Lemond Fillmore 08 vs Fuji Track 08 vs Charge Plug 09

Ok cheers fellas the Fuji it is, all i need to work out now is do i need a 52cm or a 54cm frame?
I'm 5ft 8" with a 30.5 inside leg and light green eyes.. :)

I'm 5'9'' and went for the 56

Charge Plug. Wicked bike.

I bought one 2 weeks ago. I got a small as the sizing is a bit fucked up (I am 5 10ish and ride a 54+ road bike usually). My other bikes are an old Rockhopper that I was commuting on and a Specialized Roubaix Elite 2009 which I am training on for London to Paris in July.

The Plug looks the nuts and is great fun to ride. It is a bit lardy (not unlike myself) but still fast as you like. None of your power feels like it is wasted... It is so simple. Nothing to worry about apart from riding and enjoying.

I am using it for my commute - 9 miles each way Crystal Palace to Marylebone each day and I can still make it up the hill to CP at the end of the day, albeit slightly sweaty and out of breath.

I rode it SS for a week and am now riding it fixed which I am loving. Downhills are no longer my favourite bit, but my confidence is already increasing and I currently still have both brakes on and a good pair of legs, so lots of ways of keeping the speed under control, but it is still a bit unnerving at times.

I am riding flat pedals, which are good... But maybe SPDs would give me more control... What do people recommend for riding fixed as a newbie?

This is my first post, btw, but have read a lot of posts on here and got loads of useful info and plenty of amusement. You all seem like a nice bunch. Looking forward to doing some rides with you all once I have mastered the art of fixed.

Cheers

Joe

Charge Plug. Wicked bike.

I am riding flat pedals, which are good... But maybe SPDs would give me more control... What do people recommend for riding fixed as a newbie?

Cheers

Joe

go clipless, it will give you way more control, as you can pull up on the front pedal, so you can control speed much better..

Anyboby know where i might get a 52cm Fuji Track?

Ta

My preference between Charge and Fugi would probably be Charge. I owned a Fugi for a while, now i own a Plug. Fugi was a lot lighter, definitely more responsive handling, plus a higher BB, so better for corners. Plug comes with better components, and is a lot more fun to ride IMO. Great for tricks and generally throwing around. If you just want to commute on one of them, Fugi is probably the way to go. I love the Plug, wish it was a little lighter, but it's too much fun for that to bother me.

for me the filmore as i did like mine, and prefer its looks to the others

but id change the bars

How about a Giant Bowery does this compare with the Fuji? i had a look at one today it felt good and super lite...

go for the Fuji,

I've had mine for years now, it's since been upgraded quite a bit. As said before it's a great frame to use as a canvas to start from.

Mine's a bit disco now though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristlypioneer/2578349476

lol that's ur bike pioneer?!
i've been poking around in flickr seeing different set ups of fuji tracks.
got some 38mm handlebars for mine today.... waiting for the bar tape in the post.

had mine for a month now - bought in evans using price match - got it for 275ish.
really nice to ride, more responsive compared to plug racer (weight?)
i like the gearing as i dont spin out that often, (as i do on my 18T freewheel flipflop)

Nice pics mate, I took the plunge on the Fuji this afternoon with a price match from Evans, had to go with the 54cm so we will see if it fits.....still looking at othe options as i have 28 days tif i need to return it.

for your needs, go for the fuji

go clipless, it will give you way more control, as you can pull up on the front pedal, so you can control speed much better..

i got a pair of SPDs for my fixie plug today. feels much better and i can relax more. i am not sure about pulling up with the front pedal, i seem to be pushing down on the back pedal more... it is a whole new set of muscles though and my legs are feeling the change! won't take long to build them up though.

i got a pair of SPDs for my fixie plug today. feels much better and i can relax more. i am not sure about pulling up with the front pedal, i seem to be pushing down on the back pedal more... it is a whole new set of muscles though and my legs are feeling the change! won't take long to build them up though.

try conciously (duh) pulling up, you will find that you stop slower than just pushing down on rear pedal.. does take a bit of getting used to...

i jiust bought myself a Fuji track 09.
it's really nice to ride.

get it.
i alos considered getting the charge plug.

Does anyone know where I can find a 'cheap' new Fuji Track, either 08 or 09 model?

