Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Felt TK2 + 3T Sphinx + Front Brake

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sjmartin
04-10-11, 10:52 PM
I am looking to upgrade my current bike to the Felt TK2.

http://www.racycles.com/store/images/large/Felt_TK2_2011.jpg

The front fork is drilled for a brake but where would one place the lever on these 3T Sphinx bars?

http://www.chainreaction.co.nz/images/products/0.3664.png

I plan on using this as a commuter bike (hence the front brake) and my race bike (i'll have to remove the brake before going on the track).

Do any of you guys have brakes on this thing? How does your setup look like?

Also my current bike has a Dura-Ace crank, a Dura-Ace bottom bracket, and Dura-Ace chainring. Are these better than what the TK2 has?

Crankset - SRAM TruVativ Omnium Track GXP
Bottom bracket - SRAM GXP Team External Bearings

Thanks.


carleton
04-10-11, 11:06 PM
Don't use those bars until you have a need for them. Seriously. Just use regular road bars, not even track drops. Really.

Those bars were made for long endurance racing...which you won't do in beginner or intermediate racing (meaning for at least 2 or 3 years), so don't bother with it. They will just be all flexy and noodly and make your bike handling weird.

It's kind of not a good idea to offer these bars stock for this bike.

cc700
04-10-11, 11:16 PM
flexy and noodly? wow.

why not go with a tk3? that would be just as good commuting and less expensive, plus you don't run into the sphinx issue when fitting a brake.


my original reply was going to be "get a kilo"


calbob76
04-10-11, 11:23 PM
yeah less of a bike seems like a reasonable idea

yummygooey
04-10-11, 11:40 PM
my original reply was going to be "get a kilo"

Visp is the new Kilo.

sjmartin
04-10-11, 11:42 PM
TK3 weighs more than my current track bike and would be a downgrade, maybe sideways at best.

REMspeedwagon
04-10-11, 11:50 PM
Run a full-on track setup including crazy 3T bars on the street without front brake. Win

Squirrelli
04-10-11, 11:52 PM
lulz, this thread.

Do you seriously think you would benefit from a set of 3T Sphinx? Sure, if you're at a world class level like Meyer. I'm not trying to saying you're not fast, I'm sure you're a good cyclist both on and off the track but I don't think you NEED a set of Sphinx.

If you've got the money and think it is a good upgrade, **** us all, just get the bike.

cc700
04-10-11, 11:56 PM
anyone seriously considering that bike wouldn't hesitate to find a set of bars that works and anyone seriously asking that question would know that those bars aren't for brakes.

rustybrown
04-11-11, 02:37 AM
Flop and chop em.

PlattsVegas
04-11-11, 06:39 AM
+1

sleepykitty
04-11-11, 06:54 AM
flop and chop em.

this

hairnet
04-11-11, 10:40 AM
get the bike

sell the bars $$$

buy some other bars

adriano
04-11-11, 11:05 AM
i love the palms down sphynx position.

sjmartin
04-11-11, 11:29 AM
lulz, this thread.

Do you seriously think you would benefit from a set of 3T Sphinx? Sure, if you're at a world class level like Meyer. I'm not trying to saying you're not fast, I'm sure you're a good cyclist both on and off the track but I don't think you NEED a set of Sphinx.

If you've got the money and think it is a good upgrade, **** us all, just get the bike.

Regardless of it it benefits me or not or if I "NEED" it or not, it comes with the bike by default.

I'd like to make an attempt to make use of what comes with it natively.

My road bike is 5k+ and my track bike is 1k+; an extra $500 for this bike isn't much of an issue. Cost is not what I made this thread about.

yummygooey
04-11-11, 12:29 PM
That single red spoke looks like a rip off of the American Classic wheels... or is it the other way around?!?!

http://www.thebikepeddlerstore.com/files/3665682/uploaded/american%20classic%20track%20420%20700c%20front%20wheel%20road%20graphics.jpg

sjmartin
04-11-11, 01:44 PM
Anyone can make a wheel with a red spoke. It's not just 1 company.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tech/reviews/mavic_ksyrium_es/Mavic_Ksyrium_ES.jpg

puppypilgrim
04-11-11, 02:43 PM
Would a reverse brake work? Easy to take on and off.

Seriously nice bike to commute. ;)

amschnellsten
04-11-11, 03:51 PM
Nice Bike! you could try a bar end/ reverse brake lever. It looks like it would work. Something like a Tektro rx 5.0.

yummygooey
04-11-11, 03:55 PM
Is there a reason you're so set on using the Sphinx bars other than the fact that you want to use the stock parts on the bike?

The stock Omniums are great cranks. I'm not sure you'll notice any difference in performance between the Omniums and your Dura Ace cranks. Sell one set and profit!

Squirrelli
04-11-11, 04:12 PM
If you want to put a front brake on these bars, forget about it and save them for your races.

In other news, a lot of guys/gals raced in this year's UCI track championships were using a set of Scatto by 3T.

(http://www.3tcycling.com/products.aspx?i=track&t=trackAerobars&p=scatto&d=LTD)http://www.3tcycling.com/images/scatto/LTD/detail/scatto_ltd_3-4_.png

Topless
04-11-11, 04:45 PM
Throw a brake lever on your TT?

vw addict
04-11-11, 04:48 PM
Just jam a stick in the spokes when you need to stop.

Steev
04-11-11, 06:23 PM
Use the fancy bars at the track and some other bars with a brake lever for commuting. That way when you need to strip the brakes for the track you just drop off the stem face plate bolts and the brake retainer bolt and the whole brake setup is off.

sjmartin
04-11-11, 09:26 PM
Is there a reason you're so set on using the Sphinx bars other than the fact that you want to use the stock parts on the bike?

The stock Omniums are great cranks. I'm not sure you'll notice any difference in performance between the Omniums and your Dura Ace cranks. Sell one set and profit!

I never stated that I was set on using them. Simply would like to try them out if plausible. If it doesn't hold a brake, then it doesn't hold a brake and I need to use something else.

Thanks for the reply on the Omniums. I'm really not too familiar with anything other than the Shimano line of things.

sjmartin
04-11-11, 09:31 PM
Would a reverse brake work? Easy to take on and off.

Seriously nice bike to commute. ;)



Use the fancy bars at the track and some other bars with a brake lever for commuting. That way when you need to strip the brakes for the track you just drop off the stem face plate bolts and the brake retainer bolt and the whole brake setup is off.

I'll likely stick to 1 bar that supports a brake. I use my track bikes to commute because I work long hours and sometime my commute is the only time I can "train" during the week. And if I have time, I stop by the velodrome on the way back so I can't really carry a spare bar as I ride.

TMonk
04-11-11, 10:21 PM
i love the palms down sphynx position.

that's what she said.

agustinkim
04-12-11, 07:11 PM
get a new set of bars... they only cost 10ish bucks

sjmartin
04-12-11, 07:32 PM
get a new set of bars... they only cost 10ish bucks


$10 bars? lol?

rustybrown
04-12-11, 07:57 PM
LBS takeoffs=usually free.

hairnet
04-12-11, 08:55 PM
I want to go to your LBS

rustybrown
04-12-11, 09:06 PM
Weekend bro date?

Squirrelli
04-12-11, 09:11 PM
bromance is in the air

jdgesus
04-12-11, 09:55 PM
http://www.cuteheaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/kissing1.jpg