Used track bike - what to look for?
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby march83 » Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:22 pm
We don't need a lot of things, but that doesn't mean they're not nice to have. If xplora wants a powermeter, let him have a powermeter, geez.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby dalai47 » Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:55 pm
Amen to that!march83 wrote:We don't need a lot of things, but that doesn't mean they're not nice to have.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Cossie Phil » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:23 pm
Cheers,
Phil.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Xplora » Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:57 pm
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby foo on patrol » Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:57 am
Foo
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Frostee » Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:35 am
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby dalai47 » Mon Aug 31, 2015 10:28 am
https://www.facebook.com/groups/567017906702302/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Frostee wrote:Could someone please post or PM a link for the track sales facebook page? I cant find it.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby dalai47 » Mon Aug 31, 2015 10:42 am
I went same size initially. Now with a 57cm TT (instead of 56cm) as my new bars have less stack and reach than my previous bars (Scatto's vs Deda Pistas).Cossie Phil wrote:My experience with track frame size vs road is slightly smaller for track. I ride a 58 on the road and a 57 on the track for a similar height to you.
Ideally get something mid-range second hand like the Dolan KGB bought for his brother. Will get you a feel for the track without breaking the bank and give you a few seasons to figure out what you want / need.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby g-boaf » Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:58 am
Well, you'll only be looking at power after the race, not before it. Because you can't have a Garmin/bike computer on your bars, and mounting it on the seat post as I've noticed some people try to do might be questionable too depending on the comm at the event and their view on it.Xplora wrote:When minhyy is offering frames etc it's useful to take stock of the options and opportunities, because track bikes are very very different and I wouldn't ride regularly as a blush and giggle affair, I would train and race and I suspect that power to measure progress as thr races are shorter and more intense would be helpful to me. If I could put a bike with power onto the track for 400-600 why not
A lot of the local races all tend to be fairly short, blink and you miss it (or rather, eliminated), so power meter for that is not really that necessary unless you don't want your PMC graph being messed up. My track bike is about the same size as my road bikes (54cm Cerv P5, 54cm Giant TCR SL1, medium Specialized Langster Pro).
Look for any decent alloy track bike. Felt like what Cossie Phil has, or a Langster Pro, or a Dolan. A lot of people really don't ride super exotic track bikes anyway - and they still go alright. If you weren't so tall - you could have borrowed my Langster Pro for a while.
You see quite a lot of spindly retro looking frames getting about with strong riders on them who can dish out punishment...
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:16 am
The simplicity of track is what got me. I bought an ebay 'fixie' Hillbrick pista and the nsomeone told me it's a track bike, so I took it to the track and was hooked. For $400 I've been flogging this baby for a while and to be honest, not a lot goes wrong on the track, even more so if you are indoors. My advice is to drop the whole notion of being a weight weenie. Track stuff is about stiffness and weight is secondary and marginal impact at best. I thought really hard about going to something exotic for a while, not that there really is as big performance difference compared to say, road or mtb, but after 2 crashes, I'm happy to keep riding my hillbrick. That's the other thing, yes you will eventually crash and imo they are worse than road and mtb crashes!g-boaf wrote:Xplora wrote: Look for any decent alloy track bike. Felt like what Cossie Phil has, or a Langster Pro, or a Dolan. A lot of people really don't ride super exotic track bikes anyway - and they still go alright. If you weren't so tall - you could have borrowed my Langster Pro for a while.
*Edit, on power I seriously wouldn't bother. Track is a lot more than just pure power, the fun part is positioning and strategising. Sometimes you even get to rub elbows.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby g-boaf » Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:32 am
Inevitable when you stop pedaling. I've briefly done that and got a kick through the leg, but been very lucky to have not had my leg straight at the time - so it was just a sharp reminder to keep spinning. I've seen some nasty track crashes though at high speed - not good, especially on the boards.Calvin27 wrote:That's the other thing, yes you will eventually crash and imo they are worse than road and mtb crashes!
