big2050

I'm currently looking to get my first track bike, which I'm planning to only use training and racing on the track, and the bike I'm looking at buying has a road crankset on it, but also is using a 1/8" chain. Is that a bad combination? or are those two systems compatible?

Also, the bike has a 38mm fork rake, is that a reasonable amount for a track bike? From the geometries I've found online, it seems many track bikes have less than that.

Thanks in advance for any help

Mike T.

A 1/8th chain will work ok on the 3/32" ring of the road crankset. But why not get a 3/32 cog and chain?

The stand alone figure of fork rake really means nothing. Fork rake, combined with the head angle give a Trail measurement and it's this measurement that has the greatest effect on how a bike steers and handles.

For instance, my frame has a head angle of 74.5 degrees, a fork rake of 34mm which gives a Trail of 58mm. The custom builder of my frame - Marinoni - considers a trail of 59mm to be optimal for track. If we put your 38mm rake fork into my frame this would give a Trail of 53.2mm which, relative to my setup, would give faster/more twitchy/less stable handling. Let us remember that MORE rake = LESS Trail = "faster" handling.

Play around with this calculator -

https://www.anvilbikes.com/images/1064634020.xls

big2050

thanks for the help!