msa1082

Curious to hear some opinions on which of the following would be the best steel frame to build up, best being relative, the context is this would be my 2nd track bike, ridden only on the street. I still much prefer the steep angles:

Cinelli Vigorelli Steel 2017
https://www.retro-gression.com/colle...relli-frameset

Breakbrake17 Transfer Low Pro
https://www.retro-gression.com/colle...-low-pro-frame

Affinity Metropolitan
Metropolitan Film Grain Frame set ? AFFINITY CYCLES

The Cinelli is going to cost basically double of what the other 2 would be, so I'm wondering if it's really worth it.. The Brakebreak is also 'Columbus' tubing..

I'm leaning towards the Transfer Low Pro, but also have the opportunity to get the Affinity, used, for a realyl good price, about $550 w. their chrome fork, velocity deep v's and Omniums.

I've kind of ruled out Aluminum not so much for ride quality but for the fatigue life:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...S-N_curves.PNG

^^Otherwise I would be considering an Aluminum Cinelli as well.

seau grateau

If it's going to be street/road use, I'd probably go with the Affinity. It's cheaper and the only one of the bunch that has any water bottle cage mounts. The fat downtube on the BB17 looks like it would make it a harsher ride. If you're trying to jump into some crit races, the Cinelli is pretty much your guy.

msa1082

hmm IC.. I think you are right. I can get the Affinity and not be paranoid to chain it anywhere.

The BB17 sort of struck me as an alternative to the pricey Cinelli since it's 1/2 the price and still seems to be of decent quality, and I love the raw finish. Is the Cinelli that much better?

seau grateau

I'm of the opinion that Cinellis are generally a bit overpriced for what they are, but you do get a pedigree and a guaranteed good frame with them. I've never ridden or even seen a BB17 up close, so I can't say anything about their quality. Thing about the Cinelli is it's designed for racing, so whether or not you want a racing bike is up to you.

msa1082

I'm strongly leaning towards the Cinelli.. Any opinion on it's geo in terms of what benefits it would have over a more aggressive frame such as the Parallax? I'm a fan of the shorter wheelbase and rake, but I like the steel aspect of the Vigorelli.. and the higher BB. Is this the reason it seems to be more widely used on the street and in criterium races?

..Also are there any steel frames with steeper angles like the parallax? If that came in steel I would probably go for that..

Scrodzilla

Sounds like you want a Bare Knuckle.

msa1082

This thread was supposed to make this desicion easier not more difficult.. But that's a seriously nice frame that I hadn't even noticed.

I just rode my aluminum track bike for a couple of hours and all I can think about is a new steel frame every time I have to let go of the bars as I pass over rough sections of pavement.

hardboiled718

If the vibrations on rough surfaces are so bad you even consider letting go of the bars I'm not sure how much better a steel bike is going to feel. Granted steel is more forgiving but a steel track bike is still going to be stiff. sounds like you want something with a suspension fork

espi-JG

Im not sure why the vigorelli is on your short list if you want steep angles. It's not steep at all. I ride a vigorelli and a bareknuckle and the handling is night and day different.
I'd go with the transfer bc it's awesome, sort of exclusive and fits your requirements. But honestly if you want steep and steel, a $200 kilo frameset from bikeisland will do the trick and you can throw the money you save at nicer components.

msa1082

Ok that does make perfect sense.. That's exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. I know literally next to nothing about track bikes, even though I love bikes - I've ridden mountain bikes my whole life, but I love how fast a track bike feels...but in terms of how different the Vigorelli is next to an EAI - I have no clue how different a 73 degree head angle is from a 74.5... My hard tail MTB has a 68 degree angle, and my FS has a 66.5 degree angle.. I've had 2 track bikes, one was literally $150 from Ebay w. an Alu frame, which I actually loved, except I got tired of having to constantly be afraid the cranks would fall off or the bars would just break..both of which happened. I Upgraded to the most aggressive track bike I could find which is a Jamis Sonik.. it's extremely good on smooth roads, a bit rough on the hands after a while due to vibrations, but it's super comfortable and super nimble w. a really short wheelbase.. I'm a bit nervous to abuse it too too much on the road w. curbs and just harshness in general, so I was looking for a steel frame with a bit more compliance, but similar geo.. I briefly owned a State black label for a few months, and that frame was flexy, and just so cheap it was worse than my $150 China "fixie" w. neon green wheels and it just kind of sucked.. I tried out a relatively cheap steel frame track bike and it actually felt amazing to ride, and reminded me a lot of my last Cro-mo bike which must have been when I was still a teenager. I switched to an aluminum GT mountain bike in 1997 and never gave steel a second thought until now..
I guess w. the Alu super aero track bike I'm always being super careful and it takes some of the fun out of riding..

Kinda now I'm choosing between the transfer and the EAI.. I'm not such a fan of the 'low' sloping top tube - I think it looks a bit foolish sometimes.. and other days I kind of like it. Personal preference so now basically it's just fun getting opinions etc since I'm in no rush at all to acquire yet another bike..

**Edit - oh yeah and I sold the 'Unknown Singularity' even that frame as beefy as it looked was nothing special.

Scrodzilla

Maybe looking at pics of my Bare Knuckle will help sway you...

msa1082

I found some pictures: here is the China bike.. now that I look at it the Geo seems super relaxed - maybe that's why it was so much easier to ride:
https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb12419374/p4pb12419374.jpg

Here's the State: https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb12429379/p4pb12429379.jpg I hated those bars and mostly everything about it besides the colour.

2x MTBs - yeah I ride them around town too just because it's fun.. https://goo.gl/photos/oyrp2Abpz1XRKzae7

Sonik - https://goo.gl/photos/F66oFNLgGbr9aAY68

Pls excuse the non-driveside photos, bad photos, and platform pedals - I'm really a newb when it comes to this - I've only ever used cages or platforms on MTBs, cages for cross country when it was a thing and now just flat pedals..

msa1082

That is really what a track bike is supposed to look like - there's just nothing unnecessary on it and the lines are perfect.

msa1082

..also just found a GT gtb on pinkbike for $500..apparentky with "low end parts" according to the seller. Trying to get 2 critical details; a pic and the size..I'd love to get an opinion on that frame..including frame material; ppl keep saying it's steel but it looks distinctly aluminum to me based on the welds and the tube thickness.

It's probably going to be this or the Affinity there's no way I'll be at ease in Toronto leaving a Cinelli or something exotic chained to a pole.

seau grateau

Yeah, pretty sure the GTB is aluminum. Never ridden one, but they look cool. IMO it would have to be a pretty good build to be worth 500.

bonsai171

Nice bike man! Which continental tires are those? Are they easy to skid with?

Dave

veganbikes

Bare Knuckles would be the bee's knees if they could fit at least a 28c tire but alas not according to EAI.

Scrodzilla

I have 28mm Gator Hardshells on mine right now and have used 32mm Paselas in the past, so...

msa1082

.. Does anyone know the actual geo of the Affinity..? I read here in an old thread the HT angle was 75?!! That doesn't look right but I cannot even find the dimensions online..

Scrodzilla

According to the info on Affinity's site, Metropolitan has a 74º seat tube/75º head tube.

msa1082

Weird all I find is this Metro Geo Chart

Ah it's right in the description... angles are just as steep as the EAI - I like it.

b_random

****. nice build man.

veganbikes

That is good to know...odd they gave such a small number?

MarioM

That purp build is clean af...

msa1082

..What do you guys think of tapered head tubes on a track bike?..besides limiting options for a fork..