Winter Project - Track bikes - ?s for those with experience

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xnavalav8r
Posts: 2594
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

Track frames from Pure Bicycles...

Junior Frame
Image

Top Tube length 490mm
Seat tube length 435mm
Rear end 380 Slammed
Head Tube 110mm 1 1/8 Integrated
100% Carbon forks
Stickers are under a clear coat.
Weigh of Frame 1.335kg
Made from 7005 Aluminium
Hand Made in Italy

56cm Frame
Image

Top Tube length 560mm
Seat tube length 555mm
Rear end 380 Slammed
Head Tube 175mm 1 1/8 Integrated
100% Carbon forks
Poweder Coated in powder chrome.
Weigh of Frame 1.595kg
Made from 7005 Aluminium
Hand Made in Italy
Last edited by xnavalav8r on Sat Jan 11, 2014 8:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

xnavalav8r
Posts: 2594
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

I don't know much about track bikes other than the fact that we had a lot of fun on the velodrome last winter. It appears that square-taper bottom brackets are the favored type for track racing. Anyone know why that is?

I'm trying to come up with a reasonably light build list for the bikes... but the frames themselves are a bit portly.

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cyclistcong
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:55 pm

by cyclistcong

Sram have 2 models of track cranks that are running the GXP system if you prefer that over the square-tapered bb. The S300 and the Omnium. The S-300 is the budget version of the 2 with BCD of 130; while the Omnium comes with 144 bcd which is commonly used for track.

Overall, with lesser parts on the track bike, you should be able to get your bike to a reasonably light build with decent parts.

xnavalav8r
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Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

Thanks.

2 more questions for those with more experience than me;

First, are tubulars preferable to clinchers? I run tubulars exclusively on my road, tt, and CX bikes. But, with a track being a very smooth surface I wonder if there is any benefit to tubulars over clinchers.

Second, how narrow should I go with the handlebars? I run a 44cm (c-to-c) handlebar on the road. Track bike handlebars seem to be considerably narrower.

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Fixie82
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Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 3:45 am

by Fixie82

Tubulars are still the preference, you can buy track specific ones (as the surface is very smooth) that are incredibly supple and feel fantastic to ride however as we ride on both outdoor and indoor velodromes I use a more robust tubular that is a slick (no tread) and works well for both applications. As you already use them for everything it would make sense to keep using them as you are all setup for it.

Narrow handlebars are great for reducing your frontal area and the common size is around 40-38cm. Just make sure its comfortable enough for you to still produce power when in the sprint. Really narrow bars can feel unstable. I use 40cm road bars instead of track specific as I don't like having a positive rise stem or heaps of spacers to get the same position.

Sram Omnium cranks are great as are most other high end cranksets, I have also seen people running Rotor cranks and Sram Red as track cranks.

xnavalav8r
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by xnavalav8r

Thanks! I saw some Easton TKO bars for sale at a great price but only in 38cm and 40cm widths. I guess I'll go with the 40.

xnavalav8r
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by xnavalav8r

Hopefully the last question on this subject...

Considering we'll be riding exclusively indoors, would you say that deeper is better for wheels?

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Fixie82
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by Fixie82

Aero and stiffness is where it's at for track. Go deep if you can, build something stiff rather than super light and make it aero. A lot of people I ride with use pista wheels or eclipse for training and then have deep wheels for racing or even a disc/5 spoke combo for the big time.

xnavalav8r
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Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

Thanks guys. I'm trolling ebay for parts. I'm deployed, so this project won't be complete for a couple of months.

xnavalav8r
Posts: 2594
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

I'm still debating the parts list for building up the bikes. I'm considering some no-name Chinese carbon tubulars from ebay, 60 or 88mm, then upgrading the bearings if they're of low quality. But all the wheels I have found have round spokes, which seems a bit odd.

These bikes are for winter training and fun. So maybe it's not an issue, but my son has demonstrated some talent and there is a posibility he may actually wind up racing on the boards. So I want to give him a quality ride without blowing his college fund.

xnavalav8r
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Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

My indecision on wheels is holding things up. Considering building my own, but I can source two pairs of pre-built chinese wheels online for less than the price of a name-brand pair of rims. Budget may win this time...

xnavalav8r
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Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

Decided on 88mm carbon tubbies...

xnavalav8r
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by xnavalav8r

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mythical
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Location: Europe
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by mythical

xnavalav8r wrote:It appears that square-taper bottom brackets are the favored type for track racing. Anyone know why that is?
For a narrower Q-factor? Track bikes also typically feature shorter cranks. Track cycling is a great way to improve power and cadence. When are the bikes finished?

Bad ass looking wheels btw! :thumbup:
“I always find it amazing that a material can actually sell a product when it’s really the engineering that creates and dictates how well that material will behave or perform.” — Chuck Teixeira

by Weenie


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QuinnTO
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:54 am

by QuinnTO

Bought a wheel from that seller last month. Good service and fast shipping. Quality seems good, too, but I haven't gotten to gluing a tyre to it yet.

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