Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Fuji Track Comp vs. Felt TK3 for a novice track rider?

Sorry to beat the entry level track bike debate into the ground (couldn't find this comparison anywhere with search function, though!), but which would you track vets recommend for someone just getting into the swing of track things? Barring any geometry perks for my physique, of course...

An important thing to note is that I'm going to be riding it around on the city streets a bit (but definitely taking care of it). Is the wheelset on the Fuji any better than the Felt's? Anybody have any positive/negative experience with either? Thanks a lot in advance!

I like the Fuji a little bit better, if only for the steel inserts in the track ends. The TK3 doesn't have that (older TK2s don't, either - I have one; it's similar to the new TK3), and the track ends do get a bit chewed from repeated wheel-on/offs.

The Felt has a very tight wheelbase, which is a slight bother for that bit of city street riding you'll do. It might be a bigger bother, depending on the velodrome you ride at. I ride at Kissena, which has a few bumps in some undesirable places, and the Felt takes some work to keep it in line through them. Something with a bit more wheelbase, I assume, would handle them a bit better. I don't really like riding the Felt for city riding because it's so jarring over any rough pavement, and it takes some practice dealing with the overlap. Not toe overlap - foot overlap. Pedal overlap. Damn near crank overlap. I tend to consider that to be not a problem for most bikes, but it's so dramatic on the Felt that even with getting used to it and knowing how to deal with it, it still occurs and occasionally makes me feel stupid and uncoordinated at a stop light.

If I had the opportunity to trade for a Fuji Track Pro (older) or Track Comp (what their new one is called), I probably would.

Dang, alright. Thanks a lot for the input! I will definitely take a significant look into test riding both =].

Ope, just also realized it looks like the Fuji doesn't have the front drilled for a brake, and I was going to throw one on for safety and transitioning into the whole commuting-by-fixed gear process... Leaning a little towards the felt =X. Or I guess I could go with the Fuji Track (at $500) and upgrade parts on it to make it track-able?

A Fuji Track Comp at $500 complete is a pretty awesome deal. Previously this frame was sold as the Fuji Track Pro (now upgraded for 2009) and carried more than a handful of riders to international competition. It's really all the bike that most riders will ever need. I had a Fuji Track Pro which I sold while in a tight spot financially, and I still regret and love that bike. No experience with the Felt personally, but the FTP really is quite the bike.

I have no experience riding either on the street.

Interesting. Good to know. I haven't asked for a pricing at my LBS, but I remember seeing one at Performancie Bike a few months ago and it was like over $1,000. Are you talking about finding a used one for your $500 price point?

I don't know, you're the one who said the $500 thing. It was in your last post. I figured you had a line on a bike for $500, but if that's not the case, then nevermind.

in the other thread i mentioned a price range around there for used FTPs. maybe that's where that number sprouted.

I don't know, you're the one who said the $500 thing. It was in your last post. I figured you had a line on a bike for $500, but if that's not the case, then nevermind.

$500 was for the "regular" Fuji Track, not the Comp.

$500 was for the "regular" Fuji Track, not the Comp.

Yeah, the Fuji Track is the bottom of the line for them and it's steel I believe (but made more for commuting/urban riding/etc). I've seen a couple of these Masi Speciale's aruond the city and I absolutely love how they look. This bike would probably be more comfortable for commuting since it is cromoly and all, but would it suffice for a couple novice seasons on the track? If so then I'm sold on it.

http://www.masibikes.com/gallery/popup.php?src=http://www.masibikes.com/gallery/p.php?a=JSpUXmB6bnBta2ddf3BlJWh6cStoZ2h3ais7Ni4qNyU+KjEjJjs/PTonMz8xMSc3Og==&title=08F_special_ltd.jpg

$500 was for the "regular" Fuji Track, not the Comp.

Oh, duh! Yeah, that's not a particularly good deal for $500. I'd definitely save my money and buy a nicer bike, and maybe stick with a Kilo TT until in the meantime.

Yeah, the Fuji Track is the bottom of the line for them and it's steel I believe (but made more for commuting/urban riding/etc). I've seen a couple of these Masi Speciale's aruond the city and I absolutely love how they look. This bike would probably be more comfortable for commuting since it is cromoly and all, but would it suffice for a couple novice seasons on the track? If so then I'm sold on it.

Well, Masi makes two Speciales which you could be talking about. The most popular is the Speciale Fixed, which is definitely more of a "street fix" than a track bike, with very relaxed geometry (and I'm definitely not Mr. Track Geometry Guy). The other is their CroMo track bike, the Speciale Sprint, which has the exact same aggressive geometry as the aluminum Coltello. It should cost about the same as the Speciale Fixed, and should offer a similarly forgiving street ride since it's steel, but it'll be a much better bike for intro track racing.

Compare the geometry of the Sprint (http://www.masibikes.com/geo8.html) to that of the Speciale Fixed (http://www.masibikes.com/geo9.html) and it's clear one's more "track specific" than the other.

Ah, good to know! Looks like Masi's website only lists the sprint as a frameset and not a complete build... could be fun to build it up myself. Decisons decisions. Looks like I'll probably be going with the felt.. although I'll be feeling those bumps on the road if I do!

I'd take an '08 Fuji Track Pro over the '09 Track Comp. Similar retail price, but better components like stem/bars/wheelset/cranks. The only thing better about the '09 Comp is $100 lower MSRP and the front fork comes drilled. Then again, if you get an '08 Pro, it would be used and much cheaper anyways, and you can still get the fork drilled if you want to run a brake.

Interesting. I'll have to look into both. Thanks!

fuji track comp is fragile, i've owned one and sold it because i felt like it would implode with the flick from a finger on the tubing.

Since the '09 Fuji Track Pro was completely redesigned, the '09 Track Comp is basically just the Track Pro from previous years, but with downgraded components.