$1,000 Challenge
 

Alrighty, here we go....

My friend Dan was just told by his wife that he is allowed to spend no more than $1,000 on a nice track bike. Dan has been riding fixed gear for about 2 years now and has been using a converted Panasonic. This thing has been trashed so many times on Philly's streets that its hardly worth putting anymore money into it. Dan feels he has "Paid his dues" riding a crappy bike for this long and would really like to treat himself to a "True Trackbike" as he says. I figure he would be better off getting a Fuji track bike or something else which is more "road friendly"... but he is deadset on something better. You can include both "already built up bikes" or "these are the parts I would buy and put together" type stuff.

If you had a $1,000 budget, what would you be riding?

Both Dan and I ride everyday in the city, so this thing will have to be able to stand up to the Philly streets.

thanks!

Based on what you described of your friends riding: nothing that would be delicate. It'd have to be something pretty durable. I'm not sure if some ultra light track bike would punch the mark.

A Cuevas track bike built by the old man himself (Fransico Cuevas Sr.RIP).Full Campy Super Record, Mavic Gel 280 rims, San Marco Regal Saddle, Cinelli Bar and Stem, Regina CX chain,Binda Double straps

S/F,
CEYA!

For true budgetary compliance, as well as quality componentry, I would go with a Surly Steamroller.

Heavy(er) guage steel, comfortable geometry, and typically affordable as a frame. Then build this up with a mix of parts, new or used. Potentially recycle some of that Panansonic.

So:

Steamroller frame: $350

Mid level roadie bar, stem, seatpost: $70-80

Good Wheelset: $250-300

Sugino 75 crank & BB: $150-175

Saddle, Headset, etc.: $100

That should put you at the 1 grand mark pretty easily. Another option would be to check out some IRO frames for comparative thrifty pricing.

-Pete

The Surly Steamroller and Soma Rush are both great choices. If you want to get picky, neither are true "track" frames, but if you're riding on the street the slightly longer frames feel pretty good. Both are drilled for brakes, if that's your thing. The Rush is handmade in the same factory as IRD road bikes, out of Reynolds 631 steel, and weighs 4 lbs. The Steamroller has wide stays (for all kinds of tires), a nice lugged fork, and while slightly heavier, is bomb proof. Each are built and designed better (IMO) than any of the low-end track offerings (Fuji, Bianchi, KHS.) Obviously they cost more, frame only for about $500. Hopefully Dan can swap over some parts, and spend most of the other $500 on wheels.

a steam roller (or IRO) with miche groupo and nitto bars + stem lace the hubs to ma3 rims.

I'd start with an On One Il Pompino. Or the new Kogswell fixed frame that's due out next. Does he want a true thack frame or an uber tough ride it every day city bike? Yes those two overlap a bit, but there's a lot in both groups that fall away from the center.

I agree with all said above - go with a reliable but not too flashy frame, then splurge on the parts. Surly frames are plenty good enough for street riders, and dependable, and whatever they lack in aesthetic appeal can be overcome with good-looking cranks, wheels, and bars.

what about the de bernardi? that's what i'm saving up for, and i've been figuring on spending just over $1000.

I like the deBenardi (since I've seen Skitbraviking's and 165's in person) but have issues with that paint job. Flaky/chippy. It is a nice frame though.

I'd have to second the the new Kogswell that's coming out - looks like a nice mix of track meets street for $400. If you love that lugged look, then that's the way to go.

i can't find any info on kogswell online. got a site?

never mind, apparently all this school hasn't taught me to spell...

i saw 2 waterfords at the veloswap when it was here in chicago.
Each for 650 and sweet as hell.

jeff

When all was said and done, I built up my De Bernardi for about a grand. It was my spring/summer project.

De Ber frame 400
Miche group 300 (cranks, chainring, bb, headset, seat post, chain, cog, hubs, pedals)
Open Pro rims 120 (pr)
spokes 32
Nitto stem 35
Conti 2000s 40
17t Miche cog 25
clip n flips free
old spds free
old Selle free

That got me on the road, and happy. Waaay better ride than my Shogun fixie. Bikes are never "done" though, and since then I have switched the spds out for Crank Bros. Candys. At some point I will write a review of the Miche group 'cause I have mixed feelings about it.

