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DM'd!

Keep an eye out for Planet X Koichi Sans. They're an open mould frame that's based on a Cervelo T3 and you see them with all kinds of different brand names on. They pop up relatively cheaply every once in a while and are absolutely banging frames for the money.

TOR is TT/pursuit geometry: long and low with a slack head tube. It's also a lot flexier than a pro carbon (had both). People do seem to weirdly overprice them as well (wouldn't pay more than £300 for one tbh). Pro Carbons are famously flexy as well, but the geo is excellent, and unless you're putting out a shitload of watts, you may not notice it anyway.

Used to be a big crossover with track frames to the fixie/commuter market as well. That's not really there anymore, so could be why they've all stopped?

On a related noted, have Planet X thrown in the towel as well? Can't see any track bikes, frames or wheels on their site...

They're way less flexy than the HHV Fujis if that helps? Planet Xs are pretty ubiquitous, so if you're unsure, you could just ask someone at the track for a go?

It'd be a tiny amount slower, you could probably find a measurable difference, but aerodynamics would probably be a bigger factor, so you couldn't be sure (we're talking like a hundredth of a second in flying 200 here - doesn't sound like much, but those hundredths are hard won for true sprinters!)

Personally, I'd go for it over a hire bike - the geometry is so much better. They may be flexy, but they're great value starter bikes. Those Condors are so upright they may as well be Dutch city bikes 😅

Had a couple, and I'm about the same height (and was the same weight 😂) as you.

Yes, they're flexy. That being said, realistically, how much power are you putting out? If you're a 1600w+ sprinter, you'll notice it, if you're a regular human in the 1000-1200w range, if you're not winning races, it won't be the bike flexing that's the problem. There have been plenty of people riding them at national level in the past in endurance events.

Don't really think I can answer about the sizing question, as that's such a personal thing, but that being said, 59cm track frames are really hard to come by unless you want a 220mm headtube, so you may end up having to pay for a high end frame if that's what you want. Only affordable option out there I can think of would be an XL Hoy Fiorenzuola, but those are SUPER rare, unfortunately (such a shame as they're incredible frames for the money!) Those are even longer than the DF4 though, with 538mm reach (60cm TT).

If you're not so fussed about the smaller sizing, the Felt TK2/3s are pretty much exactly the same geo as the Planet X and way, way, waaaay stiffer. And they go for a song second hand, which is nice! Bought one a couple of months ago, and it's easily as stiff (if not stiffer) than my Pinarello!

There are plenty of Chinese 3t Scatto-alikes on the market at places like AliExpress. Same dims - 89mm reach, 148mm drop (for 36cm only, mind - narrower and that drop goes to 120mm). I got a second hand set for £50. Decent bars and really stiff.

Other than that, you're looking at Alpinas. They pop up regularly on the Facebook track classifieds group around the £100 mark.

If you don't mind a shim, I've got a set of 36cm Nitto B125s you can have (150mm drop)? Shim's superglued on and other than that they're only used once.

Ex-cycling photographer here! Accreditation isn't really necessary unless he wants finish line/celebration shots tbh, and those are hardly portfolio material. He'll also be able to drive on the route in advance anyway because it's a rolling road closure for ToB rather than a full closure. Unlikely he'd get accreditation without shooting for a specific outlet, but a quick google gives you this:https://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/about/press/

I can understand it making people nervous, but I'm not sure they really understand why that case was successful. It was caused by the tyres, no doubt, but if the current guidance (no dual compound, vinegar/isopropyl alcohol etc) was adhered to, that poor guy would still be alive and no-one would have gotten sued.

Case hinged on the publishing date of that current guidance. It was published after the accident and the velodrome's defence was "there was no guidance, so we couldn't have been negligent in its absence." Reason the case was successful was they managed to dig up an article on the BC site, published before the accident, which proved proved they already knew the tyres to be dangerous, with or without the guidance. Guessing that's why it took 7 years tbh!

Do understand the need for caution (very scary, very dangerous) but in regards to that specific case, that window for litigation has been closed for years, so long as people enforce their own regs.

Would be quite the overreaction if it was, but stranger things have happened at sea... current regs were put in place after that crash (though I'm not sure if that was a direct consequence or just a coincidence).

That was specifically about dual compound tyres, which the current regs have already addressed? Maybe a Lee Valley risk assessment done by someone who didn't actually know about the case, or track cycling in general?

No mention of it in the current LVVP or Manchester guidance though. Interestingly, Manchester Velodrome says the OP's choice of Rubino pros is one of the recommended ones: http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/track/information/track-bike-specification/

Doesn't need to be defined by the manufacturer as a track tyre to be useable, just not dual compound and vinegared a few times before first usage. (They do say no coloured tread as well, but try telling that to the Dutch national squad... 😂) Are they starting to say that at LVVP? May be simpler to message it that way, I suppose...? Never used to is all.

