Fuji Track Comp vs. Felt TK3 for a novice track rider?
#1
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 137
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fuji Track Comp vs. Felt TK3 for a novice track rider?
Sorry to beat the entry level track bike debate into the ground (couldn't find this comparison anywhere with search function, though!), but which would you track vets recommend for someone just getting into the swing of track things? Barring any geometry perks for my physique, of course...
An important thing to note is that I'm going to be riding it around on the city streets a bit (but definitely taking care of it). Is the wheelset on the Fuji any better than the Felt's? Anybody have any positive/negative experience with either? Thanks a lot in advance!
An important thing to note is that I'm going to be riding it around on the city streets a bit (but definitely taking care of it). Is the wheelset on the Fuji any better than the Felt's? Anybody have any positive/negative experience with either? Thanks a lot in advance!
#2
aka mattio
I like the Fuji a little bit better, if only for the steel inserts in the track ends. The TK3 doesn't have that (older TK2s don't, either - I have one; it's similar to the new TK3), and the track ends do get a bit chewed from repeated wheel-on/offs.
The Felt has a very tight wheelbase, which is a slight bother for that bit of city street riding you'll do. It might be a bigger bother, depending on the velodrome you ride at. I ride at Kissena, which has a few bumps in some undesirable places, and the Felt takes some work to keep it in line through them. Something with a bit more wheelbase, I assume, would handle them a bit better. I don't really like riding the Felt for city riding because it's so jarring over any rough pavement, and it takes some practice dealing with the overlap. Not toe overlap - foot overlap. Pedal overlap. Damn near crank overlap. I tend to consider that to be not a problem for most bikes, but it's so dramatic on the Felt that even with getting used to it and knowing how to deal with it, it still occurs and occasionally makes me feel stupid and uncoordinated at a stop light.
If I had the opportunity to trade for a Fuji Track Pro (older) or Track Comp (what their new one is called), I probably would.
The Felt has a very tight wheelbase, which is a slight bother for that bit of city street riding you'll do. It might be a bigger bother, depending on the velodrome you ride at. I ride at Kissena, which has a few bumps in some undesirable places, and the Felt takes some work to keep it in line through them. Something with a bit more wheelbase, I assume, would handle them a bit better. I don't really like riding the Felt for city riding because it's so jarring over any rough pavement, and it takes some practice dealing with the overlap. Not toe overlap - foot overlap. Pedal overlap. Damn near crank overlap. I tend to consider that to be not a problem for most bikes, but it's so dramatic on the Felt that even with getting used to it and knowing how to deal with it, it still occurs and occasionally makes me feel stupid and uncoordinated at a stop light.
If I had the opportunity to trade for a Fuji Track Pro (older) or Track Comp (what their new one is called), I probably would.
#4
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 137
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ope, just also realized it looks like the Fuji doesn't have the front drilled for a brake, and I was going to throw one on for safety and transitioning into the whole commuting-by-fixed gear process... Leaning a little towards the felt =X. Or I guess I could go with the Fuji Track (at $500) and upgrade parts on it to make it track-able?
#5
Run What 'Ya Brung
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A Fuji Track Comp at $500 complete is a pretty awesome deal. Previously this frame was sold as the Fuji Track Pro (now upgraded for 2009) and carried more than a handful of riders to international competition. It's really all the bike that most riders will ever need. I had a Fuji Track Pro which I sold while in a tight spot financially, and I still regret and love that bike. No experience with the Felt personally, but the FTP really is quite the bike.
I have no experience riding either on the street.
I have no experience riding either on the street.
#6
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 137
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Interesting. Good to know. I haven't asked for a pricing at my LBS, but I remember seeing one at Performancie Bike a few months ago and it was like over $1,000. Are you talking about finding a used one for your $500 price point?
#7
Run What 'Ya Brung
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't know, you're the one who said the $500 thing. It was in your last post. I figured you had a line on a bike for $500, but if that's not the case, then nevermind.
#9
my hubs are dirty
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 148
Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Bridgestone RB-2 (sold!), Bridgestone MB-5, Schwinn Le Tour, Handsome XOXO
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#10
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 137
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, the Fuji Track is the bottom of the line for them and it's steel I believe (but made more for commuting/urban riding/etc). I've seen a couple of these Masi Speciale's aruond the city and I absolutely love how they look. This bike would probably be more comfortable for commuting since it is cromoly and all, but would it suffice for a couple novice seasons on the track? If so then I'm sold on it.
https://www.masibikes.com/gallery/pop...pecial_ltd.jpg
https://www.masibikes.com/gallery/pop...pecial_ltd.jpg
#11
Run What 'Ya Brung
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#12
Run What 'Ya Brung
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah, the Fuji Track is the bottom of the line for them and it's steel I believe (but made more for commuting/urban riding/etc). I've seen a couple of these Masi Speciale's aruond the city and I absolutely love how they look. This bike would probably be more comfortable for commuting since it is cromoly and all, but would it suffice for a couple novice seasons on the track? If so then I'm sold on it.
Compare the geometry of the Sprint to that of the Speciale Fixed and it's clear one's more "track specific" than the other.
#13
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 137
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ah, good to know! Looks like Masi's website only lists the sprint as a frameset and not a complete build... could be fun to build it up myself. Decisons decisions. Looks like I'll probably be going with the felt.. although I'll be feeling those bumps on the road if I do!
#14
manonthemoon
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 748
Bikes: Current custom builds: FG=KHS Flite 100 DH=Transition Blindside FR=Transition Bottlerocket
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'd take an '08 Fuji Track Pro over the '09 Track Comp. Similar retail price, but better components like stem/bars/wheelset/cranks. The only thing better about the '09 Comp is $100 lower MSRP and the front fork comes drilled. Then again, if you get an '08 Pro, it would be used and much cheaper anyways, and you can still get the fork drilled if you want to run a brake.
#16
manonthemoon
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 748
Bikes: Current custom builds: FG=KHS Flite 100 DH=Transition Blindside FR=Transition Bottlerocket
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Since the '09 Fuji Track Pro was completely redesigned, the '09 Track Comp is basically just the Track Pro from previous years, but with downgraded components.