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Lightest frame for under $400?

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Lightest frame for under $400?

Old 03-28-12, 07:50 PM
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Lightest frame for under $400?

Thinking of building another bike. Used to have a Kilo TT, loved it, had to sell it. Last year build a pretty nice 10sp bike, alu frame, neuvation wheelset, dura ace cassette, carbon seat, etc.

But the Kilo, and fixed gear riding, stayed with me. So I want to build another bike and this time a fixed/single speed.

I'm thinking frame wise of the All City big block. looks really nice and seems to be extremely well built. Love that drop out.
Not really in love with the Kilo TT frame set, would rather spend a bit extra for something better. Don't want to go over ~$400 on the frame though.
Whats the deal with the Leader frames? is it mostly hype or are they really that great?

In my mind this bike will primarily serve as a strength training, speed demon, kind of bike. For long distance and for road riding i have my 10 speed. its fast and my area is very hilly. I want the single speed to be something thats very specialized, built for speed, very light, and something that looks good, a personal touch.

I'm afraid i don't know enough about the fixed gear world to sift through all the hyped names.
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Old 03-28-12, 07:53 PM
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All City makes a fine frame. Could you potentially save up and get something a bit more noteworthy for yourself?

Perhaps one of these?

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Old 03-28-12, 08:00 PM
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I'm a geek for geekhouse.

Or just any triple triangle frame in general.
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Old 03-28-12, 08:04 PM
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Love the triple triangle, but that's some serious coin!
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Old 03-28-12, 08:09 PM
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Well, cant really up that number for just the frame. ideally the $400 is frame+fork. Gotta consider all other components. However, when building a track bike, theres not much that you need other than frame/fork/wheels, lol.When i was building my 10sp, all the little things going into it is what killed me, also I forgot to factor in shipping costs, hahah. But yea, i'd like to keep this build under $800. But we'll see. Also, this build i can take my time, and aquire parts and all the other bits and pieces slower, as I have a daily bike i really enjoy already. So the build $$$ is more flexible this time.

Also, not really a fan of triangle frames. What frame is that anyway?
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Old 03-28-12, 08:12 PM
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Wabi Lightning for $555?

over but worth it. and not by much.
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Old 03-28-12, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
Wabi Lightning for $555?

over but worth it. and not by much.
Yea i actually just saw a thread about these, heard of them for the first time.
Could only find their site. Who sells them? No dealers, only Wabi?

Are they really that much better?
Can't find much about them.

I know nothing of Leader, only that I see a lot of pictures of them. However, a quick search lead me to see a lot of threads talking them down, saying how unreliable they are, how they're garbage, but haven't seen much detail as to exactly why they are not that good.

Seems so far like my choices are Big Block or the Kilo stripped frame. For ~$200 for frame+fork is pretty good.
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Old 03-28-12, 08:32 PM
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I'd like to try a Heritage 722. That indent is hot.
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Old 03-28-12, 08:58 PM
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Dolan Pre Cursa for $350?
https://www.dpmsports.com/dolan/03-track/precursa.html
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Old 03-28-12, 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
Wabi Lightning for $555?

over but worth it. and not by much.
I would like to say that I LOVE my Wabi Lightning. Super light, very stiff. I got this frame to go fast and it definitely gets it done. Yes, you can only get them from the Wabi and if you want an aluminum lightning you better act fast. I hear they're being discontinued.
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Old 03-28-12, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Soo__Fuego
This...looks interesting as well as appealing. Hmm. I like the looks of this. I can build something really fast and bad ass with this.
But i've never heard of Dolan. Going to look into it.
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Old 03-28-12, 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by vledaD
Also, not really a fan of triangle frames. What frame is that anyway?

Geekhouse Rockcity:

https://www.geekhousebikes.com/bikes/track-fixed/

Nice!!... and expensive!!!
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Old 03-28-12, 10:30 PM
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How about something from IRO?:

https://www.irocycle.com/framesets.aspx

Well under your budget...
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Old 03-28-12, 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by bfloyd6969
Geekhouse Rockcity:

https://www.geekhousebikes.com/bikes/track-fixed/

Nice!!... and expensive!!!
Honestly, the more I look at it, the less I like the whole triangle thing.
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Old 03-28-12, 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by vledaD
...But i've never heard of Dolan. Going to look into it.
I believe some national track teams race on Dolan frames
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Old 03-28-12, 11:00 PM
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The Dolan has me most interested. Also thinking about a Kilo frame with a carbon fork too.

