I'm looking to get a new track bike for when the season opens at Kissena. I was wondering how important the angles are on a track bike. It's seems like the standard on a 52cm bike is 74 degree head and 75 degree seat. But is the difference of a degree going to upset the responsiveness of the frame? Will a 73degree head and 74 degree seat cause trouble on the track? Just really curious. Thanks in advance guys.

at other tracks with steep banks - yes. it isnt so much of the issue of relaxed angles & unresponsiveness rather than the bottom bracket needs to be higher so you dont catch a pedal on the banking. even with 165mm cranks there are many steep or banked tracks that need that bottom bracket high enough not to cause a crash. the end result of raising bottom brackets is a significant reason at to why track specific framesets end up with steep angles.

without disrespect you could ride a touring frame at Kissena and be fine.

ciao

Thanks Spirito. Just wondering if they raised the banks when they re-built the track. but i'll take a quick look at the kissena club page to see. Thanks again.

id forgotten that they were upgrading the track, if so and it has 17 degrees or something then i'll take back my earlier statement about a touring bike (shows how long i havent been down there).

ciao

following to what i mentioned earlier about high bottom brackets and crank/pedal clearance on banks ... any time you travel slow or ride high on the steeper banks is tricky. track frames will tend to be steep angled to accomodate this raising of the BB.

the below track is in Mexico City (where merckx did his best). it isnt the steepest from what i have heard either - sorry dont have official angles.

ciao

http://www.obra.org/track/images/history/work2.jpg

http://www.alpenrose.com/velo.htm

Check out the corners on thi one!

I'd say that a degree in head tube angle can make a diffrence in steering performance, especially when paired with a fork or long or short rake (or height). Frames are designed around certain forks, ideal tire sizes and stack heights of headsets. If you change those factors, the actuall frame angels can be thrown off several degrees. That really changes a bikes performance. Seat tube angle (within a degree or two) seems to infulece fit more then ride quality, in my experience.