tonski 

Here's my second track bike (bought specifically for Texas), a Felt TK3 - currently spending 3 of 5 weeks in Houston and the other 2 weeks in Sacramento. Yay, 2 velodromes. Here is my TX bike in tarck form currently, until I figure out how to gain access to the Alkek velodrome calendar and can get down there to really RACE between road races.

TejanoTrackie 

I swapped out the stock aluminum/steel fork on the VISP with a carbon/aluminum Leader i803 fork I picked up last year in a cyber Monday sale for $95.40. Not only did the weight drop by 1/2 pound, but the handling improved immensely. The stock fork rake is 45mm, which is a poor match for the frame's 74.5 degree headtube angle. The Leader fork rake is 28mm, which works a lot better.

tonski 

Any reviews on the VISP? I've only ever seen one IRL, he was riding and I was motorcycling way too fast to see any detail -

TejanoTrackie 

I bought it 6-1/2 years ago to ride fixed on the road, tore it down 2-1/2 years ago and then rebuilt it recently just to have something to ride on the track. It's solidly built, but rather heavy due to the use of straight gauge tubing. Quality is good (welds, alignment, paint), but nothing special. The top tube is rather long, so it's not a good sprint bike. You can still buy them on eBay both with and w/o decals.

tonski 

Good information. Long TT doesn't often work for me. 34" inseam + 69" tall = not a lot of reach.

skysurfer

Looks like as good of a place as any to jump into the frey. The rest of the stable is in the background.

Dalai

Welcome skysurfer - nice Fuji.

What is your local track?

skysurfer

Sadly I don't have a "local" track. My nearest is Dick Lane in East Point GA ~250 Miles (400 KM) away.

Dalai

Would have thought the mild weather in Florida would make it the perfect place for an outdoor track!

skysurfer

Florida is a big state, there is one Brian Piccolo but it's even further ~475 miles (750 KM) driving it does run year round though. I do plan on making my way down there but Dick Lane is closer, Ill have to if I have any hope of taking on the state championship. I'm new to the track but as I become more hopeless I'll consider relocating .

jgperson

Here is my 2016 Fuji Track Elite all ready to go. Its a 54cm, FSA carbon track cranks, 3T stem and 3T aeronova bars. Boyd Cycling 90mm Track Tubulars with some continental 25mm sprinters (used for fixed road crit as well). 51 tooth FSA chainring and a 14 tooth Dura-Ace track cog. Weight is 15 lbs 4 ozs (or 6.9kg according to google for those of you who know that stuff). This year will be my first time going onto the track to race. I was racing alley cats and unsanctioned fixed gear races, and decided to step it up this year and go have some more intense racing. Looking forward to some big things.

TDinBristol

Here are a couple of bikes - the first is the Aventon I got just to try the track again after track racing a long time ago. Had enough fun I use it now for riding the bike path up my way (with front brake). Last summer I got this carbon frame, which is the one being sold as 7VRN through Brooks Cycles in the UK. Anybody have any experience with these? I rode it in the fall and it feels pretty solid.
I'm only going to be trying time trials, as I don't log enough track time to feel 100% in mass starts. But it's fun to be riding the banking once again.

taras0000

Murdered out! They look great TD.

sergioflorez

same as the unmarked aliexpress track frame. 2013 looking forward frame , carbon track frame , track bike frameset 56cm in stock fast delivery-in Bicycle Frame from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Muddlfuc

Looks like it's based on a BT edge shape...

TDinBristol

Just as a follow - rode it at both Giordana and East Point last week, and it felt solid and steady even on that steep banking. An economy bike for sure but it seems to do its job...

brawlo

Those frames are widely regarded as the best thing coming out of China ATM. I have seen mention of a rider doing a 10.1 F200 on one. They are really quite good and a whole lot better than some much more expensive frames

gycho77

It also looks like 7vrn carbon track bike
7VRN Carbon Track Frame - Frames and Forks - Velodrome - Brooks Cycles
Also it has same geometry

Voodoo76

How is Piccolo holding up? I rode there once, in 96 they had a Masters PanAm Championship, it seemed like a pretty nice track.

luucanthony

Finally got this thing all set up just how I like it! Really excited to get some track time on it.

skysurfer

I haven't actually made my way down there yet. I'm at a loss when it comes to them there does not appear to be a definitive schedule anywhere. The website only has flyers for past events, the calender only has sunday and monday weekly training, I've sent emails, left voice mails and posted comments with no response. The only source of information is to keep constant watch on facebook even then only have a week or so notice of an event.

HTupolev

Just finished throwing together my first track bike. I rode it once a few weeks ago when it was still properly a Fuji Feather, which convinced me I needed to make substantial fit/contact point/whatever changes. The local track reopens next week, and I'll be able to try this configuration. Hopefully it works out.

taras0000

Looks to be about 2 sizes too small. Is that quill inserted properly?

HTupolev

Reach is pretty close to correct, seat tube and head tube are quite small. First modern steel bike I've purchased... and I'm suspicious that maybe the manufacturers are pulling shenanigans trying to match the geometry of their compact frames with their horizontal top tube frames. Dude at the shop tried to give me the rundown on how people used to buy frames that were way too big, and my vintage steel bikes are probably poorly sized for me... I figured that the guy who sells new bikes might be familiar with how modern bikes with that geometry fit, and figured based on the top tube that I'd be able to get it to fit regardless, which I more or less have albeit with some disproportional bits and bobs.

I probably should have done some more math and then split the difference by going for a 58 instead of a 56. Ah well.

Yes. The stock stem was way too short, so I went in the exact opposite direction and picked up a Nitto Technomic. It's over 20cm long, and is actually inserted quite deep. Lol.

I could probably make it a little less insane if I'd used handlebars with less drop.

taras0000

You should've gone with a 58. This bike is built along similar lines to older steel bikes. There is nothing funky about it's geometry, like trying to make is similar to modern compacts. 56cm frames have always tended to be "square". In other words, 56cm frames have a 56cm ST, along with a 56cm TT, or they are very close. Below this, the TT is proportionately longer, and above this the TT is shorter. The 58cm frame has a 57cm TT. With the 58cm bike, the only way you would set the bike up differently is to rotate the drop bars back a little, so that the flats are parallel to the floor. This would most likely create a reach that is similar to the way the bike is set up now. Difference is, you wouldn't have a super long seat post and quill.