This build is going to be fun. But I gotta get my new E30 in order first.
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Old 03-28-12, 11:21 PM
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anyone know how much the pre cursa weighs? a lot of real track bikes, like the dolan, aren't that light, just stiff.

the kilo frame isn't terribly heavy but it's also not terribly stiff.

400 isn't a very large budget for a frameset, but i would say a used langster may be the lightest option.

i'd still rather have a dolan than any of the others. this thread without actual weights is just dumb.


and we don't give a **** about your bmw. why even start this thread if you're going to just troll about your car?
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Old 03-28-12, 11:23 PM
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dont sweat weight thats not on the engine.
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Old 03-28-12, 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by cc700
anyone know how much the pre cursa weighs? a lot of real track bikes, like the dolan, aren't that light, just stiff.

the kilo frame isn't terribly heavy but it's also not terribly stiff.

400 isn't a very large budget for a frameset, but i would say a used langster may be the lightest option.

i'd still rather have a dolan than any of the others. this thread without actual weights is just dumb.


and we don't give a **** about your bmw. why even start this thread if you're going to just troll about your car?
Not trolling about my car.
damn man, why so high strung?

Yea i was hoping for weights too. Went ahead and did some research on the frames collected from discussions in this thread.

All City Big Block: 4.6lbs (55cm frame)
Originally, i decided to make this thread because this frame was my first choice, but on their website I couldn't find a weight.
The weight i listed above is from this site though https://www.fyxation.com/shop/en/77-a...-def-wish.html

Kilo TT: Don't know, can't find.

Dolan pre cursa: Frame only Medium - 1810g (thats what i'm talking about )

Others, have no clue.

Oh yea, don't be such a d ick
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Old 03-28-12, 11:39 PM
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my apologies, please post more about your twenty year old automobile.



an IRO angus 56cm is 3.9 lbs or 1770 grams. plus the frameset is only 200, and made out of reynolds 631.

assuming IRO is still shipping them.

however it's no where near as stiff as the precursa and i'd rather have the precursa for racing.

Last edited by cc700; 03-28-12 at 11:45 PM.
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Old 03-28-12, 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by vledaD
Dolan pre cursa: Frame only Medium - 1810g (thats what i'm talking about )
Just so you know, that isn't that light.
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Old 03-29-12, 12:12 AM
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ok, so what IS really light for a track frame? And i keep reading that for track bikes weight isnt that much of an issue. why? why not.
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Old 03-29-12, 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by vledaD
Yea i was hoping for weights too. Went ahead and did some research on the frames collected from discussions in this thread.
The link I posted about the IRO frames include the weights - as cc700 already pointed out. $200 frame and fork isn't bad at all.

Regarding weight - IMO, weight matters most when climbing and accelerating. Of course there isn't much climbing in track racing. There is acceleration, but I think rigidity would be more important. Once you get the bike rolling, you want to keep it rolling - momentum - weight... But from what I recall in the OP, you're not looking for a track racing bike, are you?
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Old 03-29-12, 12:25 AM
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Originally Posted by vledaD
ok, so what IS really light for a track frame? And i keep reading that for track bikes weight isnt that much of an issue. why? why not.

Light is relative. 1800 grams is light on your budget. On world class athletes' budgets, that's a boat anchor. To them, 1300grams is light.
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Old 03-29-12, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by bfloyd6969
The link I posted about the IRO frames include the weights - as cc700 already pointed out. $200 frame and fork isn't bad at all.

Regarding weight - IMO, weight matters most when climbing and accelerating. Of course there isn't much climbing in track racing. There is acceleration, but I think rigidity would be more important. Once you get the bike rolling, you want to keep it rolling - momentum - weight... But from what I recall in the OP, you're not looking for a track racing bike, are you?
o

Ideally i would love to use it competitively but there are no velodromes near me. i[m looking into local races this summer, but thats for my other bike.
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