What track bike?

AlanW

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

I've also got a fuji pro on my shortlist.

I have the Fuji Track Pro, super bike and great spec for the money.

SteveR_100Milers

What about cutting the seat tube - doesn't this limit its re-sale value??

I am tempted towards getting a Dolan track champs, especially as I can customise it at no extra cost.

AlanW

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

What about cutting the seat tube - doesn't this limit its re-sale value??

Only if you want to sell it to someone who is leg length.

Joking aside, and being totally honest, I didn't even take that into consideration when I ordered it. Only when it arrived and I had my hacksaw in my hand did it cross my mind, then I just thought sod it!

Bikes are worth bugger all second hand anyway, plus I would consider myself to have a average length inside leg, so I cut it down.

But, I have kept the section that I have cut off, and looking at it, you "could" add a 25mm section of it on top of the seat tube (as a sort of spacer) and the clamp assembly would still secure it ok, if that makes sense??

mrushton

Anyone got/tried the BMC Track Machine? Looks v.nice with that carbon/alu skeleton

Mark Elvin

Velonutter wrote:

Mark Elvin wrote:

dave5n wrote:

Check out Varno's V-Sprint range.

Seriously nice bikes and astonishingly good values too.

E-mail v-sprint@live.co.uk

Just bought one of these.....

How much did you end up paying for the bike?

£320 without tyres, tubes, chain.

Velonutter

@ Mark Elvin

Seems Good value there Mark and it looks really cool, have you ridden it yet?

Mark Elvin

Velonutter wrote:

@ Mark Elvin

Seems Good value there Mark and it looks really cool, have you ridden it yet?

Only very breifly, feels good though.

SteveR_100Milers

I have decided on the Felt TK2 2011 spec, though I want to swap the Cameron Mayer bars for something more conventional and suitable for sprinting.

Toonraid

@ SteveR_100Milers A friend of mine is riding a Seta and she loves it (young track sprinter) which is odd as the Seta is more of an endurance track bike with a softer carbon and taller HT (compared to Forza or DF3) she did come off an old Merckx alu frame so i guess anything new would have been an improvement. But I do know of guys who ride both the DF3 & Forza models at various international events (Endurance & sprinters) and they love them - i think they offer great value and doubt you'd get a better frame even if you spend 50% more. The good thing with Dolans is that they are proper track frames with proper track geometry - most track frames are really road TT frames with narrowed rear - a good tell tale sign is the BB drop - track frames have a BB drop of 45 - 50mm to allow for crank clearance on banking where as road frames stand at 60mm - of course fork rake and a whole load of other things play a part too but BB drop is an indication and shows if the manufacturer has designed the mould specifically for track or is just milking their old road moulds - for ref see Cervelo R3 vs T3 (former is road TT model and latter is supposed to be track but geometry is identical!!!

Track Champion is great if you want to keep the price low - the alu pinarello's that BC is using for their juniors don't look like anything pina has on their web site but they do look very similar to Dolan Track Champion so wonder if its just re-sprayed due to sponsorship agreement with Pina!

SteveR_100Milers

Toonraid wrote:

@ SteveR_100Milers A friend of mine is riding a Seta and she loves it (young track sprinter) which is odd as the Seta is more of an endurance track bike with a softer carbon and taller HT (compared to Forza or DF3) she did come off an old Merckx alu frame so i guess anything new would have been an improvement. But I do know of guys who ride both the DF3 & Forza models at various international events (Endurance & sprinters) and they love them - i think they offer great value and doubt you'd get a better frame even if you spend 50% more. The good thing with Dolans is that they are proper track frames with proper track geometry - most track frames are really road TT frames with narrowed rear - a good tell tale sign is the BB drop - track frames have a BB drop of 45 - 50mm to allow for crank clearance on banking where as road frames stand at 60mm - of course fork rake and a whole load of other things play a part too but BB drop is an indication and shows if the manufacturer has designed the mould specifically for track or is just milking their old road moulds - for ref see Cervelo R3 vs T3 (former is road TT model and latter is supposed to be track but geometry is identical!!!

Track Champion is great if you want to keep the price low - the alu pinarello's that BC is using for their juniors don't look like anything pina has on their web site but they do look very similar to Dolan Track Champion so wonder if its just re-sprayed due to sponsorship agreement with Pina!

Thanks for the advice! I have already got a 2011 Felt TK2, which works just great, am really pleased with it. How exactly do you measure BB drop - from which point to where exactly?

Eddy S

Steve,

BB height is the measurement that you are looking for.

Stand the bike upright on its wheels and measure from the centre of the BB axle down to the ground - you are looking for 11 - 11.25 inches (approx 27-29 cm) which will give you ample clearance on the banking with 165/170 cranks.

Give me a call if you want to talk more about it.

Toonraid

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

Thanks for the advice! I have already got a 2011 Felt TK2, which works just great, am really pleased with it. How exactly do you measure BB drop - from which point to where exactly?

BB drop is the vertical distance between the axis of the wheel dropouts (i.e. where hub hub axle is fitted) to BB centre best to check manufacturer's geometry chart to figure it out - You could measure the BB height too but its not so accurate as wheel/tyre choice and inflation all affect the measurement. I was just pointing out that track bikes have a different geometry to road bikes as they are intended to be used differently - BB height is just one of those measurements. Even on track frames have different geometries for different disciplines - a sprinter would have a very different requirement from a frame as he would be putting out over 2000 w of power so frame stiffness/chainstay clearance and higher relative BB height would be his primary requirements bearing in mind that they use a crank length in the region of 165 - 170 mm while someone doing points race would be putting out much less power and therefore will not need such high stiffness but given the event length may appretiate additional comfort and they will be running a 170 - 175 crank length. A pursuit specialist will be looking for str8 line stability and aerodynamics and if like Wiggins they will be on 180mm cranks then the additional clearance might come in handy in Team Pursuit.

paddlemyowncanoe

Are Manchester rigid about the 165mm crank length rule or are they flexible if BB height is generous?

SteveR_100Milers

Eddy S wrote:

Steve,

BB height is the measurement that you are looking for.

Stand the bike upright on its wheels and measure from the centre of the BB axle down to the ground - you are looking for 11 - 11.25 inches (approx 27-29 cm) which will give you ample clearance on the banking with 165/170 cranks.

Give me a call if you want to talk more about it.

Its 29cm on mine.