Pursuit Bike, on the road?
 

Hello,
I originally posted this in the track section, but since I plan to ride on the street, I feel it's more suitable here.

I recently came across a craigslist posting for a pursuit bike at a pretty decent price. Now, I'm planning to use it for street riding and was wondering if anyone had ridden a pursuit on the street. I'm mostly worried about the front wheel because a) it's 650c and b) carbon fiber. It's size leads me to think it'll throw my center of gravity dangerously forward for street riding and it's material just seems like a theft magnet. I was thinking I might just replace the fork and front wheel in time. But would that throw the whole geometry off? I've ridden fixed before, and the bike has a brake but was wondering if this is a good buy for my needs. Here are some photos to give you an idea of what it looks like. Thanks.

lets see
1.the geometry is steep, esp. the seat tube, but it would be ok for street riding.
2. changing out the front fork for a 700c one would indeed "slack" the geometry, which would be good for the seattube. the headtube on the other hand, might be too slack.
3.I would ditch the AL fork though, it looks cool, but I bet it isnt alot of fun to ride long distances with.
4. Most people's bikes here are theft magnets. Get a good lock.
5. A friend of mine used to "mess" with a KHS pursuit bike in AUstin. It was fine for him.
6. Make sure to drag two types of tubes with you though.

It's a pretty bike. ride the hell out of it.

what makes you think it would be a good street bike?

Thanks for the replies.
I find it attractive, the owner tells me it's very light and I'd like something fairly aerodynamic to keep pace with traffic when i ride in the street.

I have a pursuit bike, with a 650 front... it is my favorite ride now that it is up and running for a bit before i paint it... i use risers on a short 6cm stem and it is really nice.

I agree with abyance about the fork, Alu will get a bit tiresome i would think. So if you are going to change the for out you could get a 700 version.. which defiantly give you a better more layed back posture if you are worried about you center.

it is a cool bike.

Hueg ratio is huuuuueeeeeg liek xbox.

I'm assuming you are in DC, because I've seen that bike on craigslist before. A friend of mine went to look at it, and this is what he said:

"The guy didn't seem to know anything about the bike at all. He got it at "some shop in NYC for $700.00" . The drive side of the top tube had some paint scratches and 2 small dents. There were some other weird paint chips around the head tube. And the drive side bull horn was bent in. I almost think it was in an accident or something. Totally didn't seem stolen but something was way off."

Hmm, good guess, I am in DC.
So you're friend was suspicious and did'nt get it? I'll be more cautious then. Is there anything else I should look for? Thanks for the heads up.

I think that was baldy who said that, but I went with him to check out the bike and decided against buying it. I'm pretty sure somebody bought it from the guy who had it when I checked it out, as the language, pictures, price, and location changed. I didn't buy it for $250, though at that price you probably could have made a profit off the parts alone.

Still wouldn't buy it, but that's your call.

For $250? I'd buy it! Maybe the only things you could salvage are the wheels and the frame, but it'd be worth it.

As for riding it on the road, it'd be similar to riding a road bike in the drops all the time. Most 650c pursuit bikes, if the saddle is the same height, the bars end up being at about the same height as 700c road bike drops. So if you could handle that.... maybe you should do some back/neck exercises.