I have a Trek Madone that I am considering converting to a track bike by use of the White Industries Eno hub. This would be used for track racing only, no road riding. Does the hub work well? Would the geometry of the frame be ok for a starting track racer?

Depending on the track your bottom bracket may be too low. Read up on track geometry and how it effects ride/performance on the track, google is your friend in this situation.

edit: Also, you might come out ahead if you just sell the Madone and purchase a track frame with the funds.

1, the hub works well.
2, the geo is def not track geo.

Just as it wouldn't make much sense to convert a actual track bike to road racing; it makes no sense what so ever to convert a road bike to track racing.

You would do better buying the cheapest off the shelf track bike with the correct frame angles, bb height, dropouts and stiffness and throwing that nice road bike in the trash.

the vertical dropouts will probably disqualify the madone from most organized track events. true track ends prevent the wheel from coming out of the frame under force. I believe vert. dropouts are not allowed under UCI regs. But I could be wrong. best to check with velodrome.

when you race that thing, as i'll show up to watch the carnage.
clipping a pedal on the velodrome is not typically a good scene...you increase your chance GREATLY by running a road geometry bike on the track.

the dropouts aren't legal either...drop 1K for a good, true track bike. its safer for EVERYONE around you...

Also, you might come out ahead if you just sell the Madone and purchase a track frame with the funds.

+1000

As others have said, please check with your velodrome before you do anything.

Based on the feedback I guess I will sell it and buy a track specific frame. I was trying to do it the easy way until I decided if I liked track racing or not. The track I would be starting on is the Asheville Mellowdrome which was not designed to be a bike track. It is an old race car track that is 500m long and only has 4-8% banking. It is the only thing around unless you want to drive to Atlanta. Since the banks are so mellow, hence the name, the BB drop is not an issue. If the geometry is really going to affect how it handles around a lot of other track bikes, then that is an issue. Once a month or so they have geared night and I have done it before and had a blast which is why I want to try fixed gear racing. I know it will be drastically different but I think it would be good for my training. Thanks.

Based on the feedback I guess I will sell it and buy a track specific frame. I was trying to do it the easy way until I decided if I liked track racing or not. The track I would be starting on is the Asheville Mellowdrome which was not designed to be a bike track. It is an old race car track that is 500m long and only has 4-8% banking. It is the only thing around unless you want to drive to Atlanta. Since the banks are so mellow, hence the name, the BB drop is not an issue. If the geometry is really going to affect how it handles around a lot of other track bikes, then that is an issue. Once a month or so they have geared night and I have done it before and had a blast which is why I want to try fixed gear racing. I know it will be drastically different but I think it would be good for my training. Thanks.

simply rent bikes from the velodrome if they're available....most of them have them available in a ton of sizes. bring your pedals and shoes and go to town!! take a class if htey offer them...they're typically really cheap to. sounds like the resources there may be somewhat scarce though?

The BB area of track bikes is slightly higher and the crank arms are generally shorter...this avoids most pedals strikes as you enter the embankments. track training and racing is really fun...but you don't have to spend a ton of $$ to get into it.

when you race that thing, as i'll show up to watch the carnage.
clipping a pedal on the velodrome is not typically a good scene...you increase your chance GREATLY by running a road geometry bike on the track.

the dropouts aren't legal either...drop 1K for a good, true track bike. its safer for EVERYONE around you...

Lighten up Bah. He just wants to try his hand a track racing. There's no need to belittle the guy.

Lighten up Bah. He just wants to try his hand a track racing. There's no need to belittle the guy.



indeed... and besides, that asheville drome has very shallow banking. some streets prob have more crown in them

Based on the feedback I guess I will sell it and buy a track specific frame. I was trying to do it the easy way until I decided if I liked track racing or not. The track I would be starting on is the Asheville Mellowdrome which was not designed to be a bike track. It is an old race car track that is 500m long and only has 4-8% banking. It is the only thing around unless you want to drive to Atlanta. Since the banks are so mellow, hence the name, the BB drop is not an issue. If the geometry is really going to affect how it handles around a lot of other track bikes, then that is an issue. Once a month or so they have geared night and I have done it before and had a blast which is why I want to try fixed gear racing. I know it will be drastically different but I think it would be good for my training. Thanks.

At the mellowdrome you prolly could get away with the conversion you are talking about although they may not let you race with road dropouts. The races there are fun although the angle coming out turn for always makes for a interesting sprint. If you close enough to attend the Tue night races I would suggest you would be better off buying a track frame so that you can change out your gears easier.

At the mellowdrome you prolly could get away with the conversion you are talking about although they may not let you race with road dropouts. The races there are fun although the angle coming out turn for always makes for a interesting sprint. If you close enough to attend the Tue night races I would suggest you would be better off buying a track frame so that you can change out your gears easier.

I am in Greenville and can be at the track in about 45 minutes if I-40 isn't backed up. I went to the last geared night this season and loved it so I will pick up a track bike by February and head up for some of the Saturday training sessions. I still need to decide if I want to spend $650 for a Bianchi Pista or a $1500 for something like a Ridley that I would be much happier with IF I really get into it. One issue for me is that I ride a 48/50cm frame so it is hard to find one to borrow.

If you really get into it, go with this years Felt TK2. One of the only frames out there that have steel dropouts, and the it's good enough for any event that you want to do on it. It was good enough to take me to Nationals this year. It's it's only about 1200.