Southern California - Los Angeles Track Bike Dealers?

Sorry if this post doesn't belong here but i really need to figure this out!

I'm really looking for a Mercier Kilo TT track bike and i saw the price of 349.99 on bikesdirect.com (if you have any other suggestions of another bike, let me know. I just really like the track bicycle look). I'm new to bikes so i would really like to find a bike that fits me.

I'm 5'9, 114 lbs. (I know, i'm very skinny), and can fit 28-30 jeans around the waist.
My mom suggested that its best for me to just visit a bike dealer and see the best fit for me, and what they would suggest. Looking around on the internet, i can't seem to find any bike dealers that provide Mercier Kilo TT Bikes.

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

orange 20

Mercier is owned (the name) by BikesDirect, you won't find a dealer. Where are you located? That might help someone suggest a shop.

I'm located in Los Angeles..
theres a reason for why i put Los Angeles in the thread title.. haha

The KHS Flite 100 is the same bike. You can find their dealers at http://www.khsbicycles.com/us_dealers.htm

If it's a track bike dealer you want, and Orange 20 doesn't have what you're looking for, try Bill Ron in Redondo Beach.

I'm located in Los Angeles..
theres a reason for why i put Los Angeles in the thread title.. haha

Los Angeles is big! If near Burbank, Bicycle John's can get you a KHS Flite 100 for a good price.

Hi,

Kings Bike Store (http://kingsbikestore.com/) in Seal Beach has a large assortment of track bikes and road fixies.

Thanks for all the help!
Now, i need your guys' help once again, i'm planning to purchase a bike and not looking to spend over $400...
The KHS Flite 100 is a little over my budget, which is why i found the Mercier Kilo TT to be a good choice. I really the looks of these bikes like the KHS Flite 100, but all of them seem to be expensive. So if you guys can help suggest some brands for a good price, can you guys let me know? Thanks a lot!

oh yeah, and one more thing. On www.bikesdirect.com, does the Mercier Kilo TT come with brakes?
thanks.

Thanks for all the help!
Now, i need your guys' help once again, i'm planning to purchase a bike and not looking to spend over $400...
The KHS Flite 100 is a little over my budget, which is why i found the Mercier Kilo TT to be a good choice. I really the looks of these bikes like the KHS Flite 100, but all of them seem to be expensive. So if you guys can help suggest some brands for a good price, can you guys let me know? Thanks a lot!

oh yeah, and one more thing. On www.bikesdirect.com, does the Mercier Kilo TT come with brakes?
thanks.

why does a track bike need brakes?

imho, i want to have em for emergencies.

and what do you guys think about the Bianchi Alfana Italian Road Bike?

Dude, the Alfana's a geared bike about $1K out of your admitted price range. Just go try the bike out yourself and decide what you think of it.

Thomas......you need a street fixie with a front brake. You don't need a true track bike. Start off with something within your price range from Bikes Direct, for instance. Chicks will dig you and I can even show you how to trackstand so you can do a little posing at busy intersections like I do.

Well, for the Alfana, this is the one i'm talking about.

Specifications:
Frame: Binachi Alfana Steel, 58cm.
Fork: Cromoly.
Shifters: Shimano Stem, pressure.
Derailleurs: Shimano 105, both front and rear.
Brakes: Shimano 105.
Brake levers: Shimano 105.
Weelset: Shimano 105.
Tires: Panaracer Stimulus Sports Tires.
Stem: 3M.
Seat: Selle Italia.
Handlebar: SR custom made.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/Thomastochen/010112010209010412200807079b99a44ef.jpg

how much will that go for?
he says that it runs great, 14 speed, and shifts speeds very smoothly. It is used. Please give me your opinions!
Thanks.

Well, for the Alfana, this is the one i'm talking about.

Specifications:
Frame: Binachi Alfana Steel, 58cm.
Fork: Cromoly.
Shifters: Shimano Stem, pressure.
Derailleurs: Shimano 105, both front and rear.
Brakes: Shimano 105.
Brake levers: Shimano 105.
Weelset: Shimano 105.
Tires: Panaracer Stimulus Sports Tires.
Stem: 3M.
Seat: Selle Italia.
Handlebar: SR custom made.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/Thomastochen/010112010209010412200807079b99a44ef.jpg

how much will that go for?
he says that it runs great, 14 speed, and shifts speeds very smoothly. It is used. Please give me your opinions!
Thanks.
If it fits you it will probably do everything you want it to. It looks to be from around 1991, hard to put a price on it without seeing it up close, but it should be pretty cheap.

