Lemond Fillmore 08 vs Fuji Track 08 vs Charge Plug 09

get this

http://condorcycles.com/classicopista.html

get this

http://condorcycles.com/classicopista.html

if you can find it for <£400 on a ride2work scheme then i will.

I love riding my Fuji around town, that "twitchiness" keeps you alert.

Beware of wet metal though. Those OEM tyres love to slip.

1. Fuji Track FTW, rode a plug and the fuji is much nippier/responsive/lighter handling, haven't ridden a Lemond though.

2. Is it just me who doesn't think of a track bike's handling as twitchy? I suppose it is a subjective term but I find they have a fair bit of understeer which leads to you having to rely on weight shifting to turn and move resulting in a very smooth turn. To me BMXs with wide handlebars are 'twitchy' as you can make very small adjustments with the handlebars that result in quite big turns.

at least someone else thinks that im sick of people slagging off the plug its a awsome frame...it is heavy but u can throw it about.....if i got the fuji track i would be afraid to ride it....it looks so frail like a oap

+100 I love my plug, don't care about the heavyness just makes me HTFU

I probably would've bought a Plug if it had been a bit larger.

Hogwash. Fuji Track is great for negotiating city streets.

I agree. The impression I got was that the OP wanted something more relaxed. I may be misreading that of course

thanks for the thoughts everyone. i'm finding it hard to decide between the fuji with freewheel/brakes and the lemond. tricky decision.

i think the plug looks like a fine bike but perhaps more for east end weekend riding - for my daily 14 mile round trip including some hills and stuff i think i'd rather go for something a bit lighter.

cheers! i may end up flipping a coin.

If that's what you narrowed it down to, go with the Fuji!

If that's what you narrowed it down to, go with the Fuji!

what makes the fuji better than the fillmore? are you just saying that because you own one? ;)
thanks again for the advice :)

1. Is it just me who doesn't think of a track bike's handling as twitchy? I suppose it is a subjective term but I find they have a fair bit of understeer which leads to you having to rely on weight shifting to turn and move resulting in a very smooth turn. To me BMXs with wide handlebars are 'twitchy' as you can make very small adjustments with the handlebars that result in quite big turns.
   
   

I think people are making an assumption that a track bike will be twitchy without understanding trail and rake. A shorter rake fork can offset the steeper head angle making the trail equal to a longer rake shallower head angle frame. And we are only talking about 0.5 - 1 degree on head angle and up to 1 cm on fork.

The thing that makes track bikes worse/dfifferent on the road for me is the higher bottom bracket and steeper seat angle which puts the body more over the front of the bike hence putting more weight on the bars and creating different handling. This may be what some people don't like?

Firstly, the Fuji frame is sensational. Its what you pay for, the components are bog standard and the crank aint great if you really put it through its paces. But in terms of robustness the frame is great.

Second, "twitchiness" from track frames, like the Fuji, comes from the geometry of the frame. (duh, I know) generally you'll find a harsher ride and more twitchiness on bikes that have a crossbar that is close to parallel to the ground, or even moves away from ground level towards the seat post. Think of it as the oposite of very relaxed geometry on mountain bikes where the cross bar sweeps down away from the handle bars. Track bikes usually have higher cranks too which adds to the responsiveness and "twitchiness".

Road bikes and tourers etc generally have more relaxed frame geometry than track bikes.

I faced a similar choice and chose the Fuji over the Plug. I'm pleased with my decision. Particularly when you consider upgrading. The fuji frame is better so keeping it an upgrading parts as they become required is the way to go for cheap, solid riding.

On the negative side they look invisible, especially when taped up so are far less likely to get noticed (this is a positive for me as I hope she wont get knicked - but why get a fixed if its not all about aesthetic and locking up at the Shoreditch triangle?)

Peace

I think people are making an assumption that a track bike will be twitchy without understanding trail and rake. A shorter rake fork can offset the steeper head angle making the trail equal to a longer rake shallower head angle frame. And we are only talking about 0.5 - 1 degree on head angle and up to 1 cm on fork.

