Go Back  Bike Forums > The Racer's Forum > Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area
Reload this Page >

Good Online Bike Shops For Buying Track Equipment

Notices
Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area Looking to enter into the realm of track racing? Want to share your experiences and tactics for riding on a velodrome? The Track Cycling forums is for you! Come in and discuss training/racing, equipment, and current track cycling events.

Good Online Bike Shops For Buying Track Equipment

Old 09-16-18, 10:50 PM
  #1  
colnago62
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times in 230 Posts
Good Online Bike Shops For Buying Track Equipment

I really want to buy a new track frame for no other reason than vanity. I would like to find a carbon frame, hopefully from a UK site to save some $$. Is there some good shops that sell online to look at? I have never owned a carbon track frame and would like to find one that isn’t crazy $$.
colnago62 is offline  
Old 09-17-18, 01:39 AM
  #2  
Baby Puke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Kanazawa
Posts: 1,700

Bikes: Marin Stelvio, Pogliaghi SL, Panasonic NJS, Dolan DF4, Intense Pro24 BMX

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 365 Post(s)
Liked 87 Times in 58 Posts
https://brookscycles.co.uk
Baby Puke is offline  
Old 09-17-18, 05:45 AM
  #3  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
You could look at Dolan or Planet X.

I believe velodromeshop.net is in the UK, but it has a spotty record.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-17-18, 08:20 AM
  #4  
queerpunk
aka mattio
 
queerpunk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,586

Bikes: yes

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 35 Posts
Originally Posted by colnago62
I really want to buy a new track frame for no other reason than vanity. I would like to find a carbon frame, hopefully from a UK site to save some $$. Is there some good shops that sell online to look at? I have never owned a carbon track frame and would like to find one that isn’t crazy $$.
Track stuff moves in such small quantities that the same purchase patterns for road stuff (like the ability to buy groupsets on greymarket retail from the UK for less than wholesale in the USA) don't apply.

That said, ebay and aliexpress both have lots of taiwanese built carbon track frames that are often purchased, relabeled, and re-sold for a lot more money by other brands. Two stand out - one of which has a rep as a quite good budget sprint frame, and another that's essentially a copy of a Cervelo T4 (which is one of the most popular bikes at the national-team/world-cup level) and is reasonably popular with enduros.
queerpunk is offline  
Old 09-17-18, 10:09 AM
  #5  
rustymongrel
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 134
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by queerpunk
Track stuff moves in such small quantities that the same purchase patterns for road stuff (like the ability to buy groupsets on greymarket retail from the UK for less than wholesale in the USA) don't apply.

That said, ebay and aliexpress both have lots of taiwanese built carbon track frames that are often purchased, relabeled, and re-sold for a lot more money by other brands. Two stand out - one of which has a rep as a quite good budget sprint frame, and another that's essentially a copy of a Cervelo T4 (which is one of the most popular bikes at the national-team/world-cup level) and is reasonably popular with enduros.
The first option, the budget sprint frame is pretty good. Solid and has half decent sizing/geometry.

The second frame I really dislike. There's a bunch of them around here branded by a local bike shop and in my opinion it's everything that sucks about the T3/T4 without the redeeming quality of having proven world class aerodynamics.
rustymongrel is offline  
Old 09-17-18, 11:56 PM
  #6  
colnago62
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times in 230 Posts
Cool. I will check these out. I got a big pay raise. What better to spend it on than bike stuff. Thanks!
colnago62 is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 06:25 AM
  #7  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
If you want, you can also spend $3k on that same Cervelo knock-off: Veloforma Bicycles - Pista Pro Carbon Track Bike.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 12:16 PM
  #8  
carleton
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
colnago62, you mention wanting to save money on the frame purchase. I'm not familiar with what kit you already have as well as other thing. But, the track frame ranks very low on the benefit/cost scale of things you can throw money at.

