Well I just bought my first track bike, it's probably a late 70's or an early 80's version. It's a Sekai Professional 4000 with chrome lugs and nice blue paint. I paid $100 to take it out of a doctors garage.
First question: The hubs are Zeus, from Spain (never heard of them before). Are they worth keeping as a beginner wheelset? They are laced 36 to Mavic rims. They are tubular, and I'm sure they are loose ball and cup. Any reason to not ride this wheelset the first year? The rear tire is an old Clement that looks in good shape, but seems a bit brittle or hard, as I'm sure it is. I need a new front tire at a minimum, if not both (see below).
2nd...Gearing: The crankset is a Sugino Mighty Competition with a 50T chainring. The cog is a 15. This looks pretty big from what I'm reading. What is a good starter set of rings/ cogs? Like a 48, 49 and 50 with 14, 15, 16 cogs? I'm a 44 year old, new to the track, but raced cyclocross, road, expert mtb cross country, etc. and riding now for 26 years solid. I put in a moderate amount of miles, so far 2100 this year if that helps at all.
3rd: Tires? I want good tubulars, not cheap, but not top-o-the-line either. Any good suggestions? i ride TUFO tubular cross tires and think they are pretty good, but the selection of tubular track/ road tires is vast, and I'm lost. I could see paying in the $75-$100 range per tire. BTW, I will be riding only on the track at Marymoor Velodrome in Redmond, WA. Outside track, 400 meters long, concrete, shallow banking (I think like 28 degrees?)
Crank length: I'm sure this has been beat to death in these forums, but just have to ask...165cm (which I have) seems old school according to what I'm reading. I run 175 on my cross/ road bike. Should I switch the crank out to a 170? 172.5? That old Sugino crank is so darn pretty I hate to not use it, but I want to develope a good spin, and I believe I need to get the cranks a bit closer in length. Thoughts?
Sorry this is long. I just have been scouring around the internet trying to get all this figured out. Thanks for your help.
Yoyosh