2023 Start(ing back) Up guide
 

Hey gang, I wanted to check in with the hive mind as it looks like I might get to start racing again since BVV is opening back up! After a 5 year hiatus from racing, with only a handful of cogs and chainrings left in my garage, I've got some questions about gear.

What still exists for affordable roughly aero-shaped frames? I foolishly sold, and don't have the budget to replace, my TK1, power meter, and 80mm carbon wheels, but I don't want a noodley tarck bike fixie crit heap, either.

Tubeless tires will still kill everyone on the track and half of the infield, right?

Are mortals riding higher teeth combos for efficiency, or is that only at the highest levels? I.e. Using a 56-16 instead of a 49-14 to make a 94".

3/32" is exclusively for pursuit as that weak spacing is guaranteed to break, and again kill all riders on track?

Thanks for weighing in, and apologies for hyperbole, tongue-in-cheek, and outright sarcasm.

Your TK1 whould still be fine. No reason to replace it. Same for your PM and wheels.

Yes, avoid tubeless.

A lot of people have moved to higher teeth combos. It's more efficient for chain friction. I think a 55 is now the smallest ring I take with me most days.

Lastly, I think most sprinters are on 1/8. Some enduros are on 3/32.

Thanks for the response! I wasn't clear, I sold the TK1. Trying to find a proper machine is surprisingly hard right now.

Dolan DF4, Velo Flyer BTB or Velobike M2 are all good, reasonably priced frames.