A discussion of budget fixed-specific frames/complete bikes
09-17-06, 06:36 PM
#51
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any thoughts?
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem
09-18-06, 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by slopvehicle
A couple corrections / additions for the Angus:
- The fork is drilled for a brake. No brake mount on the rear bridge.
- Fork is also unicrown.
- The frame also has one water bottle mount on the seat tube.
- Also differs from the Mark V in that it uses a threaded 1" headset and quill stem.
- The fork is drilled for a brake. No brake mount on the rear bridge.
- Fork is also unicrown.
- The frame also has one water bottle mount on the seat tube.
- Also differs from the Mark V in that it uses a threaded 1" headset and quill stem.
straight blade fork
reynolds 631 tubing
09-18-06, 05:44 AM
#54
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Originally Posted by sorsha6
any thoughts?
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem
09-18-06, 11:00 AM
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does anyone on here actually have a Windsor? Are they really all that bad? Or, what I should ask, are they worth buying, riding stock for a little bit and then gradually upgrading?
09-18-06, 02:42 PM
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considering it's about to be winter, go for it. ride the wheels into the spring then replace them if need be. cranks, bb, headset, etc are all decent enough to last. people complain about the stem, but that's a $20 upgrade if it bothers you that much. unless you're super serious about racing or concerned with name brands, the budget bikes are a good way to start.
09-18-06, 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by sorsha6
does anyone on here actually have a Windsor? Are they really all that bad? Or, what I should ask, are they worth buying, riding stock for a little bit and then gradually upgrading?
it's the same bike as the fuji track with different stickers.
09-18-06, 04:28 PM
#58
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I got my Angus frameset on Friday and am very impressed with the quality. It's a little heavier than I had expected, but definitely no beast. The welds are very nicely filed, and a quality powdercoat rounds it off nicely. The fork is way nice. If you like straight blade forks, you'll like this one. It is a unicrown, but very narrow (unlike the Pista's). It doesn't have **** on the Bareknuckle fork, but it's a lot cheaper. I've yet to ride it (still building), but will review it after it's done. I'm building it with higher-level components, so I'll try to stick with just the frame's benefits.
09-18-06, 07:12 PM
#59
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Originally Posted by sorsha6
does anyone on here actually have a Windsor? Are they really all that bad? Or, what I should ask, are they worth buying, riding stock for a little bit and then gradually upgrading?
09-19-06, 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by sorsha6
I'm still waiting for the new Schwinn Madison... no news that I can find, though. Anyone seen them around yet?
09-19-06, 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by baxtefer
lots of people here have windsors without even knowing it.l
it's the same bike as the fuji track with different stickers.
it's the same bike as the fuji track with different stickers.
reminds me of a conversation i had with a guy out here that runs his own mobile bike shop. he told me that performance cycles is so big that they can special order bikes from major brands like fuji and others. these special order bikes, often referred to as "limited editions", have cheaper bottom brackets, hubs and other parts. most people can't tell a difference and think they are getting an amazing deal, but they are actually getting a slightly different and cheaper bike. i'm not 100% sure that this is true, but it sounds similar to what bikesdirect does....except they just put their own name on the bike. from what i can tell, the bike is very similar, but not identical. the price difference is something like $140, so it could be worth it. i'm not trying to criticize bikesdirect or anything. they offer great deals. however, if i was choosing a fixed gear, i would want to know that the rear hub, cog, lockring were solid. these are the most important parts on the bike in my opinion. the formula hub on the fuji seem preferable to me over the no name hub on the windsor. as for the cog and lockring, can't tell if they are different.
just my opinion....you guys are free to tell me how off base i am.
09-19-06, 08:14 PM
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I'm still waiting for the new Schwinn Madison... no news that I can find, though. Anyone seen them around yet?
There are limited quantities out, my LBS has one.
There are limited quantities out, my LBS has one.
09-20-06, 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by sorsha6
My next question, then... anyone know where / if I can get one online?
09-20-06, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by sorsha6
any thoughts?
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRACK-ROAD-R...QQcmdZViewItem
A buddy has one and he likes it. And he has a Pista as well. I ordered one for winter beating, should serve the purpose well.
09-20-06, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by vinnydelnegro
granted these are very similar bikes, but i don't think they are identical. the most obvious difference is the cranks. also, the fuji track has formula hubs with alex rims. the windsor has trackspec? hubs and drx2000? rims. while these might be the same, i question the logic of not listing the well recognized name brands for these parts. the last difference that i noticed (and this may not be a difference at all) is the tube material. windsor specifies their frames as 4130 while fuji calls theirs Fuji Elios 2 custom butted Cro-Moly. These materials may just be the same thing. Other parts on these bikes are either identical or cannot be differentiated from the respective webisites.
if you compare the 2006 specs they're the same except for the cranks. in 2006 the fuji also had "Fuji Alloy Track, 32H Flip flop with DRX 2000 Double Wall Road Rims"
09-20-06, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by baxtefer
fuji seems to have changed the spec for 2007.
if you compare the 2006 specs they're the same except for the cranks. in 2006 the fuji also had "Fuji Alloy Track, 32H Flip flop with DRX 2000 Double Wall Road Rims"
if you compare the 2006 specs they're the same except for the cranks. in 2006 the fuji also had "Fuji Alloy Track, 32H Flip flop with DRX 2000 Double Wall Road Rims"
09-23-06, 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by DerekRI
Windsor "The Hour" = Fuji Track
09-23-06, 10:10 PM
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Anyone build up a Leader? It's got a BIN price of $240, frame only. Any thoughts (besides all the decals)?
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09-23-06, 10:19 PM
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One of the mechanics at my LBS bought a Leader, stripped it down to the aluminum and built it up nice. He swears by the thing and admittedly, it looks nice.
Last edited by acavengo; 09-24-06 at 10:39 AM.
09-23-06, 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by jyossarian
Anyone build up a Leader? It's got a BIN price of $240, frame only. Any thoughts (besides all the decals)?
i built up a geared bike with a leader 735r. still making adjustments to it, but i like it alot. i bet the leader track bike would be fun. some folks think that fixed bikes on the street should be made of steel. i bought my fork and headset from leader as well and it came to something like $330 with shipping. if you order from them, i would recommend calling chris in the office for any questions. their email correspondence is pretty inconsistent.
09-24-06, 08:31 AM
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not the same leader frame, but i put my thoughts on one of them in on the first page...
09-24-06, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by xthugmurderx
not the same leader frame, but i put my thoughts on one of them in on the first page...
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09-24-06, 03:36 PM
#75
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Originally Posted by xthugmurderx
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
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
just the way you talk about the 730tt makes it sound fun. apparently "the least practical", but it still sounds like you had fun with it.