Hack for the track...

phy2sll2
phy2sll2 Posts: 680
edited May 2011 in Road buying advice
Hi all, need your help and collective knowledge. Here's my problem (pretty sure it's not unusual, but searching didn't turn up anything useful):

I recently migrated from the world's crummiest flat-barred hybrid to a full carbon racer. I am very much enjoying riding it but there's no way I'm going to be taking it out in the wet / winter weather. Likewise, I don't really feel like I can ever go back to the hybrid long term.

So I'm now on the lookout for a winter trainer / wet days commute bike.

To complicate matters further, I'm also starting to get into track. I say that: I've been to one beginners session! But I really enjoyed it and have every intention of spending many more hours down there. I'd hate to incur the coaches' wrath, turning up to ride on a bike with an illegal seat-post angle or something..

Anyway, is there a bike that will do all of these things? For not a great deal of money (sub £500)? Second hand is fine.

Comments

  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,741
    which track? I would ask the coaches about what is acceptable - dunno the rules about outdoor tracks but for the indoor ones you would be shot if you took an outdoor bike in there,

    I would say a set of track specific wheels may be the answer

    LFGSS would be a good place to get second hand bike(s) but you can get the fuji track from the velodromeshop.org for sub 350 quid and that is track ready
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • dawebbo
    dawebbo Posts: 456
    edited May 2011
    Not really.

    (a) Track bikes aren't allowed brakes / mudguards (which you'd presumably want for commuting / winter trainer)
    (b) You'd most likely want a different gear length for track than you would for commuting.
    (c) Training* with fixed gear is limited, especially if riding in groups

    Why not just hire one for a season at herne hill and buy a cheap geared training bike?

    *on the road
  • phy2sll2
    phy2sll2 Posts: 680
    Herne Hill so not so much of an issue...

    Can you fit brakes (and guards?) to a Fuji Track?
  • phy2sll2
    phy2sll2 Posts: 680
    dawebbo wrote:
    Not really.

    (a) Track bikes aren't allowed brakes / mudguards (which you'd presumably want for commuting / winter trainer)
    (b) You'd most likely want a different gear length for track than you would for commuting.
    (c) Training with fixed gear is limited, especially if riding in groups

    Why not just hire one for a season at herne hill and buy a cheap geared training bike?

    Yes.. I think this'd probably be the way to go. I can afford £50 a year to hire a track bike but what about the 'training benefits' of riding fixed?
  • dawebbo
    dawebbo Posts: 456
    I think the fact that you've used inverted comma's says all that needs to be said about that!
  • phy2sll2
    phy2sll2 Posts: 680
    dawebbo wrote:
    I think the fact that you've used inverted comma's says all that needs to be said about that!

    :lol: point taken. Given that that's no longer a requirement - can anyone recommend a vanilla winter trainer? I've heard good and bad things about the Ribbles. What else should I be considering?
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,741
    I've thought about this too, my brothers club do a winter session at manchester and I hire a bike - yet I have a fixed gear that I commute on

    the way I would have to do it is remove the front brake, clean it *really* thoroughly, either put a different set of wheels on or swap tyres and use a smaller cog on the other side of the hub

    given the above it's simpler to use the hire bikes
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight

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