My next project I may be starting (so many projects, so little $) will be a SS/fixed steel Bianchi in celeste and gold.

Option 1 – Start with a track frame (have a mid-80s?) and get the fork drilled and rear bridge modified for brakes (I want front and rear). Paint.

Option 2 – Start with old road bike and have all the un-necessaries removed and track ends added. Paint.

Any opinions on which mod would be better and would the road geometry be much better? I’m leaning toward the road bike even though I have the track frame. I live near Waterford, so they would probably get the job over next winter.

Thanks,
TF

My next project I may be starting (so many projects, so little $) will be a SS/fixed steel Bianchi in celeste and gold.

Option 1 – Start with a track frame (have a mid-80s?) and get the fork drilled and rear bridge modified for brakes (I want front and rear). Paint.

Option 2 – Start with old road bike and have all the un-necessaries removed and track ends added. Paint.

Any opinions on which mod would be better and would the road geometry be much better? I’m leaning toward the road bike even though I have the track frame. I live near Waterford, so they would probably get the job over next winter.

Thanks,
TF


Consider your intended use.

Track frames are not noted for tire clearance or a smooth ride, because you don't need those things for track racing. Also, track bike handling tends towards the very fast.

For multi-use, get a steel celeste Bianchi (It must be an Italian "Reparto Corse" frame for maximum points). Forward-facing horizontal dropouts are fine, you won't need to have the frame modified unless you want to. Many 1970s frames lacked brazed-on cable guides and shifter bosses, in the mistaken belief that they weakened the frame, so if you can find one of those, you won't have to hack on it much at all. Older frames also had more clearance for tires, and longer, slacker geometry, because the roads were worse then.

Of course, you already have the track frame, so that's a big plus for that option. Drilling the fork may or amy not be reasonable, price-wise, but adding a rear brake will likely require torch work and a new paint job. You're talking about a few hundred bucks, you can get a pretty nice steel Bianchi frame for that.

--Shannon

Your other option is to sell your Bainchi track frame to me? If its about a 60cm let me know.
It'd be a damn shame to see a beautiful track from burdened by the gauty eye soar that is "brakes"


Trevor Martin

Your other option is to sell your Bainchi track frame to me? If its about a 60cm let me know.
It'd be a damn shame to see a beautiful track from burdened by the gauty eye soar that is "brakes"


Trevor Martin

Sorry, too small for you. - TF

I vote for the second option - build an old road bike. Check out sheldon brown and he'll tell you the same.

I bought an early 80's Basso road frame and built it up (had sheldon build the wheels.) It rides smoother than butter. My buddy bought a complete Surly Steamroller from excelsports. He took my Basso for a spin and coulnd't believe how smooth it rides. I spent a little more than he did, but in the end I think a road frame is almost always going to be a bit better "feel." IMHO.

OK, I cut and pasted the above from my response to another post on this board re: "build or buy." I've since learned that the Steamroller is road geo, not track, but I'm still way glad I sought out an old road frame.

2 more thoughts - 1) if you find an old road bike with the Campy horizontal dropouts (forward facing) you won't need track ends. Sheldown thinks the Campy forward horizontals are more appropriate for fixed road riding than the rear facing track ends. 2) if you find a cool frame - don't remove the "un-necessaries." I contemplated it, but then a sage friend advised me to leave them as a badge of honor. On a more practical level, who knows when you might decide you love the feel of that old road bike enough to "downgrade" it back into a shiftie. :)

Before DougSloan got a proper track frame he couldn't stop raving about his
fixed conversion. You may want to see what he has to say since he's ridden
both.