PSI, rough surfaces = slightly lower for comfort/grip).

Optimize maintenance schedule
Even though eTap is lower maintenance than mechanical systems, regular checks (cables, rotor alignment, brake bleed) keep performance peak.

Train in race-like conditions
Use training days with climb, descent, crosswinds to really stress-test the bike. The more time you spend dialing in position, the better real performance you'll get.

Felt Bike

Final thoughts

The Felt IA 2.0 offers a compelling mix of aerodynamic focus, component quality, and race-ready capability. The price is certainly premium, but you’re paying for a bike that can deliver where it counts, in seconds gained, confidence in control, and less mechanical worry on race day.

Want more tips and guidance?

As a Hummingbird Community Team member, you’ll have access to more exclusive content, Discounts on lkeading brands like BiSaddle and monthly online calls with our Elite Team athletes where you can as many questions as you like! Still not enough? Become part of a strong, growing community of like minded individuals like yourself.

Meet those with similar questions and struggles in their triathlon journey, as a Hummingbird member, you’ll have be taking the next step in your triathlon journey.

Learn more, here.

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