New Track Bike recommendations pls
01-15-05, 05:37 PM
#1
steel/campy/tubie Junkie
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bellevue, WA
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Bikes: Road: Custom Landshark w/Dedacciai Less-Than-Zero, Easton EC90 SLX, '04 Campy Chorus, Mavic reflex w/Tufo tubies, Deda Newton stem/bars, Thompson Elite and Aireone saddle
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New Track Bike recommendations pls
First let me say that I am very impressed with the postings and opinions expressed in this forum. I stumbled across it for the first time last week and I've read EVERY post in this folder to date - you've aleady helped me quite a bit in my search.
Interested in trying out track riding / racing this spring and would like any/all recommendations for a track bike. I have extensive road experience (24 years), a pragmatic but somewhat indulgent taste in bikes (read: if there is a good reason to buy the good stuff I'll find it!) and am interested wholly in bike quality and not bling factor. My current road bikes are a custom steel Landshark with all Chorus and Tufo elite tubies and a C'dale badboy ultra (rain bike/ commuter). I ride about 125 a week in winter and 2x that in summer, weight 180# in gear, and am 5'10".
To be honest I'm not really considering the Fugi track, binachi pista or Surly whatever ... I am a bit more serious about bikes, live 5 miles from a velodrome (so the thing will get used twice a week for 9 mos out of the year), and am willing to spend a moderate amount for a good track bike. I'd like to stick with tubies (I buy the elites by the lot to save $$) unless anyone has really strong reasons to switch to clinchers. I'd like to keep this first bike in the $1000 to $1500 range, and will consider good used bikes as well.
If you have a suggestion I'd like to ask that you are an experienced track person, have owned more than one track bike, are not a messenger (not the kind of riding I'll be doing at all - no offense), and can back up your opinions with reasonable arguements. If you have a killer ride with a 55cm tt that fits the bill all the better!
~EG
Interested in trying out track riding / racing this spring and would like any/all recommendations for a track bike. I have extensive road experience (24 years), a pragmatic but somewhat indulgent taste in bikes (read: if there is a good reason to buy the good stuff I'll find it!) and am interested wholly in bike quality and not bling factor. My current road bikes are a custom steel Landshark with all Chorus and Tufo elite tubies and a C'dale badboy ultra (rain bike/ commuter). I ride about 125 a week in winter and 2x that in summer, weight 180# in gear, and am 5'10".
To be honest I'm not really considering the Fugi track, binachi pista or Surly whatever ... I am a bit more serious about bikes, live 5 miles from a velodrome (so the thing will get used twice a week for 9 mos out of the year), and am willing to spend a moderate amount for a good track bike. I'd like to stick with tubies (I buy the elites by the lot to save $$) unless anyone has really strong reasons to switch to clinchers. I'd like to keep this first bike in the $1000 to $1500 range, and will consider good used bikes as well.
If you have a suggestion I'd like to ask that you are an experienced track person, have owned more than one track bike, are not a messenger (not the kind of riding I'll be doing at all - no offense), and can back up your opinions with reasonable arguements. If you have a killer ride with a 55cm tt that fits the bill all the better!
~EG
01-16-05, 08:07 AM
#2
back2fixie
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: home of orville and wilbur
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Bikes: khs flite...phil hubs...dt swiss wheels...48/16 ratio
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best first track bike are the ones at the velodrome...
many tracks will have a "class" that you need to attend before you ride even in the beginner races. most tracks will have a stable of loaner bikes for people to rent. imho, take the class do a few beginner races and make sure that you like the style of riding. by then you will have a forum here, and a forum at the track from which to pull advice...
ohh yeah...and some mighty fine road/track riders have been messers...
cheers
many tracks will have a "class" that you need to attend before you ride even in the beginner races. most tracks will have a stable of loaner bikes for people to rent. imho, take the class do a few beginner races and make sure that you like the style of riding. by then you will have a forum here, and a forum at the track from which to pull advice...
ohh yeah...and some mighty fine road/track riders have been messers...
cheers
01-16-05, 08:28 AM
#3
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Originally Posted by Evil_Gilligan
First let me say that I am very impressed with the postings and opinions expressed in this forum. I stumbled across it for the first time last week and I've read EVERY post in this folder to date - you've aleady helped me quite a bit in my search.
