Velodrome - Track Gear, Tools, Saddles, Gloves etc.

The clamp area is wide enough for most 31.8 stems, then the diameter drops to the usual size quickly. They look a bit rubbish but I can't see how that makes them less stiff than the standard alu ones?

It doesn't make them less stiff than standard bars, it's just a poor way of using whatever amount of metal they decided was appropriate if the aim is to get the maximum stiffness for a given weight. It annoys me as an engineer/physicist/mathematician/whatever and because of that it also annoys me aesthetically. I'm sure I'd not notice if I rode them blind.

If you go to Wednesday night league you will see guys on t3's with disc wheels being beaten by kids on hire bikes.

Didn't know Tester rode Herne Hill.

Well, that will teach me. I was going to make a similar gag when dan first posted that

If you go to Thursday night TTs you will see guys on t3's with disc wheels being beaten by kids on hipster bikes..

The logical answer to this is for you to give me your t3

Lets not rush into anything. Do you deserve it? You're not as fast as I was at your age, and we won't know for a quarter of a century whether you will be as fast as me at my age.

My Current Setup - SPECIFICATIONS

Frame - Jamis Sputnik 2012

Reynolds 520 double-butted chromoly main tubes with SST tubing diameters, sloping top tube frame design, double-tapered cromo stays, lost wax rear entry dropouts with single eyelet

Fork - Jamis

Lugged chromoly straight blade with lost wax sloping crown, forged dropouts with single eyelet

Headset

Alloy Acor Blood Red headset,1 1/8” Sealed

Wheels

Front - Alex DA-13 aero rim, 32H, Formula alloy track hub and 14g stainless steel spokes
Rear - Halo Aerorage (Black) with Halo Fixed/Fixed hub

Tires

Continental Gatorskin Hardshells, 700 x 23

Chain

KMC 1 1/8th Track Chain with 1 half link

Cassette

Velodrome Stainless steel 14/15 Fixed

Crankset

Eighth Inch 46T, 160mm
Brev M. 48T/50T - Chainrings
Stronglight Steel Chainring Bolts

BB Set

FSA sealed cartridge, 68 x 110.5mm

Pedals

Time Atac XC2

Handlebar

Nitto B123 Steel 340mm & Nitto b123aa 350mm

Stem

System EX Stem 1 1/8 x 25.4mm Handlebar stem, 65 degree drop x 75mm length

Grips

Condor Red Track Grips

Seat Post

27.2 x 300mm Stainless Steel with alloy clamp

Saddle

Selle San Marco Royale

Sizes

57cm

Color

Monterey Grey

Weight

25 lbs

Approximately - 11.34Kg pretty hefty in Track terms currently but solid and runs smooth.

Still lighter than my previous Reynolds 531 Raleigh

Definitely over thinking it, just do done whip skid and go to Herne Hill instead.

what's the cost of all that?

what's the cost of all that?

Bought them bit by bit over time either because I got rid of other parts/failed or tried little upgrades.

Rather than a complete overhaul. Which is my next step when building my dream ride. But that will take some experience, more research and testing.

plus some items came up second hand rather than new.

sorry, I read it wrong. I thought that was your proposed setup.

Seems like a decent enough set up.

Buy some new tyres first.. then make sure your contact points are as you want them. Then worry about everything else later.

Been dreaming about a proposed setup but don't have experience to decide what works bet for me in the Velo arena. Dream setup will come in time.

But it's great hearing ideas about what setups people are riding/currently using.

Plus their rationale behind their choices.

Any opinions on devices that are good to track RPMs and speed that work well and what kind of price.

That can also be used on rollers and road?

Also wanted to say a huge thank you thus far to everyone's pms and posts. Great advice.

Any opinions on devices that are good to track RPMs and speed that work well and what kind of price.

That can also be used on rollers and road?

There are plenty of cheap computers that do rear wheel speed. If you know what ratio you are riding and look at a cadence at speed chart - it will show you what numbers you need to hit. Much cheaper than shelling out 00's for a Garmin and all the bits

Yeah I designed an excel spreadsheet with the same info. But need something to monitor rolling speed steadily if I increase or decrease.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ll3sn1vwfhw8clh/Track%20Calculator%20Complete.xlsx

Ownership of an extremely expensive and technologically redundant bicycle has served me well, but the judicious and skilful deployment of tactical proficiency, twinned with peak physical fitness and the ability to withstand prolonged periods of self-inflicted discomfort is apparently also not to be underestimated.

and Haribo.

Ownership of an extremely expensive and technologically redundant bicycle has served me well, but the judicious and skilful deployment of tactical proficiency, twinned with peak physical fitness and the ability to withstand prolonged periods of self-inflicted discomfort is apparently also not to be underestimated.

LOL nice one.