I am looking to buy my first bike and have found a Fuji Track Pro, 2003 Model, for $550 plus $35 shipping. According to the seller it has only been ridden a few times and is in excellent shape etc. Is this a good deal for a 6yr old bike? Also, i can pick up a Bianchi Pista Concept, 2007, for around $650, wheels not included. Which is the better buy? I am basically planning on just riding around town...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

WANT.

I am considering getting one of these to take to the track. Either one.

But if you aren't interested in the Concept, give me the info coz I want in! Drool.

so is roughly $600 a good price for the fuji??

yeah it's a good price...but it doesn't matter b/c you are probably going to wreck it and crumple up the aluminum frame anyways. just out of curiosity...why do you think it's a good idea to get one of the fastest, most fragile, expensive fixed gear bikes for your first bike? You can't run brakes and you will probably die. But at least you'll look cool!

If he can get a good deal on it though, why NOT get it?

It's about the same price as he would pay for an entry level bike (cept for the BD options).

You have to be a pretty BIG tard to go and wreck a frame first thing after getting it.

So yeah, wanna hook me up with that Concept?

because it is a horrible option for a FIRST bike. He might not know much about riding, and both of those frames are really fast and fragile like i said. Also, he can't run a brake, which despite what anyone in here says is a must for a new rider. He will need a brake. i mean, my god, he probably doesn't even know how to skid and he's taking a PC or FTP on the street? it's ridiculous.

For just running around town? I'd get something with a more relaxed geo. You can pick up Langsters for less than $600. Same goes for Surly Steamroller complete, Kona Paddywagon, Jamis Sputnik, etc. Those two bikes you mentioned would be too impractical, IMO.

Well is he wanting to ride it on the street or on the track, though?

Just around town.

Fuji Track & Pista Concept as a first bike and to just ride around the streets? Bad choices, IMO. I'd recommend a hybrid bike over those two.

Would I ride that frame around town? Yes.

Would everyone criticize me for doing so? Yes.

But IMO aluminum frames are more durable than people think; I have happily ridden aluminum builds on the street. You'd pay more than $600 for a Pista anyhow. If he had bought the bike NEW for $1500 I might say keep it track-only. But it is used and affordable.

Should he ride it around on the street? Well, I guess that depends on how good he is at cycling. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt though and say he isn't ********.

I bought a 05 Felt TK2 for about 400 as my first fixed gear bike and ride it on the streets without problems.

The only thing about getting a "flashy" bike is that you are going to be scared to lock it up around town.

I ride an aluminum roadie all over town. That's not what I was saying (don't know if your comment was directed at me). Aluminum is plenty durable and will get the job done. In fact, for quick jonts around town, I actually prefer aluminum.

But my point was that it's his first bike and getting started on a bike with no brakes, track geo is not a good idea. And it seems that the guy has no desire to hit up the tracks.

The thing is, any starter bike the general populace of BF would recommend would have fairly tight geometry. The Kilo TT, in particular, and every bike it rips off, has fairly tight geometry with a lot of toe overlap. The FTP is a lot flashier and I know the newer ones have an integrated seat post (not sure on the older ones) but other than that it would be fine to ride on the road IMO.

I do however agree that riding brakeless to start isn't wise though, although its overall difficulty is overrated. He could slap on one of those Keirin brakes maybe, although I haven't really taken a look at the fork on the FTP.

EDIT: Statement not really directed at anyone, I am mostly just running my mouth.

dont. thats my opinion. not for your first bike. get yourself a bikesdirect bike and find out if you would even want to fork out 600 dollars on something you might not even like.

between the 2, buy the fuji... it's already got wheels, it'll be ready to go. getting a bike in the mail that isn't complete and having to wait for something like wheels SUUUUUUUUUUCKS because when it comes the only thing you will want to do is get it together and on the road as soon as possible.

as for everyone's comments about whether or not it's a good bike, i say get a bike you are totally stoked on and ride the hell out of it. if you decide it's not your thing, you can pretty easily sell it for what you paid for it and be out nothing.

8 spokes. I has it. (The below pic is not my bike ...)



On a serious note though, how long do you think it takes to learn to ride brakeless when you are new to biking? I am not sure.

Ugh you want an aggressive and brakeless fixed gear as your first bike? Well just make sure you visit the MSPaint thread after you get out of the hospital.

10th crash, 2nd bike, and 50 square inches of skin. On the average.

But is this guy saying he’s new to fixed bikes or bikes period? For some reason, I was thinking the latter. Perhaps he saw some kids riding some tiiiite fixies and wanted to try it out. I’m guessing the bike will see more carpet time than asphalt. Could be wrong, though.

well I doni't know how long it takes to ride brakeless...probably a couple hours or so. depends on what you mean by "learn to ride brakeless" I learned to skid in an hour, but it doesn't mean I want to ride braekless in case of emergency. It's not about being able to stop brakeless, it's about being able to get out of an emergency situation w/o wrecking. If you're an experienced cyclist, it's your decision whether or not to run brakes, but if you are new, I think that it is very important for you to run brakes.

Well, imo, it just seems like a good deal. I suppose I give people too much credit though for being able to handle a track bike on their first go.

Please don't ****ing ride brakeless if you've never even been on a fixed gear.

Darwin Awards imo.

Fragile? ROFL.
Expensive? ROFL.
Fastest? ROFL.

Do you even know what you're talking about? Please stop spouting this stuff. It just isn't true.

I think he was just exaggerating.

Yes it's more fragile than steel. I am a huge proponent of aluminum and CF, but not in this situation.
Yes those 2 bikes are more expensive than most other production fixed gear bikes...
Yes those 2 bikes are going to be much quicker due to their light weight and agressive geometry

Everything I said is true. Excuse my use of superlatives, but I think you are comparing these bikes to pure CF track bikes or something, b/c they are definitely faster, more expensive, and more fragile than 90% of production fixed gear bikes (steamrollers, pistas, kilos, lagers, soma rush, swobo sanchez, masi especiale) do YOU know what you're talking about?