^^^ I Found that bike for 375.00, do you think that price is reasonable?
And can anyone find picture of the stock mercier green kilo tt? Thanks!

^^^ I Found that bike for 375.00, do you think that price is reasonable?
And can anyone find picture of the stock mercier green kilo tt? Thanks!

No and no.

There are a few very long threads on the SS/FG forum about the Kilo TT that will give you LOTS of pictures, including a few stock green ones. Apparently they are selling the frame without decals and in several different colors now. I have a black Kilo TT, 53cm, nearly stock, and been riding it since 2006. I've put probably about 5-6k miles on it. There was a lot of discussion of the quality of the hubs, and how they wouldn't last, but mine have lasted for several thousand miles with no problems. They aren't the smoothest turning, but they are rock solid. It does not come with brakes as sold by BD, but you can easily put one on for <$50, or even less than <$20 if you get used parts.

thanks for all of your help everyone!
I just bought myself a Bianchi Pista

thanks for all of your help everyone!
I just bought myself a Bianchi PistaCongratulations. Good choice.

thanks for all of your help everyone!
I just bought myself a Bianchi Pista

Great looking bikes! How about a picture?

Will do!
I'll take a picture tomorrow, want anything specific, like a background or something?

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/Thomastochen/DSC02684.jpg


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/Thomastochen/DSC02683.jpg


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/Thomastochen/DSC02682.jpg

There's something about that white and chrome that just looks sharp! Riding the street with no brakes?

yeah haha, no brakes

No brakes, no clips, no clipless. You're crazy, or your max speed is 8mph ;)

haha, i'm trying to get skidding down, and on the 2nd day of practicing, my back tire popped

dude, throw on a brake and clips.

you're a hazard.

haha, i'm trying to get skidding down, and on the 2nd day of practicing, my back tire popped
a 48/16 gear ratio tends to do that.

and +1 to what terror in pink said.

yeah, i got brakes on my bike for emergency, no clippings though.

How does a gear ratio make your back tire pop?

I was wondering the same thing

1 skid patch + learning how to skid = worn out tire.

i dunno, coulda popped because of that. i may be wrong, though, just a possibility.

1 skid patch + learning how to skid = worn out tire.

i dunno, coulda popped because of that. i may be wrong, though, just a possibility.

If you like to gear ratio, switch out the front chainring to 47, and you'll have 16 skid patches.

If you want something a little lower, switch out the back cog to 17 and you'll have 17 skid patches.

were building a back house and i was skidding in the back yard, possibly a nail or something.
i didn't hear anything when it popped because i was listening to music, but when i was done, i put it back in my garage. 2 days later, i rode it again and i realized something was wrong with the feel, so i checked the back tire and it was completely flat. Don't know how.

I win!

F * C K !

Hey, i have a question, i've seen bikes where theres something outside of the tires. For example, yellow. There would be a thick yellow line on the outside of the tire, what is that called?

a stripe?

Rubber?

You mean the sidewall or the part with tread??

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/Thomastochen/PistaFrontLHS.jpg

see the tire is not all red, its black on the side

Just "red tire"? http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y2047

Quite a lot of road bike tires are black at the sides.

The side of a tire is called a sidewall. The part that contacts the road is called the tread area. There is no name for the practice of having the tread area and the sidewall be different colors, nor is there any special name for a tire with that characteristic (with one exception, carried over from the car culture: a tire with a white sidewall and dark tread area is called a whitewall).

thanks for the help placid casual.
Now i have another problem, i was riding to downtown LA yesterday from San Gabriel with a friend of mine and everything went smooth until the ride back. about 1/4 of the way, one of those little spiky balls penetrated my tires and inter tube, the front tire to be exact. I heard air coming out of it and then my friend was like, does your back tire have one too? I looked and there was one on the back tire also, both my tires have popped.

So guys, what tires and intertubes do you recommend, should i buy liner?
Let me know, i really need the help, thanks!

buy some continental gatorskins or soma everwears.. doesn't matter what tubes you have in them because neither will ever pop.

What's the top tube pad for?

to protect the frame when you lock it up. also for looks.

what do you guys think about the michelin pro2 race tires?

Excellent but not adequate for your type of riding. IMO gatorskins are your best bet.