Kona Pro Bike: Mirinda Carfrae’s Felt DA

Mirinda Carfrae is racing a Felt DA for the second year in a row. Photo: Kurt Hoy. Captions: Aaron Hersh

Ironman Hawaii will be Carfae's first full-distance race with a power meter. She is racing a SRAM Quarq. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Cables and housing for Carfrae's SRAM Red 2012 kit are tightly bundled with zip ties as they route into the frame. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Rinny is using a Speedfil A2 Aero Bottle front-end hydration system. It mounts horizontally between the arms and can still be refilled on the fly and lets her drink from a straw. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Carfrae is riding Profile Design's new Aeria bar. Instead of lifter her basebar to fit her position, she props her elbow pads and extensions using spacers. Multiple aero tests have shown this strategy saves drag. Photo: Kurt Hoy

2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona, Hawaii. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Carfrae's 650c wheels are smaller than standard versions and therefore more likely to spin out. To compensate, she uses a small cassette. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Carfrae opted for standard 53/39 chainrings. Photo: Kurt Hoy

She is racing a full SRAM Red 2012 drivetrain. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Her SRAM R2C shifters appear to have a prototype lever blade shape that is bigger than the current SRAM option but still more slender than the bulbous Zipp version. SRAM released this version of the shifter internals at Kona designed specifically for the Yaw front derailleur on the new kit. Photo: Kurt Hoy

Carfrae is riding 165mm crank arms labeled as an unrideable prototype. Photo: Kurt Hoy

The Felt Bayonet system accommodates an outboard front brake. Photo: Kurt Hoy

23c Continental GP 4000 tires for Rinny's 650c 404 wheels. Despite the narrower 19mm rim, she chooses a 23c tire for the ride and rolling characteristics. Photo: Kurt Hoy