ride_jc3

I think I'm going to buy a track bike for winter for training. So far it's come down to:

Bianchi https://www.bianchiusa.com/07_pista_concept.html

VS

Felt https://www.feltracing.com/products/p...8,21,53&pid=27


Of the two bikes, which has better components? Wheels?

As far as the frames are concerned, the Bianchi seems to have the ability to modify the position of the rear wheel while the Felt frame does not this abiltiy; what are the pros/cons of this?

Of course my choice will come down to ride quality, but I would like to get an idea if one of the bikes offers better bang for the buck. I wil be riding the bike on road, it's basically going to be my off season training bike.

Thanks

CrimsonKarter21

Felt, and yes; you do have the ability to adjust the rear wheel, it's a track bike. I've seen both in person (not ridden though) and they're awesome looking bikes, but in the end, I think the Felt is specc'd better.

yonderboy

The Bianchi has better wheels (Cane Creek Volos). I haven't seen any of the SRAM track components yet, but that's what it's spec'd with for drivetrain. It also has a fairly aggressive seat tube angle, compared to the Felt.

The Felt has the standard Sugino75 drivetrain, but cheaper wheels.

The Bianchi dealer down the street was telling me that they're not going to be selling the Pista Concept after this year. I don't know if Bianchi is going to ditch the frame all together, or just stop selling the complete. Maybe someone else knows the answer.

dutret

The concept is better.
The short track ends in the felt mean you'll need different chains if you're gears range more then 4 teeth(I think) the concept is fine up to at least 7. This is probably the biggest problem with the felt.
Other then that the wheels are far superior on the concept I haven't heard much about the sram omnium crankset but at least they are trying to bring track crank technology beyond the early 90's.

Hocam

The Pista Concept comes with tubulars; do you have a spare set of clinchers to train on?

I had to explain this to a guy who came into the bike co-op that just bought one from a shop and didn't understand what tubulars were. Never ridden fixed gear, no idea what track racing was or what tubulars are but the shop sold him the bike anyway.

ride_jc3

Thanks Hocam...

I didn't notice that the wheels were tubulars. Since I'll using the bike for training I don't see myself hitting a track at this point. I would prefer to have clinchers because I think they make life easier in case of a flat. I'll have to see if the shop will give me the option to switch-out the wheels. Do you think I would be better off just buying the frame and building it up? I really don't want to spend more than 1400.

fixedpip

The other thing to bear in mind is that the Concept (while an excellent track machine) is also not drilled for brakes. AFAIK you cannot modify the stock fork and so would have to swap it out for one with a brake hole if riding on the road.

dutret

you could sell the wheels and get some formular/cxp22s and some money left over. Since this was in the track forum I assumed it was going to be a track bike.

If you want something for winter training I suggest you get something substantially cheaper(iro, redline, other bianchis, lemond, soma, surly etc) or maybe the bianchi roger if you must have light... It has disk brakes. The ride will be better, it will be more robust, you can put brakes and fenders on more easily etc.

look in ss/fg for more info on fixed gear bikes to ride on the road.

zzzwillzzz

the bianchi has steel inserts in the rear dropouts, important if you actually race on the track and change gears alot, it will eventually wear out the aluminum dropouts

Legalize It

I own a felt tk2.... i dont personally ride on track.. But i love my frame.

The full aluminum dropouts are an annoyance tho...

Its great the geometry fits my body well.