Kilo TT pro~ am I missing something?
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: four 1 OHHH , Maryland
Bikes: nagasawa, fuji track pro
well considering that some velodromes offer the pista as a loner bike for the day...i wouldn't be surprised....the ONLY requirements for bikes at some of the open days are drops and rear facing dropouts....
#28
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#30
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Joined: Jul 2008
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exactly. if bianchi pistas, schwinn madisons, fuji tracks (non pro = windsor the hour) are all out there, why wouldn't a Mercier Kilo TT?
#32
...
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#34
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: four 1 OHHH , Maryland
Bikes: nagasawa, fuji track pro
how can a bike company cater to what everyone wants. so should companies start offering stock ratios at 44/19 for those skids? or should they assume that you are a track racer and offer the 52/14 ratio?
this comment + the one about kilo TTs not being at the 'drome....
#36
#38
Thread Starter
centurion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11
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From: seattle
Bikes: centurion dave scott expert
The post was more to point out how odd that the standard gearing is 16tx48t for the kilo specifically, considering the target audience for the bike is for people who mainly ride street. Less of a post saying that the gearing is wrong or has too high gear inches. Especially, considering how bikesdirect does a thorough job in asking its customers what they should have on the bikes they put out.
jmio - i don't skid everywhere and don't care so much to go out of my way to calculate it. There is a thread that is stickied at the top of this forum that has a table that shows the # of skid patches to what gearing you have....
thetank - I am a cheapskate!
daybreak - I believe It was common sense that lead me to realize how odd the gearing is for a bike that is targeted to riders that do a lot of street riding.
entry track bike, being the standard gearing etc. are good points, but how many of us ride on the street everyday as well? I ride on the street A LOT more than I would a velodrome.
anyways some good replies
jmio - i don't skid everywhere and don't care so much to go out of my way to calculate it. There is a thread that is stickied at the top of this forum that has a table that shows the # of skid patches to what gearing you have....
thetank - I am a cheapskate!
daybreak - I believe It was common sense that lead me to realize how odd the gearing is for a bike that is targeted to riders that do a lot of street riding.
entry track bike, being the standard gearing etc. are good points, but how many of us ride on the street everyday as well? I ride on the street A LOT more than I would a velodrome.
anyways some good replies
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Rohnert Park, CA
Bikes: Pake track, Soma DoubleCross, LeMond Etape, Maruishi RoadAce 303
#42
666
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 656
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From: Minneapolis
Bikes: Raleigh 29er, IRO Angus frameset- random components, Giant Bowery, Raleigh Rush Hour frameset-future build
um, that's supposed to say '*****'.
Last edited by East Hill; 10-09-08 at 03:33 PM. Reason: don't try to get around the word filter
#43
your in the same stupid boat as the OP.
how can a bike company cater to what everyone wants. so should companies start offering stock ratios at 44/19 for those skids? or should they assume that you are a track racer and offer the 52/14 ratio?
this comment + the one about kilo TTs not being at the 'drome....
how can a bike company cater to what everyone wants. so should companies start offering stock ratios at 44/19 for those skids? or should they assume that you are a track racer and offer the 52/14 ratio?
this comment + the one about kilo TTs not being at the 'drome....

2.) I know that everybody on this forum completely loves the Kilo TT. It has a good price/quality ratio, if you keep in mind that it's a cheap bike with cheap parts. Quality? It's a relative concept, obviously. People should stop pretending that it's a real track bike when it's not, even if it has "real track geometry", no fender/bottlebosses and comes with drop bars. The link above to the Track Racing sub forum only proves my point.
#44
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Joined: Jul 2008
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I don't think anyone is pretending. It is an entry level track bike just as a bianchi pista, flite 100, fuji track, or schwinn madison, which are all found as rental bikes and have the same junky components when stock. If you go to the track, usually these lower end bikes are the norm. Never has anyone gone and seen a Nagasawa or Corima Cougar as a rental bike. They are always low level entry level track bikes.
Are they a Dolan Arc DF3 carbon race bike with a Mavic Comete wheelset? Hell no. But it does fit in the bottom of the bucket entry level track bikes category, regardless of what most people buy it for. The only place I have ever heard of with nice(r) rentals was ADT who has Felt TK2 for rent, but if you have ever bothered stepping into that facility, you'll see that their monetary budget is way higher then most velodromes.
Your assumption is kinda like saying "well most people who have a Bianchi Pista Concept never go to the track so why don't they take off the 48x16 since most people will just be using it to
-make into a tarck bike and tricks
-do skids (oh my god only 1 skid patch)
-add risers
-add other items such as top tube pads, bandanas and aero spokes....."
