Track frame for use on the street?

Thread started by
petr0lb0mb at 04.13.10 - 2:14 pm
I'm considering buying a 58cm track frame for use on the street as a fixed gear...
My biggest concern is about toe overlap with the front wheel as I wear shoe size 13.
Your thoughts?
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Track frames are not designed for street use.
It will work, but it would be a bit of a tosser move.
generalizations here:
Road frames
longer rides more comfort.
slower steering (increased rake) = less twitch more predictable
Track frames
faster steering
stiffer ride
smaller wheelbase
(the horizontal slots on the rear of a track bike are not called drop outs , they are rear fork ends, only dropouts exist on a road frame)
Many frames nowadays in terms of geometry are somewhere between track and road, ie a Raleigh Rush Hour, not a pure track geometry, little more relaxed around teh head tube / seat tube I think
TheDude04.13.10 - 2:20 pm
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to quote myself from the other thread you failed to hijack
Dude Tarck bikes are like pie plates these dayz.
Randonneuring on vintage frames is whatz kewl now.....sell yourz arrozspokz now
Foldie
responding to a comment by petr0lb0mb
04.13.10 - 2:18 pm
Foldie04.13.10 - 2:21 pm
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Not so concerned about whatz kewl. And not interested in aerospokes either. It's just that I found what seems to be a good deal on a track bike.
petr0lb0mb04.13.10 - 2:24 pm
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Careful foldie I dont think too many people here know what that big "r" word means.
You might get drowned on account of being a witch.
That being said i approve of your post.
TheDude responding to a
comment by Foldie
04.13.10 - 2:25 pm
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Every time someone uses a tarck bike for a "street Fixie" god kills a kitten....do you really want that on your conscience?
Foldie responding to a
comment by petr0lb0mb
04.13.10 - 2:26 pm
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What's wrong with folding bikes?
TheDude responding to a
comment by onelessfixie
04.13.10 - 2:29 pm
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some people like track frames for riding fixed because they have a really aggressive shape.
Lots of other bikes make a great street fixie if you aren't trying to build a street racer.
I'm pretty sure can do some drawings and math you can do, to see if the frame you are looking at will in fact, cause your bigdogs to overlap with your front tire.
shorter cranks could be one solution if it is a close call.
trickmilla04.13.10 - 2:31 pm
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i will sell you a 57cm centurion le mans suicide fixie conversion for $180, all you need to do is get a new rear wheel (unless you want to run a suicide wheel :P) and maybe new cranks since the pedals are rusted on
66604.13.10 - 2:33 pm
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Folding bikes are utilitarian and non-pretentious....Last mile alternative to a commuter and is never locked up to be stolen.
Foldie responding to a
comment by onelessfixie
04.13.10 - 2:33 pm
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I rode one on the street for awhile, but I got really bad lower back pain from it. I think because of the aggressive geometry... but ride what you want.
BICYKILLER04.13.10 - 2:42 pm
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here's a novel idea:
1. buy track frame
2. buy track components
3. take track bike to track
ding ding ding i smell winner
_iJunes responding to a
comment by BICYKILLER
04.13.10 - 2:47 pm
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Don't make sharp slow turns and you'll be fine.
JB04.13.10 - 2:48 pm
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track bikes typically have higher bb clearance than road bikes, and i pedal through every corner in a crit and have yet to pedal strike.
lol anybody else find it funny that the op asked if you can use a track bike as a fixie, not a fixie as a track bike?
_iJunes responding to a
comment by JB
04.13.10 - 2:50 pm
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I loved my folding bike, but lets face it, it was sexy, it was handsome, and garnered lots of compliments but alas, I just did not have the range or efficiency of my street fixie and my bike is faster than public transportation options within the city, EVERY TIME. The only time I take public transpo with my bike is to avoid: bad weather, showing up sweaty, or exerting myself when I am feeling lazy.
On the other hand, my friend just had his folder stolen just the other night.
Parked in front of a store. yes some people do park folders outside and some stores don't want you dragging around your folded up bike with you while you do your shopping.
Folders are sweet bikes, and like all other bikes, they are what they are, and do not try to pretend to be anything else.
It is people who are pretentious and your last post counts you among them.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by Foldie
04.13.10 - 2:59 pm
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ok maybe not your "last post" but that other post seemed pretty pretendo to me.
xoxo
-trickmillz
trickmilla04.13.10 - 3:00 pm
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from the hipster thread, I think you nailed it. I am:
Self rightous eshewing of trends. CHECK
Foldie responding to a
comment by trickmilla
04.13.10 - 3:02 pm
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please tell the stupid girl what a suicide wheel is??
eairheart83 responding to a
comment by 666
04.13.10 - 3:24 pm
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basically an old freewheel wheel with just a cog, but in this case a lockring too (but in the same direction)...its called suicide cause if it unthreads while you skid and you have no brakes you'll pretty much crash
but yeah, you can buy a rear track wheel for $65
http://www.amazon.com/ACTION-WHEEL-ALLOY-TRACK-SILVER/dp/B001DTX77U
666 responding to a
comment by eairheart83
04.13.10 - 4:26 pm
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please tell the stupid girl what a suicide wheel is??
eairheart83
responding to a comment by 666
Nowadays there are no stupid people, only people who don't know how to use google.
onelessfixie responding to a
comment by eairheart83
04.13.10 - 4:30 pm
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how many times do you log into each different screen name a day?
_iJunes responding to a
comment by onelessfixie
04.13.10 - 4:43 pm
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i have never once clicked the log out button. how bout you?
_iJunes responding to a
comment by onelessfixie
04.13.10 - 4:43 pm
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Thanks for the offer. If I'm going to go old school, I'm gonna build it myself. Thanks, though.
petr0lb0mb responding to a
comment by 666
04.13.10 - 5:45 pm
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i'll take it apart and sell you the frame/BB/cranks/stem/headset/handlebars for $120 heh
666 responding to a
comment by petr0lb0mb
04.13.10 - 6:17 pm
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(the horizontal slots on the rear of a track bike are not called drop outs , they are rear fork ends, only dropouts exist on a road frame)
ruinedbyidiots responding to a
comment by TheDude
04.13.10 - 6:49 pm
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De Bernardi track frames are just slack enough (relative to, say, a Bianchi) not to cause any overlap at all. But I guess that doesn't help you. Something to keep in mind, though.
BTW, ride what you want. People who get upset about what kind of bike you ride are like...well, simile fails me: they're like people who get upset about what kind of fucking bike you ride, for crying out loud.
PC04.13.10 - 8:42 pm
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Oh, and I should point out that another great strategy for dealing with overlap is simply not worrying about it. Seriously. This works out pretty well for me when I'm on my Bianchi track bike.
The only time you'll ever really turn your wheel sharply enough to cause it in the first place is when you're going very slowly or holding a trackstand. You'll learn soon enough not to panic, and just to angle your foot down, if it's really necessary, to get it out of the way.
PC04.13.10 - 9:01 pm
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i found that using clipless pedals, i experienced less toe overlap.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by PC
04.13.10 - 9:32 pm
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