Interested in trying out track riding / racing this spring and would like any/all recommendations for a track bike. I have extensive road experience (24 years), a pragmatic but somewhat indulgent taste in bikes (read: if there is a good reason to buy the good stuff I'll find it!) and am interested wholly in bike quality and not bling factor. My current road bikes are a custom steel Landshark with all Chorus and Tufo elite tubies and a C'dale badboy ultra (rain bike/ commuter). I ride about 125 a week in winter and 2x that in summer, weight 180# in gear, and am 5'10".
To be honest I'm not really considering the Fugi track, binachi pista or Surly whatever ... I am a bit more serious about bikes, live 5 miles from a velodrome (so the thing will get used twice a week for 9 mos out of the year), and am willing to spend a moderate amount for a good track bike. I'd like to stick with tubies (I buy the elites by the lot to save $$) unless anyone has really strong reasons to switch to clinchers. I'd like to keep this first bike in the $1000 to $1500 range, and will consider good used bikes as well.
If you have a suggestion I'd like to ask that you are an experienced track person, have owned more than one track bike, are not a messenger (not the kind of riding I'll be doing at all - no offense), and can back up your opinions with reasonable arguements. If you have a killer ride with a 55cm tt that fits the bill all the better!
~EG
Interested in trying out track riding / racing this spring and would like any/all recommendations for a track bike. I have extensive road experience (24 years), a pragmatic but somewhat indulgent taste in bikes (read: if there is a good reason to buy the good stuff I'll find it!) and am interested wholly in bike quality and not bling factor. My current road bikes are a custom steel Landshark with all Chorus and Tufo elite tubies and a C'dale badboy ultra (rain bike/ commuter). I ride about 125 a week in winter and 2x that in summer, weight 180# in gear, and am 5'10".
To be honest I'm not really considering the Fugi track, binachi pista or Surly whatever ... I am a bit more serious about bikes, live 5 miles from a velodrome (so the thing will get used twice a week for 9 mos out of the year), and am willing to spend a moderate amount for a good track bike. I'd like to stick with tubies (I buy the elites by the lot to save $$) unless anyone has really strong reasons to switch to clinchers. I'd like to keep this first bike in the $1000 to $1500 range, and will consider good used bikes as well.
If you have a suggestion I'd like to ask that you are an experienced track person, have owned more than one track bike, are not a messenger (not the kind of riding I'll be doing at all - no offense), and can back up your opinions with reasonable arguements. If you have a killer ride with a 55cm tt that fits the bill all the better!
~EG
Get a Land Shark since you have a road . He makes outstanding frames. When I lived in LA his frames were everywhere ( Dominguez Hills and Encino.).
Don't worry about the messenger post... Alot of us are experienced racers ( 10yrs plus on track and road) and my old buddies were Cat 1 and 2 on ROAD,TRACK AND MTB. I owned more than 25 track bikes.
Since you are 5'10" or 70 " in seam is about 32, I assume you ride 57cm c/t or 56cm c/t. if you ride 57 cm you need 56 on track and 56cm you will need 55cm.
S/F,
CEYA!
Last edited by Ceya; 01-16-05 at 08:29 PM.
01-17-05, 07:28 PM
#4
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imho, if you are looking a pure performance, you have have to look at the cannondale. it's light and stiff what more can you ask for in a track bike. I see them on ebay often, but they almost always go for a good (for the seller) price.
and tubies are the way to go and since you're at the track, flats should not be much of an issue.
and tubies are the way to go and since you're at the track, flats should not be much of an issue.
01-19-05, 05:06 PM
#6
oh..so...crusty..
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: chicago
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Bikes: bianchi pista
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the bianchi pista concept can be had and built for your price range. i recommend it. i own one. always check out track frames from felt and cervelo. Or, go Indepenent Fabrications if none of these seem expensive enough for you.
