Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Dura-Ace 10 pitch question

I hope some people can advise me. I bought a very cool track bike made by Tom Kellogg for the Shimano racing team 30 years ago. I also bought a pile of other NOS DA-10 parts, so I am kind of set up for life here. One problem. 15 mins on rollers and I am dead. I would like to do at least an hour. Right now I have a 48 chainring with a 15T rear cog. One revolution of the cranks gives me a whopping 266" or 6.75 meters. At 51yo, I am not going to be trying out for the Shimano racing team.

I was going to try to locate a 46 chainring, the smallest made. Change the rear cog to 16. Maybe put on these 170 mm cranks, and remove the 165s. I will inflate the tires to the max, go on a diet and loose some weight. But I might just be spitting in the wind.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I am considering just hanging the bike on the wall, selling all the parts and chains, and getting another track bike.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Jay

What kind of rollers do you have? With normal diameter rollers, rolling resistance is very low and that gear should not require much effort. If you have very small diameter rollers, then the resistance will increase significantly, especially if you can't inflate the tires very high. If that's the case, consider changing your rollers for ones with larger drums. The whole idea of rollers is to have low resistance and spin a lot. If you are spinning a lot already (>120 rpm), then you are simply out of shape.

I have the emotion rollers. I use a bike on them set up for just the rollers, but it has an internal hub. One revolution of the cranks on the track bike moves the bike 262 inches, but with my training bike I use the 5th gear equal to 168" and I ride for 50 min-1.5 hrs. If I am unable to get the 262" down on the track bike, I will not be able to ride as long as I like. Both bikes have the Vittoria training tires on them, but I have separate titanium rimmed sew ups for the track, which might make it ridable. I am thinking that I should just get some period Dura-Ace cranks and a chain, and convert it over, but if I get some help here, maybe I can salvage the DA 10 pitch.

a 48/15 is 86.4 gear inches, not that big.

I couldn't go a hour with that and enjoy myself. Four days a week, I usually do at least 1.5 hrs on either road or rollers. If I can find a 46T 10 pitch chainring, put on the 16T cog, maybe put on the 170 mm cranks, and put the pressure up in the tires, maybe it will work out. I really do not want to change the drive to 1/2" pitch or get another bike, but might have too.

realise the thread is several months old, but if you are still considering switching out, I have a bike that used to belong to David Grylls, would like to retore to 10 pitch, will to purchase or trade parts or complete gruppo.

realise the thread is several months old, but if you are still considering switching out, I have a bike that used to belong to David Grylls, would like to retore to 10 pitch, will to purchase or trade parts or complete gruppo.

Wow, small world. I used to race on the same team as Grylls back in the 1970s when I lived in Michigan. He couldn't climb worth a dang, but boy could that dude time trial.

Dave still rides his purple 3Rensho on the San Diego Velodrome with DA 10 pitch gear. He is in charge of the Thursday San Diego Velodrome junior track program.