He should be patient, watch ebay,craigslist,fixedgearfever, various swapmeets, etc and find something old and nice... Used isn't such a bad thing with track stuff, especially if it's steel. If the bike is actually coming from a track racer, and only ridden on the track it should be in really nice condition.

I have three track bikes, a Tommasini, a Pogliaghi, and a Cannondale, and didn't pay close to a thousand for any of them. Good parts on all as well, full campy on the dale and the Pog, the Tommasini is set up with Dura Ace 10mm.

If he wants a "true track" bike, then those surlys, somas, etc. are pretty much out of the question. If he must have a new bike, I'd look at the fuji track pros which you can get complete with nice parts for a little over a thousand. Or maybe the Bianchi Pista Concept or Cannondale Track, but both new would be a bit more than a grand probably, depending upon how he built them up. There are a couple of Pista Concepts on ebay right now though...

why does he want to get a nice, new bike just so IT can be trashed on phillys streets?

I'd keep what i gots...

The last bike I built up was just under $900, and it was pretty basic.
But, it was definitely worth it. And it was totally abused with no remorse.

2nd hand track frame with Tange-sakai headset, Campy Xenon cranks, Campy Chorus BB, Systems EX hubs, Mavic OP's, DT spokes, Ritchy seatpost, Fizik saddle, 3TTT stem, Profile airwing bars, Cinelli bartape, Conti tires, Specialized tubes, Miche chain (not so great) , Tranzmissions cog, Dura ace lockring, TA chainring, singlestack chainring bolts, WPD pedals, the brake I already had.

http://fixedgeargallery.com/2004/d/milnes1.jpg

Dunno if that helps, just felt like posting :rolleyes:

Does he like red?

He can have my '79 Paramount / Campy 60cm for a cool G...Seriously!

Tsunami Track Frame and Carbon fork
Ext Desc 7005 aluminum alloy, 120mm rear spacing, carbon fork with 1 1/8" steer. Headset is included.
Price $295.00
Shimano 105 Cranks
Price $72.00
Size 170mm 172.5mm 175mm
Item # bb009
Description FSA Ultimax Titanium BB
Ext Desc Carbon body, alloy cups.
Price $60.00
Velo Seat With Ti Rails
Ext Desc Ti rails. These are blems. The chrome plating did not come out as well as Velo would have liked. There is a cutaway hole in the center of the seat.
Price $18.00
Tsunami Fast Foward Seat Post
Ext Desc 27.2
Price $22.00
3T Alloy Threadless Stem
Ext Desc Forged alloy stem
Price $10.00
br040
Description Guizzo Road Bar
Ext Desc 7075 alloy bar. Anatomic ergo bend, 31.8mm clamp dia. 210g.
Price $28.00

So far $505. All from one web site. Still needs wheels n gears, but it is looking doable.

Wow, you guys really went all out on this.... prices, locations. its Great... now I just have to get Dan to look at this thread (when he gets his computer hooked up). He was talking about getting the Pista Concept, but last we saw it was about $1,300... but keep the suggestions coming! have fun with it. you guys make me smile.

gunnar makes a high endish track frame that I likes the look of.

http://www.gunnarbikes.com/

i cant say enough about spicer cycles. gene builds nice bikes, aluminum and steel frames. the aluminum frames are very reasonably priced, as are the steel frames. whats awesome about gene, besides the fact that he's super nice and his customer service is amazing, is that you buy the track components from him he'll put the stuff on at his shop and not charge for labor or anything. i just recently got an aluminum track frame/steel fork from him and can't be happier. as a matter of fact, my house burned down on sunday with both my bikes in it and the spicer was buried under a ton of water, sheetrock and ash and it came out unscathed for the most part. i also have a steamroller that i love (yeah it made it out of the fire as well), but if he wants a "true" track frame gene's stuff is awesome. go to www.spicercycles.com for info on his stuff.