Is a track bike suitable for winter road training

kenbaxter

Thinking about building a fixed that can double up as a winter training bike and also be used on the track. I understand track bikes are a steeper geometry (?). If so are they suitable for longer rides on the road or is a fixed with a road geometry more suitable.

I may have this all wrong but why couldn;t you ride a fixed on the road with a front brake and then simply undo the brake, swap the bars for a plain set and voila a track bike?

Thanks.

Slow Downcp

A track bike will be less stable on the road, plus it won't have drilling for brakes. The problem with a road bike on the track is that it may not have the clearance round the bends. Also, there may be gear cable bosses etc protruding which is a no no as it damages the boards of you come off.

explosifpete

A track bike will have very tight geometry won't be very comfortable, you wont be able to run mudgaurds or a bottle cage , will cost loads as every londoner wants one and lots of themn there isn't the room for a front brake anyway!
I would recomend a conversion like mine (it for sale £300 almost new and better bits that these) or make one

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd20 ... kes016.jpg

or a fuji track

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec016010

or if you have the cash
http://www.condorcycles.com/pista.html

explosifpete

A track bike will have very tight geometry won't be very comfortable, you wont be able to run mudgaurds or a bottle cage , will cost loads as every londoner wants one and lots of themn there isn't the room for a front brake anyway!
I would recomend a conversion like mine (it for sale £300 almost new and better bits that these) or make one

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd20 ... kes016.jpg

or a fuji track

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuj ... e-ec016010

or if you have the cash
http://www.condorcycles.com/pista.html

mostly harmless

If the handling is sharp enough for the track it'll be sketchy on the road and if it's relaxed enough for the road it'll feel like an oil tanker on the track.

Mudgards will look silly on the track and you'll probably have to clean it anyway. The major advantage of running a fixed gear bike in the winter is you don't have to clean it.

Gearing: you'll want ~70" on the road and probably another 15" or so for the track.

You should be able to put together a winter fixed bike for ~£100 and get something nice for the track.

kenbaxter

Ah good point - hadn't thought about difference in gear size between road and track.

Thanks. There goes another brilliant idea

andyp

It's a piece of cake to swap over gearing, either have a double fixed hub and turn the wheel round or change the sprockets when you get to the track.

Ride a 48 tooth front ring and have a 18 tooth for street riding and a 14 for track which should give you perfect gearing for both.

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

On the other hand I've been riding an old track bike as an all-year round commuter for the last 3 or 4 years. Sometimes it's got a brake on it, sometimes it hasn't. Usually I only use it for short hops and pottering around town, but it gets the occassional 2 hour long commute. It doesn't do the hilly bits very well though.

Cheers, Andy

Ste_S

kenbaxter wrote:

Ah good point - hadn't thought about difference in gear size between road and track.

Thanks. There goes another brilliant idea

Still doable. You want an old style road/path machine, the Bob Jackson Vigorelli looks like a modern equivalent. Mudguards + front and back brake for winter, take the mudguards off and run a single brake with a removable top lever during the summer

I've been riding an old road/path machine with clearence for mud guards and drilled for front and back brakes during track league this summer, not had any problems