....since thats what many people with them do. (browse velospace)
Complaining about having to buy a cog is a moot point, because even if it came with 48x17, it would be a sh*tty stamped 17T cog you would have to change out anyway, thus requiring the purchase of a decent cog, regardless of teeth.
Everyone I know who rides a fized gear has a few sprockets anyway.
When I raced BMX for years, most complete BMX bikes came with 44x16. It was just a standard that the industry adhered to. How can you honestly know what gearing is gonna be best for most people? Thats absurd.
Just do a search for any of the gear preference posts. People post all kind of different ratios depending on riding style and where they live. I know a few folks who started on 48x16 and just kept it.
Why do they put those sh*tty Kenda tires on it that have to be upgraded?
Why don't they put a more comfortable seat on the bike from the start?
It's a 350 dollar bike. Resist from spending money on bullsh*t for one week and buy a cog.
Are they a Dolan Arc DF3 carbon race bike with a Mavic Comete wheelset? Hell no. But it does fit in the bottom of the bucket entry level track bikes category, regardless of what most people buy it for. The only place I have ever heard of with nice(r) rentals was ADT who has Felt TK2 for rent, but if you have ever bothered stepping into that facility, you'll see that their monetary budget is way higher then most velodromes.
Your assumption is kinda like saying "well most people who have a Bianchi Pista Concept never go to the track so why don't they take off the 48x16 since most people will just be using it to
-make into a tarck bike and tricks
-do skids (oh my god only 1 skid patch)
-add risers
-add other items such as top tube pads, bandanas and aero spokes....."
....since thats what many people with them do. (browse velospace)
Complaining about having to buy a cog is a moot point, because even if it came with 48x17, it would be a sh*tty stamped 17T cog you would have to change out anyway, thus requiring the purchase of a decent cog, regardless of teeth.
Everyone I know who rides a fized gear has a few sprockets anyway.
When I raced BMX for years, most complete BMX bikes came with 44x16. It was just a standard that the industry adhered to. How can you honestly know what gearing is gonna be best for most people? Thats absurd.
Just do a search for any of the gear preference posts. People post all kind of different ratios depending on riding style and where they live. I know a few folks who started on 48x16 and just kept it.
Why do they put those sh*tty Kenda tires on it that have to be upgraded?
Why don't they put a more comfortable seat on the bike from the start?
It's a 350 dollar bike. Resist from spending money on bullsh*t for one week and buy a cog.
Last edited by JaeOne3345; 10-09-08 at 06:22 AM.
#48
messenger
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 599
Likes: 1
From: WLA
Bikes: pinarellos and a colnago
do not complain to the Manuf. about skid patches.....
do not complain to the cop about the light you just ran.....
fixed riders don't complain-- Companys that mass produce know nothing about street riding--
they are trying to accomodate the market-- keep them guessing for their money.... and
keep your mouth quiet.... be a snob-- the smartest snob on the block-- let the spandex riders whine about their crp..................................................
do not complain to the cop about the light you just ran.....
fixed riders don't complain-- Companys that mass produce know nothing about street riding--
they are trying to accomodate the market-- keep them guessing for their money.... and
keep your mouth quiet.... be a snob-- the smartest snob on the block-- let the spandex riders whine about their crp..................................................
#49
48/16 is really tough for vegetarian/girl-panted/post-emo/American Apparel kids. Why doesn't BD understand their market and put out a bunch of bikes with cyclocross gearing and coaster brakes?
Oh, and by the way, skids are for kids. Real men carry a length of 2x4 and jam it in their spokes when they want to stop.
bf
Oh, and by the way, skids are for kids. Real men carry a length of 2x4 and jam it in their spokes when they want to stop.
bf
#50
do not complain to the Manuf. about skid patches.....
do not complain to the cop about the light you just ran.....
fixed riders don't complain-- Companys that mass produce know nothing about street riding--
they are trying to accomodate the market-- keep them guessing for their money.... and
keep your mouth quiet.... be a snob-- the smartest snob on the block-- let the spandex riders whine about their crp..................................................
do not complain to the cop about the light you just ran.....
fixed riders don't complain-- Companys that mass produce know nothing about street riding--
they are trying to accomodate the market-- keep them guessing for their money.... and
keep your mouth quiet.... be a snob-- the smartest snob on the block-- let the spandex riders whine about their crp..................................................
Also, there are messengers in West LA? I'm honestly curious, since I use to visit LA a lot and never seen one.
Last edited by kringle; 10-09-08 at 12:59 PM.