Unless you are looking for a new frame to avoid a problem you have with your current frame (e.g. wrong size, slipping seatpost, slipping track ends, etc...), there is a long list of things that will very likely show measurable gains before a new track frame will.

Maybe think of the frame as "fine tuning" your system after you've taken care of some of the things higher on the benefit/cost scale.

For example:

(Assuming all frames have the same size/geometry and all other components)

Setup A:
Steel frame + Zipp 808 race Wheelset

Setup B:
Cervelo T4 + 28 spoke training Wheelset

Setup C:
Felt TK FRD + 28 spoke training Wheelset

Setup D:
LOOK R96 + 28 spoke training Wheelset

You would be measurably faster on Setup A. Meaning, if you did sprint or endurance time trials the same day using all 4 setups, Setup A would be fastest.
carleton is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 12:17 PM
  #9  
carleton
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
That being said, frames can be sexy. There's nothing wrong with riding in style! I've owned several top frames and even 3 custom frames...and my times were virtually identical
carleton is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 01:47 PM
  #10  
rustymongrel
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 134
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by carleton
colnago62, you mention wanting to save money on the frame purchase. I'm not familiar with what kit you already have as well as other thing. But, the track frame ranks very low on the benefit/cost scale of things you can throw money at.

Unless you are looking for a new frame to avoid a problem you have with your current frame (e.g. wrong size, slipping seatpost, slipping track ends, etc...), there is a long list of things that will very likely show measurable gains before a new track frame will.

Maybe think of the frame as "fine tuning" your system after you've taken care of some of the things higher on the benefit/cost scale.

For example:

(Assuming all frames have the same size/geometry and all other components)

Setup A:
Steel frame + Zipp 808 race Wheelset

Setup B:
Cervelo T4 + 28 spoke training Wheelset

Setup C:
Felt TK FRD + 28 spoke training Wheelset

Setup D:
LOOK R96 + 28 spoke training Wheelset

You would be measurably faster on Setup A. Meaning, if you did sprint or endurance time trials the same day using all 4 setups, Setup A would be fastest.
In all seriousness a T4 and likely a TK FRD with 28 spoke training wheels would be as fast or faster than a round tubed steel bike with race wheels.

An 808 vs a conventional alloy rim wheel is worth ~15w on the front and a little less on the rear.

The P4 on which the T4 is based was up to 20w faster compared to some competitors frames in 2009, the competitors being other contemporary carbon TT frames.
rustymongrel is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 03:28 PM
  #11  
carleton
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
Originally Posted by rustymongrel
In all seriousness a T4 and likely a TK FRD with 28 spoke training wheels would be as fast or faster than a round tubed steel bike with race wheels.

An 808 vs a conventional alloy rim wheel is worth ~15w on the front and a little less on the rear.

The P4 on which the T4 is based was up to 20w faster compared to some competitors frames in 2009, the competitors being other contemporary carbon TT frames.
So, we are talking about less than 5W between Setup A and Setup B?
carleton is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 04:30 PM
  #12  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
Originally Posted by rustymongrel
In all seriousness a T4 and likely a TK FRD with 28 spoke training wheels would be as fast or faster than a round tubed steel bike with race wheels.

An 808 vs a conventional alloy rim wheel is worth ~15w on the front and a little less on the rear.

The P4 on which the T4 is based was up to 20w faster compared to some competitors frames in 2009, the competitors being other contemporary carbon TT frames.
I'm curious, where are you getting these figures?
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 04:34 PM
  #13  
700wheel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 645
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 144 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by colnago62
I really want to buy a new track frame for no other reason than vanity. I would like to find a carbon frame, hopefully from a UK site to save some $$. Is there some good shops that sell online to look at? I have never owned a carbon track frame and would like to find one that isn’t crazy $$.
I've seen carbon frames destroyed in road and track races plus on club rides. Here is one track crash I saw.
My old club warned members to only buy carbon if they could afford to replace it.
700wheel is offline  
Old 09-18-18, 07:23 PM
  #14  
colnago62
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times in 230 Posts
I currently have a Giant TCR Omnium frame and 808 wheels. I openly admit that it is not for performance, purely for vanity/ coolness factor.
colnago62 is offline  
Old 09-19-18, 01:04 PM
  #15  
rustymongrel
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 134
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by carleton
So, we are talking about less than 5W between Setup A and Setup B?
Probably, I mean I'm extrapolating from separate tests but my point is that frames and wheels are similarly important and should both come after tires, skinsuit, helmet and even shoes IMO.

