Track Cycling - Carbon Track Frames?

anyone know anything about the performance of carbon on the track? can it hold up? what about flex?
specifically, i am looking into this bike http://www.ridley-bikes.com/pics/fietsengroot/damoclesarena1000.jpg

any comments will help, as i am not too familiar with the material, and i am relatively new to the track.

Steel is real baby!

S/F<
CEYA!

expect it to flex alot... and save your money if you can.
Its a road bike with track drops, expect to scrape a pedal and go down.

DW


Ridley doesn't specify it on the website, but from the picture, the bottom bracket drop doesn't appear to be more than 6cm, maybe 5.5cm?

And, anyways the track that Msngr will be racing on is asphalt and has, I think, no more than 20degree banking. It won't be like a wood track with 45degree banks.

But, the geo is definitely road. ~72.5-74degrees ST, but 70-72.5degree HT, which means a 44/45 rake fork.

I don't know how much the bike or frame is, but I would want a true track frame, whether carbon fiber or steel, so Don is right, save your money.

My preference is still custom steel. For a nice true custom steel track frame for pure racing, you are looking at $1,000-2,000 depending on tubing. For a nice true carbon track frame for pure racing, you are looking at over $2,500.

2. Track racing is full of crashes. Most of the time if you crash, you can expect your bike to be fine. Maybe a ding, but not folded in half like some of the Alum bikes i have seen.
DW

I read somewhere about a track bike made of aluminum, by a well known co., where the owner leaned it against the wall while getting into his home, and as he turned around, the bike tipped over and hit a railing of some sort, and dented the top tube. Just like that. Imagine that frame in a crash on the track going 45kmh. Also the alu dropouts wore out after 6 months. I think it costs ~$800-900 for the frame retail.

Also, I was in a bike shop recently, that started to import some 7005 alu track frames from a UK builder, real beauties. When i picked the floor bike up, it weighed about as much as my steel track bars. I was like..."Wow." But, then I realized this bike would never hold up to the abuse on the track or the street.

again steel is real!!

S/F,
CEYA!

thanks for saving me some dough, guys. i'll stick to steel and aluminum --yes, i like aluminum. it only will have problems in crash situations, and i try to avoid those.

thanks for saving me some dough, guys. i'll stick to steel and aluminum --yes, i like aluminum. it only will have problems in crash situations, and i try to avoid those.


What have I been telling you. I may have something good coming your way..

S/F<
CEYA!