mereli

I am considering converting my Quintana Roo Tequilo (TT bike) into a kilo bike, for use on the velodrome. The frame already has horizontal rear dropouts. My assumptions/questions:
1. Assume I can a standard track front wheel, with bolts.
2. Assume I can use current aero bars, taking off the brake levers and shifters.
3. Assume the BB height will be adequate for a kilo or pursuit on a 33 degree, 333m track.
4. Should I swap out crankset with a track crankset? Currently have 170mm cranks, 53/42 rings. Or, with the right cog, can I use the current crankset with a standard road chain?
5. Assume I can use a standard track rear wheel, with a cog that fits whatever chain and chainring width I go with.

Kayce

Depending on the clearence of the chainrings to the crank arm, you can get the right chainline(and issue of BB width, cranks, and wheel), you can find a suitable chainring for the cranks there is no reason why not.


But you probably will have a hard time getting the right chainline without doing funky things with the wheel and or BB, and it will be almost impossible for you to find a good chainring to fit on the 110bcd cranks. There isnt really a great solution, but in my mind the best would be(assuming that you want a road TT and a track bike) would be to buy a cheaper end track bike and swap over your handlebar set up, and if possible your saddle and post set up.

carleton

I think the issue that you will give you the most fits is the one that will come last...that being that the rear dropouts are very short and will allow only a few gear ratios.

This is why track ends are so long on track bikes and trackies love long track ends. For example, if you warm up on a 48/16 then put on a 14t cog for your event, your wheel might move a full inch backwards in the dropout. If you put on a 51t with that 14t cog, it will suck up all the chain you have and bring the wheel all the way forward. Chances are, you won't have enough dropout length to accommodate such changes. This means that you will probably have to use multiple chains for the multiple gear ratios.

carleton

1. Assume I can a standard track front wheel, with bolts.

Yes. No problem. A road wheel is also acceptable on the track if you use an allen-head skewer that doesn't have a quick release lever.


2. Assume I can use current aero bars, taking off the brake levers and shifters.

This is true.


3. Assume the BB height will be adequate for a kilo or pursuit on a 33 degree, 333m track.

I think you will be fine using 170mm cranks.

4. Should I swap out crankset with a track crankset? Currently have 170mm cranks, 53/42 rings. Or, with the right cog, can I use the current crankset with a standard road chain?

Your cranks are probably 130BCD. You can find some track chainrings in 130BCD, but the track standard is 144 BCD.


5. Assume I can use a standard track rear wheel, with a cog that fits whatever chain and chainring width I go with.

Yes, you will need spacers to space the rear hub out to 130mm.


Also:

- You may have stiffness issues
- Your head tube angle and fork rake may have it handle wonky. Track bike head tubes are around 73-74 degrees and fork rakes are 30-45mm.


In summary:

It might be more trouble than it's worth to convert the bike. The aero benefits may be overshadowed by the quirks listed above. You might be better off selling it and buying a an off the shelf aero track bike or a higher end aero bike like a Tiemeyer or something more exotic that you could also use for mass start racing which this TT bike would probably suck at. Personally, I'd pass on converting it.