Strip them down and have the bodies anodized.

Or have a machine shop make new bodies out of black aluminum.




(bad joke)

Should I get Road Drops or Pursuit Bullhorns?

Should I have a 48-16 or 48-15 ratio for my commute/joy rides?

If you are not riding brakeless definitely get 48-16, or if you are go up to 48-17. See:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...imer-for-Newbs
I'm in the minority here but I prefer bullhorns. It makes a difference what bike you have.

Road drops + brake hoods, or just road drops? Pursuit bars are ok IMO, but for me, the downward slopes aren't usable as a hand position, so I'm left with two hand positions. Had to flip my stem to make the pursuit bars comfy for more than a half hour or so in the saddle... Road drops with hoods offer the most versatile option IMO.

As for gearing, go with what feels good.

drops hoods, 72ish GI and learn how to spin. 48/16 is annoying to commute with because of all the stops.

already have two sets of R540s

I was pretty out of shape when I got my track bike(it was my first bike in probably 10 years, and I had pretty weak legs/core). It came with a 15t(x48chainring) and I found that too hard to peddle to be honest. It was alright on the flats, but accelerating, hills(even mild ones) and headwinds really blew. I switched to an 18t cog and it made a world of difference. MUCH more comfortable and accelerating feels great. And spinning downhill doesn't feel sketchy until about the mid to upper 20's , and that's probably because I still have bad technique.

So if you are at average/poor shape in regards to leg strength/endurance - I would recommend going with the 16t(hell, I would say even higher for "commute/joy ride".) Switching my cog from 15t to 18t was the best thing I've done to my bike by far.

I run 49/18 on my commuter and I love it.

Should I buy this for $200? http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/bik/3004739582.html
http://images.craigslist.org/5F25M25...cf40bd1803.jpg

If it fits.

Should I sell the fuji track pro to finish the build of the guru below?
http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/u...ixedgears2.jpg

That is also my eighthinch which i would still have. So should I sell the fuji to build this (going to get rival group)?
http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/u...-34-12_461.jpg

sell the FTP, unless you race track.

derp

Leader 722ts in silver, or grey Pake rum runner. THE DECISIONS

Which is cheapest?

If leader, then leader. However, if the pake is only like $20-30 more expensive, get the leader (assuming the pake doesn't come with a fork - if it does, pake).

Those frames have a pretty considerable difference in geo though too.

Is geometry something you can figure out how the bike is going to ride just from looking at the charts, or is it just a trial and error type of deal?

Edit: Nvm, Google is cool, but I still dont get it :(

Should I go the route of shorts or bibs? I don't really get whats so different between the two, and I was going to buy a pair this summer. Any input?

bib. always. every time. forever.

I have never rode with bibs, but I have had absolutely no problems with the Performance Century shorts I got. They have nice padding, little grip things on the inside of the waist and the legs, so the shorts stay put pretty well. I hate having extra layers on, and I don't think I'd appreciate all the extra fabric that bibs provide up top, along with a shirt over it. I'd like to try them some day, but they always seem to cost twice was shorts cost, and that's a lot of bank on if I'm not sure I'll like em.

Bibs are more comfortable, there is no waistband to pinch when you are leaned over. But they are significantly more inconvient.

Noticeable difference between shorts and bibs at all?

Edit: Kayce answered that one for me. Damnit, now I have to go to my lbs and give them some more money.

bibs stay in place. and when the back of your jersey rides up a little when your pockets are empty, your back doesn't get exposed like with shorts. so no cold spots, and no weird sunburn.

Also, a side note. The fabric that the suspenders are made out of, is not the same as the rest of the bib. It isn't constricting at all. Its a really light weight mesh usually.

That helps a ton. Thanks guys

i bought my bibs as love2pedal.com with a 5% discount, and theyre great

Should I sell my Leader 722TS to fund a Dolan Seta long distance riding build?

I kind of feel like the 722 would be more comfortable for long distance riding.

That being said, I love riding distance on my Kagero and will soon be building up a 722 for short/easy/errand rides.

thing is about a bib, if you buy a cheap one, instead of being more comfortable, you've just given it a lot of extra places to rub you. if you get a bib, get a a decent one at worse.

I love my bibs when I actually feel like dealing with them

id probably choose the leader, but I would selfishly like to see more pake builds