Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - affordable lugged track frames

i'm trying to keep myself from starting a massive njs addiction. the frames are beautiful, but i really don't need anything that awesome and valuable.

what i need is a frame that i don't mind beating up, a daily commuter, a long distance rider. IRO, KHS, Bianchi, Soma, Bareknuckle are all good candidates.

as far as i know, none of these are lugged. does anyone these days make an affordable lugged track frame?

i've looked into this.

debernardi is the cheapest, about $550 i believe.

if you have a japanese friend go e-framebank. it's what i was planning to do. njs frames for what their actually worth

... a daily commuter, a long distance rider. IRO, KHS, Bianchi, Soma, Bareknuckle are all good candidates.

Curious (not disagreeing) why you want a track frame? I started a similar request for a road oriented frame and got some good ideas:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=167371

I've never riden a track frame so I don't know what I'm missing or not.

Al

keirin or bust.

debernardis you can get for 450...

Lugs or no, I'd go Bareknuckle/Nessuno over DeBernardi any day of the week. Price/performance-wise, it seems like a pretty solid way to go.

Curious (not disagreeing) why you want a track frame? I started a similar request for a road oriented frame and got some good ideas:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=167371

I've never riden a track frame so I don't know what I'm missing or not.

Al

i've already got a road conversion and a pursuit bike. i'm thinking a track frame with "normal" geometry will be a good in-between.

but yah, maybe i should consider another conversion....

keirin or bust.

bankruptcy or bust.

Oh come now - a little more debt is good for everyone. </moron>

i've looked into this.

debernardi is the cheapest, about $550 i believe.

if you have a japanese friend go e-framebank. it's what i was planning to do. njs frames for what their actually worth

i actually _do_ have a friend in japan currently. is ordering from e-framebank as easy as ordering from amazon?

ha. you'll need to have that person do the transaction. they need to know some japanese. e-framebank will not be happy at all if they know that it's destined for immediate export.

One of us needs to go over and start an export business for Japanese track frames. Seriously...for the greater good of all.

strattond of ebay fame is ahead of us already...

I just bought a EAI/Bareknuckle/Nessuno to replace the steel lugged frame in this attatchment. Why? The frame you see is too big for me. It's a squareish 58 c2c, tight true track geometry with a campy headset and bb. It will be on the ebay chopping block soon, so check it out and bid high!

and to repeat what i said in the below-referenced thread, Kogswell is a good lugged value.

I dunno if it's trackish enough. Commuter, long distance, beater, yeah.

You'd think I own one, but I just gaze dreamily at the web site. I wish I owned one. Someday...


Curious (not disagreeing) why you want a track frame? I started a similar request for a road oriented frame and got some good ideas:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=167371

I've never riden a track frame so I don't know what I'm missing or not.

Al

I was going to say kogswell...seems like a good deal and I think they're great eye candy

i'm trying to keep myself from starting a massive njs addiction. the frames are beautiful, but i really don't need anything that awesome and valuable.

what i need is a frame that i don't mind beating up, a daily commuter, a long distance rider. IRO, KHS, Bianchi, Soma, Bareknuckle are all good candidates.

as far as i know, none of these are lugged. does anyone these days make an affordable lugged track frame?


what size?

Someone should make stick-on faux lugs to go over tigged frames. Hmmmmmm.

Someone should make stick-on faux lugs to go over tigged frames. Hmmmmmm.

i just laughed out loud.

then my boss looked at me funny.

and to repeat what i said in the below-referenced thread, Kogswell is a good lugged value.

I dunno if it's trackish enough. Commuter, long distance, beater, yeah.

You'd think I own one, but I just gaze dreamily at the web site. I wish I owned one. Someday...

yes, i've considered Kosgwell as well. checking out the site just now... looks like the Model G only comes in 2 sizes? neither of which will fit me.

but yeah, might not be trackish enough for me. don't need the fender and tire clearance (already have a rainy fixie), don't need the water bottle mounts...

what size?