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:49 am
Yep I was referring to boards, I've never crashed on an outdoor velodrome. But the boards seem to just take huge chunks of skin right off.g-boaf wrote: Inevitable when you stop pedaling. I've briefly done that and got a kick through the leg, but been very lucky to have not had my leg straight at the time - so it was just a sharp reminder to keep spinning. I've seen some nasty track crashes though at high speed - not good, especially on the boards.
It's not just the stop spinning too. It could be too low speed, slipping on tape, clipping someone (or vice versa). I've also had a few near misses in the early days chasing the pack up front and then realisign you are gonig in too hot and have to brake to not hit them (sides are full of other riders) I think my knee exploded a bit trying to stop with just the legs and burning after the chase effort. It's a real balls out sport!
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby dalai47 » Fri Oct 16, 2015 10:38 am
Or have some idiot steer onto the duckboards on the bend infront of you at 55km/hr and fully somersaulting them and their bike...Calvin27 wrote:It's not just the stop spinning too. It could be too low speed, slipping on tape, clipping someone (or vice versa).
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:37 am
Phew, I had to check your blog to make sure it wasn't me haha...dalai47 wrote:Or have some idiot steer onto the duckboards on the bend infront of you at 55km/hr and fully somersaulting them and their bike...Calvin27 wrote:It's not just the stop spinning too. It could be too low speed, slipping on tape, clipping someone (or vice versa).
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby dalai47 » Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:31 pm
??????????????Calvin27 wrote:Phew, I had to check your blog to make sure it wasn't me haha...
I've kept the computer on the bars at club races and only questioned once. Even had it on the bars at States and National Masters - just had to have the screen taped over.g-boaf wrote:Because you can't have a Garmin/bike computer on your bars, and mounting it on the seat post as I've noticed some people try to do might be questionable too depending on the comm at the event and their view on it.
I do now have the computer mounted under the seat on the BT. Club / trainer Planet X bike is still on the bars.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby g-boaf » Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:16 pm
Screen taped over is okay too, as you say. Others just keep the Garmin in jersey pocket.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby foo on patrol » Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:55 pm
Trust me, you rip shreds of skin off on the outdoor asphalt tracks! Ask me how I know?Calvin27 wrote:Yep I was referring to boards, I've never crashed on an outdoor velodrome. But the boards seem to just take huge chunks of skin right off.g-boaf wrote: Inevitable when you stop pedaling. I've briefly done that and got a kick through the leg, but been very lucky to have not had my leg straight at the time - so it was just a sharp reminder to keep spinning. I've seen some nasty track crashes though at high speed - not good, especially on the boards.
It's not just the stop spinning too. It could be too low speed, slipping on tape, clipping someone (or vice versa). I've also had a few near misses in the early days chasing the pack up front and then realisign you are gonig in too hot and have to brake to not hit them (sides are full of other riders) I think my knee exploded a bit trying to stop with just the legs and burning after the chase effort. It's a real balls out sport!
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Xplora » Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:45 pm
Operation track bike is definitely back on the agenda. Sooner the better.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby mikesbytes » Sun Jul 31, 2016 6:16 pm
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Xplora » Sun Aug 07, 2016 8:40 pm
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Calvin27 » Mon Aug 08, 2016 9:32 am
Don't worry mate, the track is a strange place. Engine is most important - that and the size of the blob on top of the bike.Xplora wrote:Yeah update again, bought a track bike from trek52. Looks good. It's red. Hopefully it goes faster.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Xplora » Mon Aug 08, 2016 6:41 pm
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Derny Driver » Mon Aug 08, 2016 9:20 pm
Experience is king in track racing.Calvin27 wrote: Engine is most important - that and the size of the blob on top of the bike.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby mikesbytes » Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:52 pm
Is trek52 still selling stuff? He must of had the best N+1 collection around priorXplora wrote:Yeah update again, bought a track bike from trek52. Looks good. It's red. Hopefully it goes faster.
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Re: Used track bike - what to look for?
Postby Xplora » Tue Aug 09, 2016 10:02 pm
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