+1

The thing that makes track bikes worse/dfifferent on the road for me is the higher bottom bracket and steeper seat angle which puts the body more over the front of the bike hence putting more weight on the bars and creating different handling. This may be what some people don't like?

Which is one of the reasons why it is a good idea to look at the top tube length compared to the seat tube length.

Have an '08 fillmore, and I love it. I did start riding in June last year, and it's been running without complaints since then, mostly doing 8 miles commuts to work for up to 4 times a week.

Had to get new tyres just two weeks ago, but that's about it.

I use the freewheel side of the hub, and still the whole thing is really really silent.

The stem is reversible, so if you need to bring the handlebars up you can just flip it around (I mention this because it helped me to get rid of my neck pain and numb hands, that I had when it was pointing downwards).

Had a go on the '08 plug, and that was shockingly heavy in comparison and didn't feel like it was rolling as well.

Had a go on the '08 plug, and that was shockingly heavy in comparison and didn't feel like it was rolling as well.
fillmore's are just as heavy as plugs!

fuji track's are too cheap and nasty. plug or go a bianchi pista.

what makes the fuji better than the fillmore? are you just saying that because you own one?

I don't fucking own one! Nor do I own a Plug. I don't care what you buy!

I think that the Filmore is ugly, but that is just an opinion. Any one of those bikes will be fine. Make up your mind, go for it and enjoy it.

there is an intersting lack of mention of the lemond fillmore in this thread. anyone have any ideas why that might be? it does look a bit sort of.. average..

I have a Fillmore now my Holdsworth is being fixed. Its a nice frame but would definitely replace the cranks / bb if you can. Also, my chainline was out when i bought it... didn't take much to put right.

@dogsballs: If you say so? Maybe it just felt heavier? Maybe it was the ownership bias? Whatever ...[URL="http://www.londonfgss.com/member478.html"][/URL]

Don't forget to check out the swobo sanchez, I love mine, and comes with a good solid spec as standard, steel frame and forks but not that heavy at all, and very durable, I mean it tolerates all 16 odd stone of me tricking on it and messing around, plus bombing it 9 miles to work (as of recently) jumpin up and down kerbs speedbumps etc......
I haven't got the standard bike (just the frame and forks), but the standard spec is pretty decent, arguably better if not equal to most mentioned there, and its certainly very maneuvarable and flickable through traffic :), I like the geometry for sure. http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_info_b.php?cPath=201_208 I ride a slightly small bike for my size (6 ft 2), i'm on the 55cm frame, but it fits me well and I like it.

fillmore's are just as heavy as plugs!

fuji track's are too cheap and nasty. plug or go a bianchi pista.

Not true. Plug is heavier. Not saying the Fillmore is really lightwieght, but it does have double-butted tubing, which helps shave a bit of weight.

http://bricklanebikes.co.uk/article/17/new-swobo-sanchez

Only people I could find that stock the sanchez, a few guys stock their other bikes though so may be able to order in a sanchez also...?

I love the way the Plug looks and it seems to have decent stuff on it but the sizing seems weird to me, the large looks like a gate and don't get me started on the weight....

go for the Kona Paddy Wagon, light, not to relaxed geometry and ok components

http://bricklanebikes.co.uk/article/17/new-swobo-sanchez

Only people I could find that stock the sanchez, a few guys stock their other bikes though so may be able to order in a sanchez also...?

http://www.stif.co.uk/shop/mb_frames_products.asp?manufacturer=Swobo%20Frames&id=100&store=mtb

£175 frame & Fork only.

Yeah stif just reduced it recently I think, I didn't post that up though because I thought he was only looking for a complete bike, but I imagine they could probably order that in also.

I've got a Fuji (£295 + £25 Shimano 105 front brake + £15 Dirty Harry brake lever). I ride it through the West End the whole time and love it more than my own children. However if I had Gordon Brown paying for half my bike, as you do, I would go for something pricier, lighter and cooler-looking from BLB.