50-51cm, i think. were you thinking of the lotus?

how's Mike's Bikes treating you? are you still there? the place weirds me out a little bit...

Try getting in touch with Andante bikes from Florida... their website has been down for months, but they used to offer an "econo" model, lugged track frame for around $400 or so. Jose R had one made that was messed up which is now in the hands of a friend of mine. Aside from the subtle manufacturing defect, it looks really nice.

I love it how the Google ads (for us non-paying members) give links for Soma tabs.

Without starting an emotional discussion, can someone objectively explain to me why one would want a track geometry for road use, especially longer distance road use? I want to learn as I am in the long haul for deciding on a new fixed gear frame. I don't have an opportunity to ride such a frame as all the built up ones round here are far from my size.

Al

I love it how the Google ads (for us non-paying members) give links for Soma tabs.

Without starting an emotional discussion, can someone objectively explain to me why one would want a track geometry for road use, especially longer distance road use? I want to learn as I am in the long haul for deciding on a new fixed gear frame. I don't have an opportunity to ride such a frame as all the built up ones round here are far from my size.

some people just prefer the way they handle and can be perfectly comfortable on such a bike. there's nothing really inappropriate about a track frame on the road. there are some setups that can be impractical for longer rides, like a huge saddle-to-stem drop (esp accompanied by naked deep drop track bars). but whatever.

One of us needs to go over and start an export business for Japanese track frames. Seriously...for the greater good of all.

There are people doing that already, or are about to start. But I will not agree that it is something that is in the greater interest/good of all, esp for the Japanese home market racers. But who am I to throw stones...

IMHO, what we need are more quality track frame makers in the US , without a 40 month waiting list

50-51cm, i think. were you thinking of the lotus?

how's Mike's Bikes treating you? are you still there? the place weirds me out a little bit...

yeah, i was thinking of the lotus. i typically ride the same size and it fits me ok. i'm still at mike's i think i'll be there for a good long while, too. it's a great place..but if i didn't work there, it'd probably weird me out too. thing is, it looks super yuppie, but everyone who works there commutes to work, is super into bikes, and rides a ton on their off days. and most people there ride some sort of steel SS for commuting. we were all pretty bummed when we stopped stocking steel bikes (still have a few guru new steel roadies hanging around, but when they're gone, that's it). drop me a PM if you're interested in the lotus, i'd be willing to strike a deal to help out a fellow short guy.

some people just prefer the way they handle and can be perfectly comfortable on such a bike. there's nothing really inappropriate about a track frame on the road.
thanks, that was what i thought and makes sense. now back to the main meat of the thread
Al

How would a converted TT or Crit frame compare with a dedicated track frame? It might be less expensive than a NJS frame, and will it have better or equal all day ride ability? just a though

dammit, i want a debernardi. now that i've heard it's 550 for a frame, instead of more...well, i guess that's my next purchase. forget going to europe this summer or a new guitar amp or whatever.

i hate you guys.

I love it how the Google ads (for us non-paying members) give links for Soma tabs.

Without starting an emotional discussion, can someone objectively explain to me why one would want a track geometry for road use, especially longer distance road use? I want to learn as I am in the long haul for deciding on a new fixed gear frame. I don't have an opportunity to ride such a frame as all the built up ones round here are far from my size.

Al


cause track bikes are ****ing hawt!

cause track bikes are ****ing hawt!
Now, now, lets not get too emotional. ;)
Al

*runs from room, crying*

Try getting in touch with Andante bikes from Florida... their website has been down for months, but they used to offer an "econo" model, lugged track frame for around $400 or so. Jose R had one made that was messed up which is now in the hands of a friend of mine. Aside from the subtle manufacturing defect, it looks really nice.

on a similar note terraferma in florida will build you a custom lugged frame starting at $625 ish.
fork included.

try finding a used schwinn madison, miyata, or centurion track frame. they are lugged and non-NJS, so way cheaper. madisons pop up on ebay every now and then. but beware of frames that are used velodrome rental-bikes; they more than likely have been crashed.