Track frame under $200?
 

So I've been riding around an old SR SemiPro fixed conversion frame. Frankly the frame is too big, my lower back and shoulders hurt after long rides. I want to buy a track frame but I'm at a budget being a student and all. I can only afford a frame and fork $200 of less. Anyone know of a track frame and fork for sale under $200? I know I definitely want a tighter ride. Please post any advice or links. Also im ok with used frames.

I've been looking at the Sparton frames, CL frames, ebay framesets, IRO groupbuys, and waiting for the bikesdirect framesets about to come out. I've also been thinking if I should just get a road frame with tight geometry. Any recommendations?

And also what makes a bike geometry tight? Like what cm values should I be looking at? I know tight geometry has shorter wheelbase, and narrower fork rake(?), but what does that translate to in CT or CC lengths? What numbers should I look for if I need a 57 to 58cm size?

I have brand new wheels and a new drivetrain. Basically im all for getting rid of my current frame and buying a new headset, seatpost... for a new bike.

Any advice will help. Thanks!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=287364

Should get you started...

Check the CL/Ebay thread often too, I have seen plenty of frames come up there in your price range.

So you have a bike that you're currently uncomfortable on, and want to spend no more than $200 to get a "tighter" bike that you'll be a different kind of uncomfortable on?

Dude, just say you want it to catch the ladies. We all know.

I've made several nice bikes that didn't fit and and regretted building every single one of them.

Bikes are like shoes in that if they don't fit you may be able to tolerate them for short periods. But in the long-run, no matter how nice they look, you are likely gonna regret investing in them. Then they just sit in your closet (garage) unused collecting dust.

No decent frame with headseat and fork will cost sub 200 dollars.

Mercier. IRO BFSSFGGBSGDGFGGFg, Spicer

sorry I only ride gold plated frames on a carbon diamond skeleton with platinum lugs

Its just ever since I got my fixed conversion, I vowed to eventually get a "real" track frame. And after I bought my $150 track wheels, I said I definitely needed to get a track frame where those wheels belong. I hate riding them around on a cheap conversion frame when they deserve better. Also I felt bad because I could have bought a track bike off BD for $300 but my wheels were worth half that, so I couldn't turn back after I purchased the wheels.

And no its not for the ladies, most people can't tell track geometry from road geometry. Neither do I want a shiny new frame, im perfectly fine with a beat up paint chipped track frame. I just want to feel it for myself what this tight geometry everyone is talking about. So really the track bike won't be much more comfortable? So I should stick to a road frame?

thanks seaneee for the link to budget frames, but so much to read!

And I think this link: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-163338.html answers the questions I was asking about geometry. But it kind of confuses me too. I dont think they know what they are talking about either. Anyways I"ll just keep looking on CL and Ebay with an eye for shorter wheelbase and steeper headtube angle and not discriminate between road and track frames.

what happened to all the Cayne uno frames?
to the op; there were decent-quality frames on ebay, a unlableled version of the Cayne UNO for 150, among others.

you need to learn about geometry; that is what makes a track bike, a road bike, and a touring bike different.

bikeisland has the mercier kilo tt frame up now for around $140, doesn't include fork though. maybe you can still get the $5 nashbar fork :)

dude go look at the geometry charts and info on various websites, SOMA,
Surly, Pake, etc. Then go look at the geometry specs for some true track bikes,
snoop around in the Track forum. . .then ride some to see what you like. This will
take a while to see what works for you. Some people can ride a true track frame
all day, one with only the clearance for a cigarette paper between a 700 x 23 and the fork, and low
rake, other people want a relaxed geometry. If you want bling you aren't going to get it for
$200 bucks. A one of a kind lugged Italian track bike from the 80s went on Ebay last
week for 950 built--for a 20 some odd year old bike. If you want a track-ish geometry
for a budget look at Pake. If you want bling start saving or slinging.

kilo tt with a fork is 175 shipped from bike island on ebay... dunno when they'll have more but it's a ridiculously crazy deal. i love mine.

edit: Kilo TT/KHS is a way better frame than the
Pake. Get it.

yeah i wasn't all that impressed with the pake frames i saw built up by a store.
btw...
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3...lottgeoip6.png(TT)
vs
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8...ceptgeojw4.png(pistaconcept)

I think you're missing the point, your wheels "belong" on a frame that works for you needs. If you don't know what tight geometry is, you really don't want it, I promise.

the kilo tt has more of a road conversion geometry while the pista concept has more of a track geometry, correct?

Incorrect. I've said it before, but if you're asking about the Pista Concept geometry here, then you probably shouldn't buy one.

hoh. They changed the geometry on the Kilo TT. It doesn't match the KHS flite anymore.
now it has shallower angles, less "track" geomtery and a longer wheelbase.
or their geometry chart is just wrong.

http://www.khsbicycles.com/Images/Ge...7-geo-road.jpg

What? I freaking love track geometry both on and off the track.
And to the OP: Don't worry about your wheelset being half the price of your frame, that's how it should be, granted $150 is a very inexpensive wheelset.

And I don't blame you. Bikes with track geometry look awesome locked up in front of the bar. Too bad some people actually prefer bikes that are comfortable to ride.

a lot of cheaper bikes come as completes....ebay or cl is probably a better bet for a cheaper track frame/fork only. it's like skateboarding....you could get a cheap nash board, but i've never seen a nash deck sold seperately.

flite is very different from the tt:
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3581/flite100xy6.png
same seat tube angle but different headtube angle, more bb drop and tighter rear chainstays.

it used to be the same.

is there another IRO group buy going on? for the mark V