Old 09-05-06 | 11:53 AM
  #10  
xthugmurderx's Avatar
xthugmurderx
poser/hipster/whatever
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 994
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From: milwaukee, philly, and back, minneapolis in july

Bikes: d/a allez -trek t1

I'll add what i can.

I messengered on a fuji track frame for almost a year (until i got my custom) and it help up incredibly well. that said, nothing but the frame and fork where stock. the only dent the frame had on it was from the fed ex guy shipping it. I got hit on it 3 times, with no damage to the bike or me. I threw it around a lot (i'm pretty hard on my things) with no ill effects. it was pretty light (built with miche hubs, deep v in the back, aerohead in the front, superbe pro cranks, nitto steel drops) but not the lightests (probably around 18 or 19 pounds). it rode very well and the paint held up nicely. I would greatly recommend the frameset if you can get one, or just buy one and flip all the stock parts. (but i think the stock ones work with a new stem and different cog and lockring). PROS=durable and cheap, readily available CONS=stock parts not that great, sizing (center to top on the seattube)

also

the pake, which has been covered a lot on the regular forum recently. I like it. that said, i paid cost for it, but even for $320, it's probably still worth it. it's heavy and a little ugly (the fork. get the surly or soma crowned track fork and it'll look pretty good for a few bucks more), but it works wonderfully. I"m sure that mine is under 20 pounds (with deda alloy drops and phils/open pro, phil bb and sugino mighty track cranks). i got it to beat on, and i do just that...the paint is scratched, but not to the metal. (i think it may just be scratching the clear and discoloring the paint...not sure though). It rides well, very compliant and comfortable ride. I recommend.

also

the infamous tsunami track frame. I had the 04 one. (red with replaceable dropouts and round seattube). it was really stiff as far as i remember (i got rid of this one a while ago...actually i traded the frame/fork to my friend for the above fuji). the paint is not very good, i see it now and it has a bunch of little pink spots (think debernardi), but it's still on the road and not dented. he complains of the ride, but i personally like aluminum. I like this bike, i am thinking of getting another to tool on the track, but i don't that's howthink it's that great for the street. they're cheap and definitely rideable, if you don't mind aluminum. the only REAL problem i had with it was the marring the dropouts, and i threw the chain somewhat often. I never did figure out why ( i was using shimano 600 cranks with the stock 40 tooth chainring and a 14 tooth dura-ace cog.) my friend that has it now uses a chain tensioner and doesn't have the problem. so get one of those if you go this route, but it could have been the dropouts (which are no longer the same on the 05 or 06 models)

one more.

a leader frame. I was riding the 730tt (the time trial one) but i'm sure they're all pretty similar. i built it with the fsa vigorelli cranks, reynolds full caron fork, bontrager 20 spoke paired front wheel, both 650. one of those formula/weinmann rears, deda alloy pista bars, fsa carbon seatpost,...weighed 15.5 pounds with eggbeaters) This ride was stiff as HELL. very jarring. almost uncomfortable, (could have been the drop, cause it was just my wrists that got sore). but very fast. and agile, since there was no wheelbase. very much fun to throw around and fly on. great in traffic (but that could just be me...hahaha). it was loud. i couldn't tell if it was the cranks or the super oversize tubes, but it literally swooshed when i sprinted (which was cool, if you're into that). i liked it. sold it cause i'm back in wisconsin and it was the least practical of my bikes. It was pretty cheap, all built up it was less than $800, which i can live with. and it was black, which was cool (that was the theme).

yeah, i'll stop there because this is ridiculously long. and no one cares. i hope that helps someone, if not it was fun to reminesce (or however you spell that).

-jason

Last edited by xthugmurderx; 09-05-06 at 12:02 PM.
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