Underrated track frame? [pake french 75 content]
 

Hi bfssfg,
I know it's late, but that's when I tend to be on eBay and such looking for a new lightweight track frame. I thought I'd seen pretty much all the options until tonight. What I've been looking for is a light weight frame (most likely aluminum) with geometry that I could take to the track if I want in the $0-600 price range.

I ended up finding this - a Pake French 75 - which sells new with a carbon fork for $499.99
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-3773699254952_2179_0

-The frame is 3.5 lbs of 7005 Aluminum (pretty sure this is on the light side of things) and the fork is 1.4 lbs uncut.
-Seat tube and head tube angles = 75, bb drops 58mm, and wheelbase is 984 mm, and rake is 38mm (measurements are for 59cm)
-It's in my price range

Is there anything I'm missing here or is this the frame I've been looking for??

4130 frame set $180 on eBay dont know how much you weigh or why your riding so if that aluminum will withstand your weight and style go for it.

I weigh 165 and I don't subject my bike to anything worse than rough pavement (i.e. no jumps, tricks, riding off curbs). I figure I won't be too hard on it.

What does this even mean?

That frame looks cool. I thought about getting one and building it up with spare parts and clinchers to have as a backup/loaner bike for the track.

I've wondered about that frame for a while too. It looks decent and I'm surprised no one here on SSFG has one.

You could always wait for the 2012 Dodici Gara to drop too.

I looked into this before buying a Mash. $500 is just so much money to pay for a Pake with zero available customer reviews.

There is a Mash Bolt on VS for $700 right now, and a Masi Coltello for $300. With so many aluminum frame options floating around why not get something that you can at least read reviews of?

Make the leap so we can have reviews to read. Slightly OT but I always loved the blue that pake uses on their rum runner/this.

A few places online are selling them for 400-450. Honestly by the time you buy a leader + fork you'll be spending about the same if not more.

You can get the same bike for $499 at Somafab
looks really nice!

Would have been nice if I could have found that fork for my FTP

For reference my 55cm leader 725 frame weights 4.32 lbs, and my c'dale criterium (road frame), weights 3.15 lbs...

Isn't the Coltello a road frame?
also @scrod - I looked at the gara and as much as I like the idea of an italian frame, the geometry seems pretty relaxed in comparison (73deg head/seat tube angles) Also I can imagine it's a little heavier since it doesn't have a carbon fork.

I'm starting to think about calling one of the bike shops that sells it and asking if they've sold any or have heard any feedback about them.

Maybe if they haven't been able to move any I could hagle the price a bit >:D

A 725 or 721 wouldn't be a bad choice either IMO.

Nope: http://velospace.org/files/VelospaceMASI-.jpg

ok. The one I saw on ebay had vertical dropouts.

The top tubes on Coltellos are so thin!

Not sure what you're looking at but the Dodici Gara comes with an Alpina carbon fork.

Nice.

Fixed.

Some guy at our schools bike "garage" has one. Looked just alright. I am surprised no one has one on the forums either though. I think I've only seen one thread about it.

That's one expensive pake.... I think said frameset is not as popular as others because pake is known as a economy brand and people willing to spend that kind of money already are willing to drop a couple more dollars for a better known frame.

But if the price is right for what you think it's worth and your budget; got for it, it looks pretty solid. Time for some variety here! :thumb:

I've been curious about that frameset forever, let us know if you find any reviews or any info on it. Also Jason Clary won the redbulll ride style event riding one, but that doesn't say much as far as durability for riding it daily and stuff like that.

Oh and one thing I notice. the inside of the dropouts aren't a replaceable plate, just the material of the frame.

According to their site they're replaceable

http://www.pakebikes.com/product_ima...A2E_detail.JPG

oops double post.