I snapped this photo on Hawthorne Street in Portland. Fixed gear bikes are everywhere in that city but this one caught my eye for a couple of reasons and I'm wondering if any of you have any thoughts on...
1. What do you think about track bars on a road bike conversion?
2. Check the stem (looks like maybe a 130mm) and the height of the seat post. Obviously, this frame is a tad small for it's rider but he/she has made it work by stretching the cockpit. Have any of you taller riders had experience with making a smaller frame fit OK?
I keep looking for a lugged steel track bike or frame in my size (61-62) but I don't find many for sale. Anybody have any suggestions? I can't really afford a custom-built frame and besides I prefer the look of an older bike with some battle scars and patina.
5 comments:
I had been riding a small frame like that and finally just got a 61cm alien track frame, since like you said, you can't find older frames in large sizes. The only thing I've noticed and I don't know if it's just my bike but on smaller frames, I could easily hit the front wheel with my toes. Now with my large frame, it's tight track geo, large toe clips with 170mm cranks but I can't strike the wheel even if I try on purpose. 700c wheels are just too big for smaller sized frames.
http://www.matuzmaster.hu/en/
Don't know whether it's in your budget, but this reputable shop in Hungary has NOS Fausto Coppi track frames, I think for 250 euro (that number might be only for aelle-tube road frames, I am not sure). Lots of other interesting stuff, as well. Very responsive and friendly in e-mails.
Thanks sab, I will definitely keep that front wheel issue in mind. And congrats on getting the Alien. I've been looking at those but I read that even a 61 would be too small for me. Maybe not?
And Anon, that shop in Hungary is a real candy store. Thanks for the link.
I also read that the 61cm would be too small, at first it was huge to me and I used a very short stem, I got more used to stretching out and went to a 9cm stem. It's all personal size/limberness with the top tube + stem. I'm known as the guy that rides "the huge bike" so calling it small seems weird.
I've had to deal with this before. I got in to riding riding a 1984 Fuji Del Rey which was 54cm in size. I'm 6ft 6 and would typically require a 62 cm bike, but I just cranked up the seat and sat really far back. It actually wasn't too uncomfortable.
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