Has anyone ever converted a road frame to track ends? Like these "Sub 11.0 track-style Fork Ends":
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/f...tml#frameparts
About what does it cost? Does anyone know a really respectable frame shop who does conversions like this? Especially one in the South Philly area? Anything I should look out for?
I have two old track frames that I use with good regularity but I just picked up a sweet Reynolds 531 frame and (though I understand the horizontal drop-outs on it would work) I much prefer the set up of the true track ends.
Any help is much appreciated
Fissel

https://www.yellowjersey.org/trakends.html

Sweet. $85 doesn't seem to bad. Has anyone ever had service performed by these guys? Was everything up to par?

I've never had service by them, but they are extremely knowledgeable and have a fine selection of goods. I got my brooks from them.

Give BIlenky a call. I'm sure he could hook you up. There are lots of pretty track ends available these days. I like these:


Kalavinka


Shimano


Paul

Lots and lots of others too.

Kalavinka ends. I want them. If anybody has a set for sale please tell me. I can't get Kalavinka to respond to emails.

$120 is super reasonable.
But those are some big, clunky looking track ends, imo.

I've been thinking of doing the same thing. I really like my horiz dropouts but wish they were a little bit longer. I also wouldn't mind getting my bike out on the track some time and for some reason they don't allow conversions. I don't know if that has to do with the dropouts or perhaps BB height? But I love the feal of my road conversion and I used to own a track bike in comparison. I am surprised it's all only about $120. If any one knows any Virginia builders that would do that please chime in.

Try emailing Jon K from Jonnycycle. He orders from Kalavinka fairly regularly and might have an extra set kicking around

m.

Those look pretty sweet, but I actually already acquired a set of NOS Campy track ends which will nicely replace the Campy dropouts that my frame currently has. It will look more original with period track ends. Maybe I will try Bilenky out; I am also looking into Spectrum Cycles in the Allentown Area. Has anyone ever had frame repairs performed through Spectrum Cycles or Bilenky? I would rather make the drive to Allentown or Bilenky than hassle with packing & shipping my frame.

If you're smart, you'll go with the Pauls. They work the best and look just as good as any track ends. Remember, its just metal, appreciate the efficiency. The built-in tensioners make the world a whole lot better.

The pauls maybe awesome and efficeint but they look like ****...

DIY. I just did and didn't try too hard. Thread coming up soon.

way to completey ignore everything i just said.

Ha, what?

Wouldnt replacing horizontal road drops with track ends lower the rear of the bike by a centemeter or so? On my road bikes, the dropouts tend to place the axle slightly lower than the chainstays. On most track frames I've seen, the track ends position the rear axle so that its ever-so-slightly above the chainstay, kind of centered between the chain and seat stays. I know it sounds confusing but if you look at the drop outs on a lugged road frame and the length and placement of the seatstays and chain stays, it might make more sense. Would this slight lowering of the rear affect anything? how about the bottom bracket clearance?

Believe it or not, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on aesthetics, and also to considering aesthetics an important factor in choosing bike parts.

Incidentally, Paul track ends do look like crap.

+1

I lived in Madison for years (home of yellow jersey) and they're the real deal.

Never had anything as intensive as dropout surgery done to my bikes, but the work I've had done there (ranging from freewheel replacement to "wtf is this strange pinging noise?") was always quick and done well.

Plus they were down with the fixed thing back when you were wearing short pants.

Before:


and after:



Entire thread at:

Track End Install

I had biseagal in Toronto Canada do mine and they were fantastic. Cost me only 60 canadian but I did provide my own dropouts. If anyone has access to an EDM wire cutter they are incredibly easy to make.