Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - New Track Bike recommendations pls

First let me say that I am very impressed with the postings and opinions expressed in this forum. I stumbled across it for the first time last week and I've read EVERY post in this folder to date - you've aleady helped me quite a bit in my search.

Interested in trying out track riding / racing this spring and would like any/all recommendations for a track bike. I have extensive road experience (24 years), a pragmatic but somewhat indulgent taste in bikes (read: if there is a good reason to buy the good stuff I'll find it!) and am interested wholly in bike quality and not bling factor. My current road bikes are a custom steel Landshark with all Chorus and Tufo elite tubies and a C'dale badboy ultra (rain bike/ commuter). I ride about 125 a week in winter and 2x that in summer, weight 180# in gear, and am 5'10".

To be honest I'm not really considering the Fugi track, binachi pista or Surly whatever ... I am a bit more serious about bikes, live 5 miles from a velodrome (so the thing will get used twice a week for 9 mos out of the year), and am willing to spend a moderate amount for a good track bike. I'd like to stick with tubies (I buy the elites by the lot to save $$) unless anyone has really strong reasons to switch to clinchers. I'd like to keep this first bike in the $1000 to $1500 range, and will consider good used bikes as well.

If you have a suggestion I'd like to ask that you are an experienced track person, have owned more than one track bike, are not a messenger (not the kind of riding I'll be doing at all - no offense), and can back up your opinions with reasonable arguements. If you have a killer ride with a 55cm tt that fits the bill all the better!

~EG

best first track bike are the ones at the velodrome...

many tracks will have a "class" that you need to attend before you ride even in the beginner races. most tracks will have a stable of loaner bikes for people to rent. imho, take the class do a few beginner races and make sure that you like the style of riding. by then you will have a forum here, and a forum at the track from which to pull advice...

ohh yeah...and some mighty fine road/track riders have been messers...

cheers

First let me say that I am very impressed with the postings and opinions expressed in this forum. I stumbled across it for the first time last week and I've read EVERY post in this folder to date - you've aleady helped me quite a bit in my search.

Interested in trying out track riding / racing this spring and would like any/all recommendations for a track bike. I have extensive road experience (24 years), a pragmatic but somewhat indulgent taste in bikes (read: if there is a good reason to buy the good stuff I'll find it!) and am interested wholly in bike quality and not bling factor. My current road bikes are a custom steel Landshark with all Chorus and Tufo elite tubies and a C'dale badboy ultra (rain bike/ commuter). I ride about 125 a week in winter and 2x that in summer, weight 180# in gear, and am 5'10".

To be honest I'm not really considering the Fugi track, binachi pista or Surly whatever ... I am a bit more serious about bikes, live 5 miles from a velodrome (so the thing will get used twice a week for 9 mos out of the year), and am willing to spend a moderate amount for a good track bike. I'd like to stick with tubies (I buy the elites by the lot to save $$) unless anyone has really strong reasons to switch to clinchers. I'd like to keep this first bike in the $1000 to $1500 range, and will consider good used bikes as well.

If you have a suggestion I'd like to ask that you are an experienced track person, have owned more than one track bike, are not a messenger (not the kind of riding I'll be doing at all - no offense), and can back up your opinions with reasonable arguements. If you have a killer ride with a 55cm tt that fits the bill all the better!

~EG



Get a Land Shark since you have a road . He makes outstanding frames. When I lived in LA his frames were everywhere ( Dominguez Hills and Encino.).

Don't worry about the messenger post... Alot of us are experienced racers ( 10yrs plus on track and road) and my old buddies were Cat 1 and 2 on ROAD,TRACK AND MTB. I owned more than 25 track bikes.

Since you are 5'10" or 70 " in seam is about 32, I assume you ride 57cm c/t or 56cm c/t. if you ride 57 cm you need 56 on track and 56cm you will need 55cm.


S/F,
CEYA!

imho, if you are looking a pure performance, you have have to look at the cannondale. it's light and stiff what more can you ask for in a track bike. I see them on ebay often, but they almost always go for a good (for the seller) price.

and tubies are the way to go and since you're at the track, flats should not be much of an issue.

Try Vanilla , Richard Sachs or Johnny Cycles.

S/F,
CEYA!

the bianchi pista concept can be had and built for your price range. i recommend it. i own one. always check out track frames from felt and cervelo. Or, go Indepenent Fabrications if none of these seem expensive enough for you.