i just read through the rulebook, and it didn't say anything about track ends v. horizontal dropouts. that being said, everyone i've spoken to has told me that you need track ends. also, you need rear-facing bars, and you must ride in the drops.

I'm interested because it seems like an easy way of keeping low-bb bikes off the track that may net a few false positives. Like if I had a regular track frame and just for S's and G's i had someone put horizontal dropouts on it, it'd be hard to justify keeping it off the track.

Fun Fact: the burnaby drome requires that spokecards be removed, to prevent them from flying out and causing hideous paper cuts I assume.

no, a spokecard could cause a nasty crash if it got between the contact patch of the tire and the track surface.

i'm sure tracks with aggressive banking check bb height, it's pretty easy to look at a bike and judge whether it has track geometry or not...and it it looks like not, it's gonna get a bb height check.

I can definitely see that working, if instead of a spoke card, it was a banana peel, and instead of real life, it was Super Mario Kart. I don't care though because it's one of those arbitrary rules that still makes sense, like how you have to wear white to play cricket. Also it's funny to watch people sheepishly pull all the flair off their hipstermobiles. At any rate at the burnaby velo there is a hazard that's much more sketchy and fun than either a banana peel or a 3*5 card. There are volleyball courts in the infield---this pays the drome's bills---and the players practice at the same time that they have cycling practice. So, every once in a while a volleyball comes over the netting and bounces on the track. Fun at 45 km/h? Yes.

If

A lot of great advice so far, thanks... Fyi I'm not riding this on the track. I'm using it for short commutes, weekend rides and moderate 20-25 mile rides. I'm not racing or anything like that. I'm just in my mid 30s now and want to see what the nicer bikes are all about. Maybe I'm gonna be flamed but I don't ride down in the drops too often. If that makes a difference.

Anyways, what do people think are the ride characteristics of both bikes? God, I am so torn and every week that goes by with my indecision is another week waiting to wait.

Go with your local framebuilder.

Oh yeah and BTW the frames are about the same price. I was also thinking that the De Rosa was too nice a frame to set up single speed but the reason I was led to it was because I was already thinking about spending it on an Indy Fab. Once I saw that I could get a steel De Rosa for the same price I went, "omg". Although I have no idea how it rides comparatively. I just love the looks. But I love how they both look! Argh.

Your requirements sound easy to satisfy and either way you'll have an amazing bike. This is, like, the opposite of a dilemma.

Flip a coin.

heads- De Rosa
Tails- Indy Fab

I agree with this guy.

IF
I have 2 and seriously thinking about a 3rd.
My experience with them was great.

go with the IF *drool*


after looking around on their site, i might just have to buy one one day *day dreams of IF bike sexiness*

does anyone know if the ride quality is going to differ much between the two frames?

Both are going to ride like magic carpets.

I'd say De Rosa...the Indys are nice, for sure, but the De Rosas are just beautiful. Though I do have a bit of a fetish for Italian lugs....

Go De Rosa!

IF's are real nice but a De Rosa made for you would be a special bike and give you the classic steel ride everyone tries to copy.

I do believe in supporting your local frame maker but at the same time you would also be supporting a historical handmade Italian frame maker in a dying field. The longer they stay around the better.

Cheers

Me too.

get the one that fits best!

Bikes don't have feelings. They are tools built up with interchangeable components. Sorry, but I think your statement is silly.

Why not just get a White Industries Eno hub for the rear wheel?

If you're building a velodrome racing track bike, that's one thing, but if you're getting an all-arounder, then why not make the frame flexible and then swap components?

What's the verdict?

oh man... i'm gonna get **** for this. so i go into this shop, looking for a neo primato to ride. well, turns out it's the owner's bike, and he's not in right now. great. instead i allow myself to get suckered and end up staring at a carbon fiber roadie. purely out of curiosity, wasn't looking to buy or anything. anyways, long story short - i took it for a test ride and was floored by the weight and feel of it. now i'm looking at getting a look frame. fully geared. go figure.

Get out.

Well, that's one retrogrouch cured then!
Although I do disapprove of the gears