Personally I'd still go for wheels first since used stuff is pretty cheap and the bling factor is better

Originally Posted by topflightpro
I'm curious, where are you getting these figures?
https://www.aeroweenie.com/data.html
rustymongrel is offline  
Old 09-19-18, 03:04 PM
  #16  
Dalai
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,163
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 89 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by 700wheel
I've seen carbon frames destroyed in road and track races plus on club rides. Here is one track crash I saw.
My old club warned members to only buy carbon if they could afford to replace it.
Crashes can destroy any frame material. The only reason I replaced my aluminium 08 Fuji track pro back in 2014 was because it was damaged in a crash!

Whole heartedly agree with your old club members. I've always applied that motto when purchasing my bikes!
Dalai is offline  
Old 09-20-18, 08:37 AM
  #17  
carleton
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
Originally Posted by 700wheel
My old club warned members to only buy carbon if they could afford to replace it.
Originally Posted by Dalai
Crashes can destroy any frame material. The only reason I replaced my aluminium 08 Fuji track pro back in 2014 was because it was damaged in a crash!

Whole heartedly agree with your old club members. I've always applied that motto when purchasing my bikes!
I agree.

There is similar logic in the world of car modifications. Basically, don't modify your car if you can't afford to deal with any issues that come from said modifications (voided warranty, premature wear, etc...)
carleton is offline  
Old 09-21-18, 09:21 AM
  #18  
queerpunk
aka mattio
 
queerpunk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,586

Bikes: yes

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 58 Times in 35 Posts
Originally Posted by Dalai
Crashes can destroy any frame material.
queerpunk is offline  
Old 09-21-18, 11:11 AM
  #19  
carleton
Elitist
 
carleton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 77 Posts
Wow. I can’t imagine that is fixable at all.

On a related note. Back in 2010 (?) a teammate of mine clipped a pedal and went down kinda hard on his Tiemeyer. Something around the BB shell was cracked. This was about 3 weeks before Masters Nationals (his big event for the season). Mr. Tiemeyer welded the frame and had it painted and returned in time for Nationals. Pretty cool of him.

I don’t think an off the shelf bike would be repaired, though.
carleton is offline  
Old 01-31-19, 11:03 PM
  #20  
colnago62
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times in 230 Posts
Originally Posted by queerpunk
Track stuff moves in such small quantities that the same purchase patterns for road stuff (like the ability to buy groupsets on greymarket retail from the UK for less than wholesale in the USA) don't apply.

That said, ebay and aliexpress both have lots of taiwanese built carbon track frames that are often purchased, relabeled, and re-sold for a lot more money by other brands. Two stand out - one of which has a rep as a quite good budget sprint frame, and another that's essentially a copy of a Cervelo T4 (which is one of the most popular bikes at the national-team/world-cup level) and is reasonably popular with enduros.
After a long internal debate, I bought the budget sprint frame. It looks good. Not super thrilled about the seatpost collar, but we will see. I have some Dixie Flyer bars on the way to connect to a Pro Carbon stem and will put a Shimano 165 cranks on. Slap it on my trainer and then take for a virtual spin.
colnago62 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Files
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
13
11-03-18 04:13 PM
Murakami
Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area
2
06-05-13 06:30 AM
various styles
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
9
06-05-12 11:49 AM
Jaytron
Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area
14
05-14-12 06:12 PM
brbbiking
Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area
3
06-17-11 04:31 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.