carleton

(frame/fork only)
Seta Carbon - on sale for $890 (only size 56 remaining)
https://www.dpmsports.com/dolan/03-track/seta.html


Dolan Track Champion on sale for $650 new
https://dpmsports.com/dolan/03-track/champion.html


Dolan Precursa - on sale for $350
https://www.dpmsports.com/dolan/03-track/precursa.html


I've ordered from them a few times. They are the US distributor for Dolan having a blowout sale. Excellent service. Quick shipping.

danilo

Dolan track champion looks nice!

rpf

I've been considering one of the Precursa frames myself to get me started on the track, in N.I we can get them direct from Dolan's ebay shop for a stupidly small amount of cash either as a frame or module. I'll most likely just get the frame as I want to pick up a fork and post from my friends shop.

I'm hearing nothing but good things about them and I know a few t/t guys who swear by dolans frames.

Have you any experience with the Precursa Carleton ?

I'll be visiting the velodrome for the first time this thursday to have a chat with the local track club and to enroll in a beginners class but i'm interested in your considered opinion.

regards .

carleton

The Precursa is a fine frame. My teammate raced one for 2.5 seasons till he upgraded to a DF3. He's around 6'2", 200lbs, all-around style of rider. He didn't have any complaints that I'm aware of. Only upgraded because he wanted something carbon.

rpf

Many thanks Carleton,

You preempted one of my main concerns actually, I’m measuring and weighing identically to your friend and was concerned about crushing the thing like a pop can ! I'm more suited to rugby than cycling but with a bit of work I canturn mass into power I hope.

I have just learned today, as fortune would have it, that the velodrome's loaner bikes are all Precursa's so I will get a great opportunity to try them out before I invest. It just seemed a little “too good to be true” to me that I can pick up a frame for under 100 pounds that would stand the test but then again the frame is a basic , functional object with very little frills.

It's a pretty frightening proposition , I’m in my comfort zone on the road at my own pace so this will challenge me. Just what I need as I’m plateauing out there.

I appreciate the reply and recommendation , very helpful indeed.

spazegun2213

what size did he ride? seems like the 58's would be a bit small for someone his size (and mine, as I'm 6'2" 195). But if he fit, I may just suck it up and buy something nice as my first bike knowing that it will last me MANY years.

carleton

He has 58cm Precursa and 59cm DF3.

I'm 6'1" with a longish torso (32" inseam for pants) and I also have a 59cm DF3.

spazegun2213

Does he want to sell that precursa lol

After looking at that photo of you df3, it looks like your saddle was sky high! I guess I don't know enough about fit right now to know how I could make it work for me. I'm sure I could as I'm 6'2" with a shorter torso than most people my height and 34"+ inseam.

TMonk

i'm like this close --||-- to buying a Pre Cursa for my track build

carleton

The seatpost looks high because the top tube is very low...because it has a small head tube. That's just how they look.

Here is one of Chris Hoy's DF3s. He's listed as 6'1".




If you want to know how a bike will fit before you buy it, find a good bike shop that has a "fit bike". They can replicate the geometry of any bike on the fit bike and you can sit on it to see how it feels. I've done that before. That's a good way to be sure you get the right size. It may cost $50-75 for the service, but you are sure about your purchase. This is great especially if you are between sizes.

carleton

Also, a shop may charge $100-250 (and up) for full-on fitting services on the fit bike. This is because a proper bike fit takes an hour or two. If you mention to them, "I just want you to put this geometry on the fit bike and I sit on it for a few minutes to see how it feels." you should be able to get away for A LOT cheaper.

Email them the geometry ahead of time and they could have it waiting for you.

spazegun2213

Carleton, Thanks for the info, I just might do that I go back and forth daily about buying vs building a bike, lol.

TampaPooch

I have a Pre Cursa frame for work now and it's perfect for the price. Great geometry, very light, and super sturdy. I got hit on the road a few months ago and destroyed my front rim, however the fork was perfectly fine. I highly recommend the frame. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

Jaytron

I have a Steel Leader 722 right now, Kinda want to get a Dolan Pre Cursa... I wonder how much weight I'll save moving to an AL frame? That price is just too good to say no to... Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Is the Dolan Pre Cursa a better value than a 2012 Fuji Track Pro 2.0? The Frameset for that is pretty cheap right now too.

seanifred

i love my pre cursa. it's my daily when it isn't raining. the low price in no way reflects poor quality. even if the bianchi super pista were the same price, i would still get the dolan.

carleton

The Precursa is a nice, entry level racing frame. Definitely a great value.

Make a new thread (with links to the options) about your bike search. Start with a handful of options, don't just say, "What should I get? "

Things that are very important in my book:
- NON-proprietary seatpost. 27.2 is best and easiest. Or some other round size that is easy to get.
- No integrated seatposts. Solves no problems while creating many.
- Decent or good geometry for racing
- Stiffness (if you want to sprint)

Notice that I didn't say Carbon

I think the Fuji's have a proprietary seatpost system.

Slavic

I bought a Precursa after seeing this thread the first time, and it's a total bargain. Standard parts (36/45 headset, 27.2 seatpost, 31.8 seatpost collar) make it pretty easy to upgrade over the stock frameset parts if you so desire. Not sure on the availability of replacement track end plates though--the stock plates are aluminum, rather than the stainless steel plates you see much more commonly on aluminum frames.

Jaytron

Done and done
Hmmm, this would be good info. Does anyone know if they're replaceable?