http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/613.htm
That's track geometry. (above link)
IRO is road geometry.
If I was racing on a velodrome and not messing around with a coffee shop bike, I'd want a steep seat tube angle and long top tube so I could be more hunched over and aerodynamic. Road geometry is meant for endurance, not for maximum power and aerodynamics for a short period of time.
The funny thing is my road bike has more "trackish" geometry than either the IRO or the fuji track. If you want this sort of relaxed bike that's fine, but why handicap yourself for no reason if you are racing.
Anybody can be fast on any bike, but there are better ways of doing this. I'm sure Marty Northstein and Lance Armstrong could probably go faster on tricycle than most people here.
Originally Posted by wasted weasel
the mark v has a more verticle head tube and seat tube angle compared to the pista by 2 or 3 degree's (compare the specs which are posted on both websites), the mark v would make for a slightly sharper handling bike... as stated before track vs. road geometery is an endless argument though...
You have this in reverse. That IRO is more of a road bike than my road bike. It does have a higher BB, but that's the only track thing about it. It is a road frame with a High BB and no derailleur hanger.
How am I going to ride super low track drops with a 73 degree seat tube angle? Even my road bike has a 73.5 degree seat tube angle. Like I said moving seat forward on slack seat tube angle bike with long stays is a bad idea if you actually plan on braking with your rear wheel down hills.
Originally Posted by Judah
this whole "track geometry/road geometry" thing is a bit misleading, there are many "track" bikes out there that have what you would probably call "road geometry" and vice versa. What you probably mean is tight handling, which steeper angles will produce.
Either it is road geometry or Track geometry.
Actually the tight angles affecting handling has
nothing to do with what I'm talking about. I'm talking about rider position. You cannot ride
well in track drops with a road seat tube angle. Sure you can scoot the seat forward on road geometry, but all that does is upset the balance of the bike.
Originally Posted by 46x17
Otherwise you are better off buying a decent used or new track frame and decent components. It might cost you $1000 or more, and you might have to be patient and wait for deals. But every penny of those 1000 bucks will be spent on something that lasts a long time and performs with out a headache. In the long run it will significantly cheaper. Spend the $500 on a Phil Wood wheelset that might possibly be the best $500 spent.
This is a different topic. I agree you are always better off buying the best bike you can (I say this in the road forum all the time), but $1000 is a lot more money.
I don't think this Pista is perfect (I hate those flimsy rims), but a lot of what I have read by Pista owners says the parts are not bad as you claim.
Cheap components on the Pista? Maybe so (probably not nearly as poor as people say), but you are much better off buying a complete bike with $500 than putting something togther. How much does a good track frame cost? [Probably double what an entire Pista cost]