Best (new) fixed frame? Need to rebuild

Hi Guys, I used to be a forum regular but I've been elsewhere for the last couple of years. I'm back because I'm hoping for some good advice about a new track/fixed frame.

My beloved Giant Kronos [http://www.londonfgss.com/thread708-5.html#post27852] is giving up the ghost. The bottom bracket threads on the frame are corroded and stripped, and the last time I replaced the BB I got the bike shop to glue it in place with apoxy resin. I should've been more patient and got a threadless BB. The BB now needs replacing but I can't get it out of the frame, so I'll need to do a rebuild.

So far I've narrowed the frame choice down to...

• Bob Jackson Vigorelli [http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=307]
  
• Intec (used to be Fort) p1 track [http://soniccycles.co.uk/products2.php]
  
• Condor Potenza [http://www.condorcycles.com/potenza.html]
  
• Mercian Super Vigorelli [http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frame_vigorelli.asp]
  
• Dolan Track Champion [http://www.parker-international.co.uk/4236/Dolan-Track-Champion-Track-Frame.html]
  
  

Not sure whether to go for alu or steel. Of the lugged steel framesets I prefer the Bob Jackson to the Mercian, but there's a 6-week wait I think. I've heard the Fort frames are good, and it'll build up to a nice light bike.

Anyone have any thoughts or other suggestions, or any experience of any of these frames?

P.S. The forks off the Kronos will be available if anyone wants them. They're 1inch straight bladed ITM carbon forks with an aluminium steerer. I haven't measured the rake, but it's about normal I reckon, so about 45mm. Drilled for brakes. Only trouble is that the steerer tube is cut fairly short (the head tube on the Kronos is only about 9cm, and there's a 12mm spacer), so your head tube would have to be no longer than about 105mm for it to fit.

pm'd forks

what will the bike be used for?

commuting?

racing?

racing / commuting?

bricklane shopping?

what will the bike be used for?

commuting?

racing?

racing / commuting?

bricklane shopping?

Commuting IS racing.

I'll use it for getting around (commute, pub, shopping), not velodrome or racing though. Will generally do no more than about 15 miles a day on it, might sometimes go 10 miles across London but I'm not spending the whole day in the saddle, so alu might be ok.

Alu will be fine, I ride an Alu track frame for 2 hour plus rides and find no problems with it. Seem to be on my own but I think the whole alu uncomfortable/steel comfortable thing is completely overblown. Tyres, seat and overall bike fit are what makes a bike comfortable to me.

The Mercian if you can wait/have the money, otherwise the BJ.

Cheers for the advice kerley. I think I'll go for the Fort and put some carbon forks on it.

An update.

It turns out there was was nothing wrong with the bottom bracket. When I stripped the frame down I noticed that this had happened...

I decided to go alu with carbon bits, and I've bought an Intec (Fort) P1 Track. I should have the bike built up in about 5 weeks, I'll post a photo or something when it's done.

An update.

It turns out there was was nothing wrong with the bottom bracket. When I stripped the frame down I noticed that this had happened...

I decided to go alu with carbon bits, and I've bought an Intec (Fort) P1 Track. I should have the bike built up in about 5 weeks, I'll post a photo or something when it's done.

wow... thats should be fairly hard to miss.

serotta legend fixed

awesome

has been on the track, up ditchling beacon, done 100+ miles in a day etc etc

wow... thats should be fairly hard to miss.

I pushed the tubes apart for the photo. When I noticed it, it was all in line but with a couple of millimetres gap where it had busted.

So far I've narrowed the frame choice down to...

[*]Bob Jackson Vigorelli [http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=307]

CRAP

[*]Intec (used to be Fort) p1 track [http://soniccycles.co.uk/products2.php]
**
CRAP**

[*]Condor Potenza [http://www.condorcycles.com/potenza.html]

CRAP

[*]Mercian Super Vigorelli [http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frame_vigorelli.asp]

LOVELY

[*]Dolan Track Champion [http://www.parker-international.co.uk/4236/Dolan-Track-Champion-Track-Frame.html]

CRAP

Best new frames IMHO are BMW Gangsta Track, and maybe the Cinelli Mash, Or the Volume Cutter V3 and though I've yet to see one the Miluwakke Bruiser. Or for a more old school look the Orlowski Track wins for cost effectiveness and geometry. Much nicer then Bobby Js.

mercian super vigorelli crap? I like the orlowski but its no mercian. As for the BMW and volume they have a place for certain uses but are over engineered for most. The cinelli vigorell looks like it was welded by a chimp when you put it next to the craft of a supercorsa. Far too much cash for an alu frame of that quality...

Can you read?
I said the Mercian was lovely, and Cinelli Mash, not Vigorelli, which is ghastly but under half the price of a supercorsa.