jimmat

I looking for some advice about a frame purchase. I want to race on the street, on the local speedway (.33 mile oval, barely banked, torn up asphalt car track) and occassionally at t-town.
Im pretty set on a steel frame, maybe a kerin since I can probably get one local, and I love the look and feel of old school lugged italian whatevers. I have a vague interest in the Bareknuckle b/c of the minimalist look, which looks tight, stiff and fast? Do you think a lugged steel of columbus type tubing will fly? What about the bareknuckle? I know aluminum is probably the best for the track racing but I just don't think I want one on the road. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

ultraman6970

well one of the best bikes i ever had was a track/road fixie custom made with steel from the home depot shop (the name of the store was other one and i regreted all my life to have sold it). The frame wasnt so heavy bot not light either. But it was freaking fast. The trick is the geometry and have stiff tubes.

For the street a keiring frame is too steep I think. This means it will be too rough.. i think u got the idea now. But its your call u know... Get an entry level frame and u'll be already set dude. Those have holes to put brakes on it. Get a Fuji track or a bianchi track or get something at ebay in your size. Or get a nice Italian road frame and put a fixed gear on it...

Actually U want to race, the question is if u'll be racing all your life to justify 1000 bucks in a steel frame that it will be seated in your garage after 2 months u know...

Oh I forgot this. USE TUBULARS.. clinchers are a pain in the ass because the last a lot less than a set of tubulars. I have to change clinchers 3 times per year compared with 1/2 set of tubulars per year, besides tubular rolls a lot faster...

Good luck

goodall

I would go with one of the entry level steel bikes, like the Bianchi Pista or Fuji Track. Aluminum can get dented quick if you ride on the street and have to lock it up all the time. Most of the guys at the Richmond track ride these, so you'll fit right in. If you want something a little better, try ebay. For some reason high-end track bikes go for real cheap, whereas cheap bikes hold their value.

jimmat

Yeah thanks for the feedback. Im probably going to stay with steel. I have an aluminum road racing bike and I dig it but it has carbon stays and fork. Ive been racing a steel lugged frame but its too big for me. It is an awesome bike with true tight track geo, inches of toe overlap, high bb, sew ups and clincher wheels. I raced it the past two seasons on the street and last year at the local speedway. Once at Ttown. This year I will have more opportunities to race on the speedway and take trips up to ttown so I want a smaller frame. Im leaning toward the bare knuckle for the steel and stealthy look. It looks like it would work good for what I will be doing but I just can't seem to get any direct feedback from anyone who actually rides one of these. Oh there is one guy local who rides one and a castili (sp) he just says he likes them both...so yeah if anyone has any direct experience with the BK spill it please.