FAQ/primer/basics of track frames
#1
Thread Starter
Traffic shark

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,612
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From: California
Bikes: 2 fixies, 1 road, 29er in the works.
FAQ/primer/basics of track frames
I've been looking at track frames, and I get a bunch of names that I don't quite get.
Kerin frame style.
Pursuit style
True track frame
Track geometry.
Street geometry (on a "track" frame)..
Some of these appear to be just normal geom. frames with track drop outs. Some of them have wild sloping top tubes.
Can any one educate me or point me the way to some web site that would?
Kerin frame style.
Pursuit style
True track frame
Track geometry.
Street geometry (on a "track" frame)..
Some of these appear to be just normal geom. frames with track drop outs. Some of them have wild sloping top tubes.
Can any one educate me or point me the way to some web site that would?
#2
Direct Hit Not Required

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,193
Likes: 2
From: San Bruno, CA
Bikes: Leopard DC1, Ridley X-Fire, GT Zaskar 9r
This seems pretty good. Not too specific about frames but informative.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/track/?id=trackoverview00
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/?id=hakodatekeirin
https://www.cyclingnews.com/track/?id=trackoverview00
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/?id=hakodatekeirin
#4
Not-so-Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 805
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk, England
Bikes: Orbea Enol roadie, Fly Micromachine BMX, Fort Track fixed
Basically, proper track frames have steeper angles than normal and short back ends, for quicker handling (beware riding track bikes on the road, they're a bit scary sometimes). They have higher BBs to avoid pedal strike (so most people got for 1 or 2 sizes smaller than their normal road bike). This is a basic description of proper track geometry.
Some have forward-sloping TTs to get the bars down lower for better aero. The idea is taken to the limit with 650 front wheels, to get the front uber-low - see Moser's Hour bike; aka Funny Bike (this is what I consider to be pursuit style, but I may be wrong).
'Street geometry' is simply a bike with normal road geometry (whatever that is
) on a frame that looks like a track frame; it may just have track ends, it may have 120mm rear spacing, it may have no bottle braze-ons, but most will have a rear brake hole (but may not have any cable guides). A good example of this is the Surly Steamroller.
Hope this helped.
Some have forward-sloping TTs to get the bars down lower for better aero. The idea is taken to the limit with 650 front wheels, to get the front uber-low - see Moser's Hour bike; aka Funny Bike (this is what I consider to be pursuit style, but I may be wrong).
'Street geometry' is simply a bike with normal road geometry (whatever that is
) on a frame that looks like a track frame; it may just have track ends, it may have 120mm rear spacing, it may have no bottle braze-ons, but most will have a rear brake hole (but may not have any cable guides). A good example of this is the Surly Steamroller.Hope this helped.




