Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - New vs. Used

Hi,

I'm looking to get into track racing (oh boy, another bike...), and I'd like to keep the dollars low, but if I have to spend a bit more, I will if it's worth it. I see a lot of people in pics at the local track with newer bikes and it seems most of the better people have carbon fiber Zipp wheels... :rolleyes: It would be cool if the bike was one that I could also ride on the street without it looking too stealable. My main question is, if I want to do well, do I need a new bike, or can I go with an old one? I saw a Bianchi Pista from the 80s on CL the other day at $400 but I called an hour later and it was already sold!!! Should I keep my eyes out for something like that, or should I buy a new bike, or should I take an old frame and put new stuff on it? BTW, what's the benefit of track ends vs. dropouts? Hell, if the crankset is good, why get a new one? Also, I should mention that I can get good deals from friends at bike shops/sponsors on new parts/bikes.

Using an old track bike or a combination of old and new sounds best to me, because then I might be able to ride it around without fearing theft too much, but then I don't know if it'll be fast.

Any tips are always good. Thakns!

My shoddy opinion:

For your first bike it won't matter. A decent secondhand frame with geometry suited to your local track will be great. For your first season or so, its all about whats in the tank rather than whats under your bum.

I would get a bike with track ends rather than dropouts as many tracks won't allow a conversion (ie a road bike with dropouts). In addition you'll probably find the geometry of a conversion illsuited to racing.

Best advice I can give you is that most tracks have beginners sessions/classes with rental bikes. Go and do a few, it will give invaluable insight into what you like and don't like.

I personally ride a 70s steel track frame both on the streets and on the track. I use the same wheelset for both street riding and for training and have no problems. I'm not an elite, just an enthusatic amateur, so I'm not at the level that stiffness is of paramount importance. My frame more than does the job.

As for cranksets, as long as it doesn't flex noticeably when sprinting and you can find chainrings to fit, then it will do fine.

Lucky me, that's what I was hoping to hear! I love vintage bikes, especially vintage track bikes.

What size do you ride, center to top measurements for seat tube?

S/F,
CEYA!

52-56

Sounds like you maybe in Minneapolis. Which means that if you're going to be doing actual track racing you will have to go to Blaine Velodrome where along with track classes you get the use of their track bikes.

National Sports Center (http://www.nscsports.org/facilities/velo/index.htm)

Go to above to learn more.

How'd you deduct my location?

Get a track bike from ebay, replace the oem wheels with a good set of dura-ace or similar hubs mated to at the very least some nice earo rims like the mavic XXXXXX .

The BCD on the ebay track bikes is 130, which lends itself to some limitations however I have found every single useable chainring for mine on ebay NIB ! =) (TA Specialties)

I currently have a Mercier Kilo TT in size 59cm ( just a TINY bit 2 big for me but I can handle it) Upgraded with a set of 3T Pista bars, true 1/8 chainrings and cogs, Dura-Ace low flange hubs with velocity deep V rims, and TI-railed selle san marco saddle.

It rides great for me and allowed me to get into the sport with a comparably low budget =)

The chainrings / cogs I have are: 49/50 14/15/16

I have plenty of gear ratios to play with and thats enough for me at the moment.

Well I found a local Bianchi Pista looks 80s to me but he says 90s he thinks. Looks pretty sweet. The seat is cool but could use replacing cause it's gonna be hard and is worn through the leather a bit. Crankset is nothing special, neither is the headset. Wheels are your standard alloy rims with hubs that I can't ID. Columbus tubing which is nice. Cool seatpost. Modolo handlebars and black Bianchi stem. I think the only thing I might want to replace are the wheels and seat, cause everything else looks fine.

This is all from pictures. I haven't actually seen the bike. Condition overall looks nice.

I don't want one of those bikes from that asian company that probably produces them in a sweatshop or something. Plus, the Bianchi has massive style. :D