I'm 5'7" so probably need a 52cm (anyone able to confirm this?) but I can't find one online for less than about £400 (whilst an 08 61cm model is available for only £276!).

Will find it hard to justify spending £400 seeing as I'll also need to budget for a new saddle, pedals, bars, brakes and possibly tyres...

cheers
sqvrt

My favourite OTP under £500 has always been the genesis flyer. Its not the trendiest looking fixed gear bike, but it apparantly has is a nice ride. If you are after somethiing that rides like a road bike (massive generalisation of road bikes, sorry), it's a good bet.

Nicest handling bike I've rode, well my father one was a geared version, but if it the same one sans track end, it's defintely a great bike, comfortable, yet still fast enough for London.

Does anyone know where I can find a 'cheap' new Fuji Track, either 08 or 09 model?

try here http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/16384/Fuji_Track_2008

try here http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/16384/Fuji_Track_2008

Thanks for that linas - I did actually look at the winstanleys website this morning but couldn't find the Fuji Track when I looked under the 'single speed bikes' category. It's obvious now that I should've looked under the 'road bikes' category instead...

Anyway, they have a 54cm model in stock - not sure if this would be too big for me though. I currently ride a 54cm Specialized road bike which has a compact frame, but I'm slightly worried that a 54cm track geom frame may be a tad too big. I've emailed winstanleys asking them if they expect to get any more 52cm frames as I think I'd prefer a bike slightly too small than one which is a touch too big.

i think the general consensus on track bikes is to go a little smaller than your road bike sizing...

i think the general consensus on track bikes is to go a little smaller than your road bike sizing...

yeah, that's what I thought, and I prefer my bikes, whether road, track, mtb etc. to be slightly on the smaller side anyway.

if anyone reading this happens to be around 5'7" AND own a fuji track I'd appreciate your comments regarding what size frame might be most suitable - and yes, I appreciate that bike sizing is a personal thing so no guarantee that what suits someone else of the same height would also suit me, but any feedback would be very helpful nonetheless!

cheers,
sqvrt

try conciously (duh) pulling up, you will find that you stop slower than just pushing down on rear pedal.. does take a bit of getting used to...

Yeah have tried that - doesn't feel very natural... But I will persevere.

Thanks for the tips, Rob.

Foot retention of some sort is a must, unless you plan on running a back brake forever. I favour clipless for longer rides, and cages and straps for shorter rides, as you can wear normal shoes.

Cages and straps will mean that you can practice your trackstands without fear of falling over when your still clipped in.

You can also put heap more power through your upstroke with straps - clipless tend to pop out after a point, particularly as they age, but they do have a more direct feel to them.

Practice pedaling with one leg, and putting power on throughout the revolution (up, down, forward and back).

Have started doing the one foot thing already... Good way of practicing full revolutions.

With the Plug there is a fair bit of toe overlap at lowspeeds (and trackstands) I am regularly getting toe strike...

I am used to spds, so I will give them a go first and see how I go.

I find it hard to believe that people ride sans brake... I am 17+ stone and go down hills like a train. The thought of trying to slow down (or stop) on a steep hill with just the pedals/back wheel scares the crap out of me... Danger! Will keep both brakes for now and if and when I commit to fixed on the Plug I will remove the back one I reckon.

Thanks for the advice, Tiswas.

if anyone reading this happens to be around 5'7" AND own a fuji track I'd appreciate your comments regarding what size frame might be most suitable - and yes, I appreciate that bike sizing is a personal thing so no guarantee that what suits someone else of the same height would also suit me, but any feedback would be very helpful nonetheless!

cheers,
sqvrt

I am 5'9" and I still have the seat post up about 4 inches on a 56 frame. I'm sure you could safely fit on a 54.

Also, to give a different perspective on the 'twitchy' fuji, I'm not particularly super fit or flexible, or even that good a rider. But after a short time on the fuji (and a switch to straight bars, front brake, and a charge seat) I haven't had any problems at all. After a year I still love it.

The 'twitchy' aspect seemed to vanish after adding the straight bar, but it still felt so much more direct and fun than the plug which I also tried (albeit in stock form).

This is not to take away from the plug which looks great and felt very safe and solid - a great all weather bike. But the fuji has a sort of explosiveness that is hugely addictive. It looks fast just sitting there leaning up against the wall - as if it is urging you to take it out and thrash it - even if all you needed to do was go out and buy a pint of milk.