Hoy Fiorenzuola or Dolan TC1?

** EDIT added discussion of Dolan TC1**

Dors anyone have any experience with either of these frames?
I'm thinking of changing out my Planet X carbon frame for something stiffer.
It might just be the marketing and the association with Big Chris himself, but the Hoy looks like it might be pretty stiff.
And it's not much money....

I know the Track Champion had it's fans and it's haters - does anyone know anything about the new(ish) TC1 ?

I'm fairly big, heavy (85kg+) and strong...

I have one of these! You can look at it here and stuff although I'm assuming you've already seen what it looks like:
http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/hoy-fiorenzuola-001-20445

The bike isn't particularly aerodynamic or anything but it seems pretty sturdy. I'm 80kg and have had no issues, but then you might be a more powerful rider so who knows. I've seen clips of Hoy riding it round (with an IO and Comete fitted!) so it cant be too bad. If you're ever in the North East you're welcome to have a go on it and see what you think. Some of the welds don't look too sharp but so far I've had no problems with it aside from the minor ones caused by having to buy it at Evans.

I'm guessing you'll put your own components on it, some of the stock parts (e.g. rear sprocket) aren't great to be honest.

Hey - thanks for this.
I like-a-your-bike-ah ! Nicely specced out.

Yeah, I'll be doing a straight frame swap and using the components I have - nothing as fancy as your gear but decent wheels & tubs.

Yeah the bike is probably a lot better than I really need it to be :-P

Chris always rides one when he does various bits on track these days. I've chatted to him about those bikes and he honestly says it's stiff enough for him to sprint on. Obviously it's not UKSI carbon GB squad frame 'stiff' but for a price-point alloy frame it's pretty decent.

Cheers Rob
If it's good enough for Chris Hoy....

I absolutely love your bike. It is so cleanly spec'ed out!

Looks pretty responsive and stiff also...

It's slightly different to the above picture now. The green stripes were my feeble attempt (using electricians tape) at putting team colours on the bike - it was the closest I could get. They've now been professionally done on the top tube in the right colour (limey yellowy/greeny colour) and the seat tube/bars are plain black. I had a crack at the hour record and one thing I learnt was that the saddle isn't to my tastes so I swapped it for a flatter 'PRO' saddle. Oh and I got rid of a spacer - looks nicer although I'm starting to think it might be slightly too low now. I'm not sure why there are no pedals in this picture :-P

Flipping heck the new version looks smart!

Funny seat stays though

Yeah they're kind of kinked, I think straight would have probably looked better.

there's a few at 40% off here http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/bikes/ex-demo-ex-display-bikes/f/hoy#! if you're an xl

I've had one for 2 full seasons now, its grand, my only complaint is that the dropouts aren't long enough to allow a good range of gears.

I have a complaint about this bike actually. I changed saddles recently, or at least I tried to, don't know if I've got part the wrong way round or something, but what a pain in the bum trying to get the bolts lined up! In the end I lost patience and went to the shop and bought a different post. To be fair, once you've picked a saddle you like you won't be taking it off much(/at all?) so it's not a big issue.

Regarding Hoy's track bike products, does any one if they're finally going to put this into production? There was talks about Evans making a limited number of these last year at the London Bike Show but so far no news:

http://www.shandcycles.com/bikes/special-projects/sp/?bike=hoy

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You can easily commission that with a framebuilder. Just a max frame and forks.

Are the dropouts particularly short ? Shorter than usual ?

I guess they could be slightly longer, but in general I think they're ok. I only tend to use 49/15 or 50/15 though. Here's a picture of the driveside and of the drop outs.

Looking at the geometry they seem pretty long in the top tube; 57cm for a medium (52.5cm seat tube)
http://images.evanscycles.com/product_document/file/841/909/6f7/2756/hoy-fiorenzuola-2014-geometry-chart.pdf

Has anyone found the frame 'long' ?
I'm 5'9" with relatively short legs. The size chart steers me towards a medium but I'm also pretty stiff backed so considering a small - 51 ST / 55.7 TT.
My current Planet X frame is 54 / 54 and I use an 80mm stem.
Any thoughts ?

Well I've not really thought about it but I always ride with quite a stretched out position whichever bike I'm on. Plus I'm not very bike fit fussy I guess.

I'm 6'1" and ride a large with a 120mm stem - although I've been considering a 110mm stem instead recently. Recently got told off at Manchester because they said my position was too aggressive :-/ Not really sure what they meant as I wasn't going there to take it easy! Conversely at the other velodrome I go to, the coach there said it looked spot on. Maybe I need some kind of pro bike fit, but I feel happy enough in myself though and surely that's all that matters :P

Cheers for that. It sounds like the top-tube length is a non-issue for you.

Re the coach's comments - the only way I can think that your position would be a problem is if it's adversely affecting your ability to a) generate power or b) control the bike.
But it sounds like you're pretty happy with the fit so I reckon keep doing what you're doing!

As mentioned above, Sir Chris does his appearance work on one, was at Manc last week (blurry pic warning)

Sir Chris does his appearance work on one

With better wheels, bars, saddle and a pair of tyres that wont get you kicked out most UK velodromes, fitted.

He-he. Fair enough to do a 'little' upgrade here and there I s'pose

** EDIT added discussion of Dolan TC1**
I know the Track Champion had it's fans and it's haters - does anyone know anything about the new(ish) TC1 ?