Dolan Pre Cursa / PreCursa / Track Champion

If they were similar I wouldn't have such a hard time choosing now would I?

I'd have thought it be harder to choose which.

It's really straightforward, the Pompino is a decent everyday/CX/tourer, the Dolan's a track bike that happen to be fairly usable on the road after some tweaking (FXE even more so).

Mud? or road?

aluminium track frame v steel cyclocross style frame with canti/v mounts.

glad I'm not the only one wondering.

They're going to be completely different feeling bikes ideally suited to very different purposes, but both could be very good as commuters and everyday fixed bikes, and they're both very keenly priced framesets.

The bike will be my commuter. The place where I work is some 15 km from my house and in the three years that I've had my current job, I have never got there by any other means than by bike, regardless of weather conditions. I've had lots of fun commuting on a steel conversion but since that died recently, I've been riding an alu track frame to work, which is perfectly comfortable.

Most of the time by far and away, I run 23mm tyres and I will continue to do so. However, I need the frame to be able to accept bigger tyres comes winter, like my old conversion did. An On One Machinato probably sits somewhere between the Pomp and the Pre Cursa, but doesn't seem to have the tyre clearance I occasionally require.

The bike will be fixed wheel with only a front brake. That makes the canti bosses on the Pompino completely irrelevant for me. I have carbon road forks and a carbon cx fork kicking about, which means I can either get a Pomp and use the cx fork, or a Pre Cursa with road fork and only swap forks when I need the tyre clearance of the cx fork. The handling might be compromised by the increased axle to crown, but in the 9 months a year when I don't need that clearance, I'll benefit from the lightness and stiffness that an alu frame offers (point Pre Cursa). Then again, in the past 3 years of commuting, I've been in a couple of crashes that might have destroyed an alu frame. Also, it should be as unattractive to thieves as possible (point Pompino).

So yeah, I'm just not sure?

If it's your commuter, Pompino + your carbon CX fork win hand down*, the Pompino doesn't feel heavy to ride despite it's being steel and 400g heavier.

*IMHO.

I think I'd go pompino with the carbon cx fork. Probably be more comfortable as well, saving a bit of weight on wheels/tyres will make for a more lively ride if that's something you're after.

yeah, agreeing with ed. if only I hadn't checked over for typos he'd be agreeing with me.

I have that too, I just posted it, and then check for spelling, easier that way.

Don't bother getting the Macinato, it's basically a Pompino without all the benefit.

They're completely different bikes. Get rid of the ridiculous on one and get something that'll fit your t Rex brotherhoods syndrome.

The on one fits fine.

My dilemma is that I want a beater that I can get CX tyres in for the winter/mild off roading like canal and forest paths.
But then can also stick 23c slicks and short risers on and take the brakes off for a nippy town bike to throw around town.

The PC is a pretty complete package and it's cheap, I know I can get bigger tyres in it when I need to and that they ride well on slicks.

But then can also stick 23c slicks and short risers on and take the brakes off for a nippy town bike to throw around town.

My dilemma is that I want a beater that I can get CX tyres in for the winter/mild off roading like canal and forest paths.
But then can also stick 23c slicks and short risers on and take the brakes off for a nippy town bike to throw around town.

The PC is a pretty complete package and it's cheap, I know I can get bigger tyres in it when I need to and that they ride well on slicks.

Dude, you need a Steamroller.

Far too long.

He needs a Steamroller.

Small steamroller?

what about an older ish style FGFS frame? like a 2011 subrosa Malum for example

My dilemma is that I want a beater that I can get CX tyres in for the winter/mild off roading like canal and forest paths.
But then can also stick 23c slicks and short risers on and take the brakes off for a nippy town bike to throw around town.

The PC is a pretty complete package and it's cheap, I know I can get bigger tyres in it when I need to and that they ride well on slicks.

I think my Pompet with 28c tyres would do both well. I'd bike happy to ride over firm-ish grass, things like the Lea Valley path, and rougher canal towpaths easily and in comfort. For actual proper CX I'd want to put some knobblier tyres on but otherwise I think it's that versatile anyway.

reading through this thread I can see that the precursa can take wider tires, is the track champion the same? ideally I'd like to run a 28 on the rear and a 25 on the front.

nope, the TC is much tighter, you might just about get away with a 28, but certainly no bigger.

Dude, you need a Steamroller.
geo doesn't work for me at all.

I think my Pompet with 28c tyres would do both well. I'd bike happy to ride over firm-ish grass, things like the Lea Valley path, and rougher canal towpaths easily and in comfort. For actual proper CX I'd want to put some knobblier tyres on but otherwise I think it's that versatile anyway.

Small steamroller?

what about an older ish style FGFS frame? like a 2011 subrosa Malum for example

Impossible haha, small compact frame with my 37" inseam would mean I'd need about 450mm of seatpost showing.

I commuted on a pomp for 2 years - about 12 miles a day. I managed to use 'guards and 28mm tyres. I used the bike for occasional weekend rides of about/up to 40 miles. It was like pedalling a ship's anchor albeit a smooth one. Surely the whole point of a fixie is to dispense with gears and thus, in consequence, lighten the bike.
I may get a steam roller but only if it proves lighter than the pomp - any observations forumongers? The PC does look excellent value for money though.

Put a carbon fork on it.

Biggest improvement, and the Pompino weight similar to a Steamroller.

Doubt there's any noticeable difference in weight between the Steamroller and Pompino, but that's just guessing from holding them.

I took my Dolan on some pretty rough stuff before, was bare-able, maybe with like a Allcity Bigblock fork? then it would fit some knobby 28c's front and rear with decent clearance.

I have Columbus tusks and I have fitted 32c gators/28c knobblies on my PC.

The bike will be my commuter. The place where I work is some 15 km from my house and in the three years that I've had my current job, I have never got there by any other means than by bike, regardless of weather conditions. I've had lots of fun commuting on a steel conversion but since that died recently, I've been riding an alu track frame to work, which is perfectly comfortable.

Most of the time by far and away, I run 23mm tyres and I will continue to do so. However, I need the frame to be able to accept bigger tyres comes winter, like my old conversion did. An On One Machinato probably sits somewhere between the Pomp and the Pre Cursa, but doesn't seem to have the tyre clearance I occasionally require.

The bike will be fixed wheel with only a front brake. That makes the canti bosses on the Pompino completely irrelevant for me. I have carbon road forks and a carbon cx fork kicking about, which means I can either get a Pomp and use the cx fork, or a Pre Cursa with road fork and only swap forks when I need the tyre clearance of the cx fork. The handling might be compromised by the increased axle to crown, but in the 9 months a year when I don't need that clearance, I'll benefit from the lightness and stiffness that an alu frame offers (point Pre Cursa). Then again, in the past 3 years of commuting, I've been in a couple of crashes that might have destroyed an alu frame. Also, it should be as unattractive to thieves as possible (point Pompino).

So yeah, I'm just not sure?

Surely this is what you need?

I don't need the cable guides and drilled brake bridge, nor the bottle cage bosses. The PC has steel track end inserts and is 20 quid cheaper. Does the FXE have more tyre clearance than tha Pre Cursa?

At the end of the dropouts you'll find more clearence on the FXE than on end on the PC (longer chainstay on FXE).