Fuji Track for the newbie
 

Hello - I've read all of the Fuji Track related posts in these forums but thought I'd throw one in myself.

I have the opportunity to purchase a 2008 Fuji Track bike this weekend, new from my LBS for $360+tax.
I am a newbie and don't feel like spending lots of dough right out of the gate. I don't really care about
the name brand of the bike, color, etc. I just wanted a bike to ride around San Francisco.

It seems there are a lot of entry level models (Windsor, Mercier, Bianchi Pista, etc). Are they all really different. I know that 'The Hour' = Fuji Track but I've never seen a Windsor instore to test ride (just on BD) Are the components the only differance between the Windsor and Fuji Track? Is one better than the other. I would like the ability to flip the hub and ride it freewheel.

Any help you can offer would be great

Thanks,

Hype

if you can tension the spokes, change the cog and lockring, grease the bearings, etc. yourself, then the Windsor is a better buy that the Fuji track. yes it's exactly the same frame. the advantage of the LBS is they will probably grease/adjust/tighten everything before you walk out the door, and will probably take care of you if something goes wrong, like stripping the hub, breaking spokes, truing wheels....

360 is a steal for the fuji track.

i'd get the fuji for a few reasons:
1. Supporting a local store.
2. The local store will (hopefully) support you.
3. just cuz its a sweet deal.

but then again, im a sucker for the "support the LBS" kinda mentality. if you really want to save $60 plus tax, go for it.

+1
support your local shop if possible. if you like the bike etc, its probably worth the extra 60ish bucks for a tuned bike and local support.

If it uses the same wheels that the 07 fuji track does, I wouldn't get it. I use the wheel set, and I broke over a combined total of 7 spokes on the rear wheel. Then I stripped the lock ring threads...

Front wheel is fine, but the tires suck.

wow.... maybe you just got a dud.

i dont think in my years of biking i've ever broken a spoke. i've bent rims to hell, but the spokes have always held.

also, keep in mind, if you have LBS support, they might be willing to help out in case of a dud wheel. (or any other components)

oh, and stock tires usually/always suck. thats just a fact of life...

I've read in a few places that the wheelset on the old Fuji Track get broken spokes and even explode. However, i think those were Alex DA-22 rims and the 08 has Alex RDP15. Still something to think about. I ordered the Hour instead (supposedly same frame) but if my lbs had a fuji I would have gone with that. Any problems they would have fixed for free (except medical ;-). I'd go with the deal you're getting.

FYI- I ride a Bianchi San Jose and though it's not track geometry, I love it. It's great for long rides/commuting- it's a cyclocross frame and is the same as the Volpe which a lot of people use for touring. It comes with fixed/free hub (same wheelset as the pista) and cog/freewheel. So far (~2000 miles) all good components- mostly cane creek with sugino cranks. I couldn't be happier. They're like $700 this year, though. And with cantilever brakes and a fork with wide clearance, a lot of fg kids think the SJ is ugly. The fork kinda is, but meh!

Thanks guys. One thing is that the LBS is not a small mom and pop. It's actually a 'sports shop'. They sell camping, skiing, training, and general sports equipment. Not exactly specialized. Their bike tech did tel me if I buy from them I get 2 years of tune-ups, etc (but also mentioned that these bikes don't exactly need tune ups). Wasn't sure if this was true or not. Thanks for the replies.

Hype

wtf is that...

you need to specify. an LBS and an LS that just so happens to sell Bs are two fairly different things.

also, odd that a general sporting goods store stocks track bikes. oh well.

i'd still get the fuji....

[QUOTE=millrt138;5969889]I've read in a few places that the wheelset on the old Fuji Track get broken spokes and even explode. However, i think those were Alex DA-22 rims and the 08 has Alex RDP15. Still something to think about. I ordered the Hour instead (supposedly same frame) but if my lbs had a fuji I would have gone with that. Any problems they would have fixed for free (except medical ;-). I'd go with the deal you're getting.

i have an 07 fuji track, and my wheels have not ahsplodeded. they're formula low flange hubs laced to alex RDP15's. not an awesome wheel, but not bad. if someone rides a wheel without proper spoke tension, that's their own ****ing fault.