Dolan Pre Cursa / PreCursa / Track Champion

I spoke to Dolan about this when I bought my bike, the fella says it can be drilled but there is quite alot of flex in the fork under breaking, he advised I take the road fork.

On a side note, I've got a Moda Forte and although the fork comes undrilled, it can be drilled, although I was told on at least one occasion that it's unadvisable due to "fork-stretch", which I guess is the same as ^.

road fork = more rake, less overlap, and brake-ready.

toe overlap isn't a problem, just part of the design sadly.

Considering a new bike and am liking the look and price of the Dolan Track Champion.

I'm highly unlikely to ever use it on the track. It will probably be mostly city commutes of 10 miles a day and the odd 20 mile weekend ride about town.

Just looking for some advice on whether it is a suitable and practical enough bike for this or whether I should look elsewhere. ie are the clearences too tight? Will the supplied rims (Navigator) and forks take dropping off curbs. Is it comfortable enough riding around for longer distances?

Other than that, are the decals removable and what's the paint job like, resiliant to locking up?

Also, any advice on sizing would be appreciated. I'm 5'9-5'10 and inside leg is 30".

Cheers.

Why would you be dropping off curbs? Only children ride on footpaths. ~56cm

A track set up for 20 mile rides is a personal choice. Your question is a bit like asking us how many spacers you should use for the right handlebar height.
Whatever feels right.
Liking the look, and the price isnt the best start. Find someone who has a track champ, and go for a spin. Imagine 20 miles plus, and you'll have your answer......After your 20 miles, drop a few curbs, and i guarantee you'll know whether its a good choice.
Kind regards
A track champ owner - who only rides it on the track. :)

Three months with the Pre-Cursa now and I'm still really pleased with it. Only flaw so far is the paint job. Looks good but chips when you glance at it let alone knock it with a lock.

^ my pre-cursa frame arrived yesterday - I haven't built it up yet but paint job allready looks fragile at best, once it gets knackered I will get it prob get it powdercoated. Was impressed by the service from dolan very professional.

I've had a Pre Cursa since October, its all great, I am even starting to like the multitude of paint chips. I think in a year its going to look like one of those metal fleck paint jobs.

Use it on the track and don't clumsily lock it up outside a pub, no problem. I.e the paint is fine for its original intended use.

For me, my PC is my runaround/pub bike so I quite like it looking a bit beaten up.

J0nathan: Can't help you with most of your questions but I know the paint job on the TC is far more suitable for use one the road with locks...nowhere near as chip friendly as the PC

Why would you be dropping off curbs? Only children ride on footpaths. ~56cm

I'm asking if the particular wheelset will stand up to the typical knocks and bumps of city riding or if they are pure track.

A track set up for 20 mile rides is a personal choice. Your question is a bit like asking us how many spacers you should use for the right handlebar height.
Whatever feels right.
Liking the look, and the price isnt the best start. Find someone who has a track champ, and go for a spin. Imagine 20 miles plus, and you'll have your answer......After your 20 miles, drop a few curbs, and i guarantee you'll know whether its a good choice.
Kind regards
A track champ owner - who only rides it on the track. :)

Just want to know generally if the geometry is friendly for longer rides. Not going to ride it on the track...

Use it on the track and don't clumsily lock it up outside a pub, no problem. I.e the paint is fine for its original intended use.

For me, my PC is my runaround/pub bike so I quite like it looking a bit beaten up.

J0nathan: Can't help you with most of your questions but I know the paint job on the TC is far more suitable for use one the road with locks...nowhere near as chip friendly as the PC

Thanks, good to know!

I'm asking if the particular wheelset will stand up to the typical knocks and bumps of city riding or if they are pure track.

Didn't realise you plan to buy OTP. Which wheel option are you going for? I assume the Omega or Navigator and not rhe Mavic Elipse.

I've never riden Navigators but I can definitely vouch for the Mach1 Omega wheels being fine for London pothole and curb abuse. Very solid rims. I've got a pair of Omega's as training wheels on my road bike at the moment and I've had other Mach1 rims with no problems at all. Their whole range seems to be robust.

Thanks, good to know!

But don't drop a pedal wrench on the underside of the top tube like I did before even riding my TC lookalike frame.

On that subject, Varno's V-Sprint track bikes look a lot like the TC and are close in terms of stiffness, weight and paint-job quality. Not sure how the prices compare though.

Didn't realise you plan to buy OTP. Which wheel option are you going for? I assume the Omega or Navigator and not rhe Mavic Elipse.

I've never riden Navigators but I can definitely vouch for the Mach1 Omega wheels being fine for London pothole and curb abuse. Very solid rims. I've got a pair of Omega's as training wheels on my road bike at the moment and I've had other Mach1 rims with no problems at all. Their whole range seems to be robust.

Yeah, looking at the different wheel options here

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/track-bikes/alloy/Track%20Champion%20Track%20Bike?product_id=239

basically want the toughest deep section ones. Looks like the Mach1 is the default option...

Waiting for Dolan to get back to me on a couple of questions inc colour - looks like the Track Champ is only avail in white on the site, but I've seen black ones before.

I'm also considering a Dodici, which seem really well priced and they've got a 48h wheelset option: http://www.dodicicicli.com/
[URL="http://www.dodicicicli.com/"][/URL]

Omega's aren't deep section. Navigators are semi-deep...about the same as DP18...35mm I think.

I'd go for the skinniest rims possible for city riding personally...don't want all that extra weight to spin up each time you hit a set of lights.

if you buy the Omega Mach1 wheelset around on ebay and that be careful because they come with very shit hubs. I stripped threading on one very easily.

Was thinking about buying a Dolan Seta, wanted to build a light fixed for the street. I just didn't find enough reviews to be confortable with the purchase and I can't test it cause I'm overseas. Any seta owners out there can chime in?

Navigators are still turning true after 4 months of being smashed over slippery cobbles and pot holes big enough to hide a child in.

And there are £99 for the pair now...bargain

Was thinking about buying a Dolan Seta, wanted to build a light fixed for the street. I just didn't find enough reviews to be confortable with the purchase and I can't test it cause I'm overseas. Any seta owners out there can chime in?

Dude I have see a dude with it, look so sweet, but the forks comes undrilled.
Slighthy sloppy geometry as well.
Overall awesome track bike...but for road I would go Track champion, even pre cursa!

a track bike with steep angles (track champion, pre curs a) is a better choice for the road than a 'sloppy' Seta. mmmm.

This Seta with the setup pictured I had the pleasure to accompany around 1000miles on the Danish roads - the owner is so pleased with the Seta on the road, he had previously owned both TC and Pre Cursa. http://velospace.org/node/39815

Navigators are still turning true after 4 months of being smashed over slippery cobbles and pot holes big enough to hide a child in.

3 years on mine, never trued, still running smooth (if not as true as they were new)