Dolan Pre Cursa / PreCursa / Track Champion

nice build, id on grips?

Thanks. They're brev m track grips. Black/white marbled color.

Looks like (only) the black version now has smooth welds except for the bb-area. makes the frame/bike look alot nicer imho...

always hated the welds on my old pre cursa :-/

Yup, it's the newest omnium compatible version. Only in black for now.

Good spot, does look very nice!
Smooth welds on such an inexpensive frame --- sacrilege!
Think I prefer the old rough 'n' ready sort of look.

Nice! Making me even more tempted to finally join the Dolan owners club.

I'm usually a 56cm (skinny steel + modern road bikes) - so will a 56cm do me? Does the Pre Cursa come up small/big or just about right?

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Hated the welds? I think the rough welds just add to the appeal of a cheap, do everything kinda bike!

Also Ktown i think i went a size smaller on my pc, dunno why, but i like the feel of it so, maybe size down, Or.. listen to someone who actually knows what their talking about!

Most people find them 'long and low'.
Depends on the lengths of top tube you're used to from your existing bikes, but most people seem to size down slightly. If you have long legs, size down, and if you have a long body vs. your legs, stick with 56.

and/or check the geo on Dolans website and compare with what you ride now.

Cool, thanks for that.

If anything I think my torso is slightly on the short side, but I'm a shade under 6ft and just looking at the 54cm my back is hurting. I think I would need a pretty big spacer stack. Think I'll try the 56cm and run an inline post/shortish stem.

I really shouldn't be starting another project but the gun metal just looks ace.

No problem. We're the same height, but it's my legs that are slightly shorter. I run an inline post with no spacers and a 110mmx17deg stem.

I couldn't decide on getting 56 or 58. Thank god I opted for 58. It fits me perfect. I'm 6'10 with longish legs. Running a 110 -6 stem with one 50mm spacer and inline seatpost.

Just had an email back from Dolan confirming Omnium compatibility and smooth welds on the new batch coming in. I realise this was already confirmed previously in this thread but I wanted it in writing from the horses mouth...

Also (not sure if this is common knowledge yet) - they're saying the new ones are triple butted (as opposed to double butted previously)

I don't know anything about butting. :) But they told me also about the smooth welds and omnium compatibility. I can only confirm it's light and stiff as f%ck. But I'm not the best judge on lightness cause my previous ride is KHS Flite 100. This one feels lighter.

I was coming from a lugged steel frame and the welds are just big - not badly made... i just didn't like looking at them and thus did it all the time...

mine was from 2011 btw and even cheaper than they are today - bought it from dolan on ebay for about 180€ frame+fork+headset+seatpost clamp

Welds

Bike

I kinda miss the bike at times. Stiff and fun to ride. I think it had a shorter TT than the current version. Was replaced by a Moda Forte after a year or so (that i miss too)

I just wish they weren't so ruddy long. I'd probably have bought one by now but even the 50cm has a reach of nearly 400mm which is just fucking daft. Most bikes equivalent size have a reach in the ballpark of 375mm, they managed it with the TC1, size 50 has a TT of 515mm, reach of about 374mm. Shame they didn't get that right on the pre cursa.

Anyone know the stack & reach on Pursuit Champion?

If you have the geo; bikegeo.net voila

Also very very handy for comparing frames.

That's an awesome site! Thanks!

Anyone have any geometry numbers for a Pursuit Champion?

Not certain, but I believe the geo. of the Pursuit Champion was identical to the size 54 Track Champion, except with the head tube from the size 52 version, in order to give lower stack more suitable for pursuit events on tri-bars, and to allow the top tube to nestle nicely under the tall twin bolt integrated clamp portion of the seat tube.
The BB drop might also be slightly greater, as mine appear a little lower than my Pre Cursa when they're standing next to each other.
It's a rare beast. I keep meaning to email Dolan for some reliable information on the history of those frames @user70368 , but from what I've read online and heard from people in the know, they only made about 70, all in the same size, all in black, and the only available option being whether or not you wanted decals fitting.
It's the most bad-ass production frame they ever made (IMO!).

This is allegedly what the geometry of the Track Champ was when it was still in production:
http://loewenzahn-bikes.ch/bikes/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Dolan-Track-Champion-FrameSet.jpg

NOTE: The current TC1 does not have the same geo. as the Track Champ: head tube is slacker, slightly different lengths and angles elsewhere, different seat clamp arrangement (the most obvious difference), and less elaborate forming of the rear end tubes, maybe to make it more compliant and less likely to crack on the street, as well as to lower manufacturing costs.

That's some great info, thanks!

Just decided to join the Pre Cursa club as wanted something nimble for fair-weather commutes, riding around town and whatnot as an alternative to always riding my steel audax bike.

I double-checked with Dolan about Omnium compatibility this week and they confirmed current stock of black and gunmetal grey frames are compatible. Overall, I'm impressed. The grey colour way is much nicer than I expected and the smooth welds at the headtube and seat cluster are very nice.

It has tight clearance at the seatstay bridge with a 25c tyre (Durano Plus, measured at 26.5 mm) slammed in the dropouts, although no problems at the chainstays. A 28c will fit, but not slammed forward as the seatstay bridge limits it.

Some weights...

• Frame 1.83 kg (Dolan claim 1.78 kg for same size frame)
  
• Alpina track fork 566 g
  
• Alpina post 294 g
  
• Alpina headset 83 g
  
• Alpina seat clamp 15 g
  

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