I've used Podium TT, Sprinter and Competition tubs and various incarnations of Vittoria Corsas/Chronos on LVVP with no issue whatsoever since they opened it up to the public in, what was it, 2015?

Oh my days, I had no idea this was a thread... My absolute favourite topic! (I've had more than my fair share over the years...) Had two really, really big crashes and a couple of smaller ones at HHV. My scar collection is really quite something. Here's what I've learned from nurses over the years.

In my experience, hydrocolloid dressings are crap on larger/deeper patches. The goo has nowhere to go and you end up having to replace the dressing every 2 days, which, at damn near a fiver a pop is a bit rich. Also, had a big bit on my hip, and took 3 weeks to heal with those on. That was expensive as I was a starving artist at the time.

You need to treat them like a burn, so you need a mesh contact layer, then a low adhesive asborbent pad on top which you can replace as it gets gunked up, while keeping the same contact layer in place. The mesh works wonders as it pretty much turns the scabs from one big one into hundreds of tiny ones, which all heal individually.

This is the good shit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mepitel-ME290500-Silicone-Contact-Technology/dp/B075RCRDDB

This is the more affordable shit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atrauman-Tulle-7-5-10cm-Dressing/dp/B07ZQHWZPV

Then tape some of these on top with surgical tape: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Value-Aid-Adherent-Dressing-Pads/dp/B07K7M256G

And finally, if it's to a leg or arm, get a tubular bandage over the top of it. You can buy individual ones at most pharmacies, but they'll get icky and you'll have to replace them often, so best to buy a roll of the stuff.

Finally, you can buy all of this stuff, or (pre-covid, at least) you can book a nurse's appointment at your GP and they'll give it all to you for free.

Dressings were off from the attached picture in 10 days (snapped a chain at 50kph in a team pursuit, and used my leg as a brake. Welt on the top of my foot is from where the track ripped my shoe off!)

Yep - still available! Drop me a DM 👍

Full spec here: https://www.pro-bikegear.com/uk/road/handlebars/vibe-aero-alloy-pursuit-handlebar

38cm wide at the hoods, 42cm at the drops. 12 degree flare, 130mm drop.

Condition is almost as new, only sign of wear is some text worn off at the clamping area. Used only a handful of time, but sadly didn't suit my track position.

£60 (sorry, no offers!) Happy to post for an extra £5, pick up in person from Walthamstow, or can meet at HHV or somewhere between.

DM'd 👍

I asked for clearance for 28mm with mudguards, though I reckon that would be worth testing first.

Yep, it's got a derailleur tab, but you'd need to speak to Mr Bike Mielec (Robert) to find out which one it is if you ever need a replacement!

(Edit - just realised it's not attached in the picture! It's in my tool box - took it off as I didn't want to knock/bend it while I was polishing it)

Hi all,

Commissioned this off Bike Mielec last year, and he buggered it up. Was happy to fix it all or rebuild from scratch if necessary, provided it was returned, but Brexit meant it sat in Polish customs for 6 months before being sent back to me. As a result, it's priced to sell!

Problems with it are as follows: rear spacing is for a 130mm hub, so while it has disc brake mounts, it can't fit a disc hub - it does have a calliper mount, though, so it'd only be usable for rim brakes (hilariously, this was to make fitting mudguards easier, but he also forgot the mudguard mounts!) There is also no routing for a front mech, so you'd only really be able to run this as a 1x.

It has internal cable routing along the TT for a rear brake, and along the DT for a rear mech and the non functional disc mount.

Finish was raw, and I polished it myself (the brushing was a bit rough in areas though, and I struggled to get the areas around the welds to a good finish).

Geo is based on a 58cm Bowman Palace, but with a 175mm HT rather than 185mm and a horizontal top tube.

Figured this could still make a fun build for someone, though perhaps a little bit of a niche one. Pick up from West Norwood only.

Btwin stem

Forks & adaptor

Got these for sale from a project that's never going to be built up.

Condor Pioggia forks - 1 1/8" steerer, QR, post-mount converted to 140mm rotor flat mount disc. Conversion is with one of these: https://www.assolutions.ca/shop/adapters/flat-mount-brake-caliper-to-140-post-mount-frame-fork-with-140-rotor/
£100

Deda Zero 130mm -6 degree stem: £10

BTwin 130mm -8 degree stem (brand new, unused): £10 These are great stems for the money!

Post at buyer's expense, or can do pick up from West Norwood/SE, Walthamstow, or Wembley (I get about a bit...)

What @dbr said. Couple of quid extra, but figured fuck it!

Anyone got a 165mm Miche Pistard Air crankset they're looking to offload?

And any angle you like, so long as it's -17. The only true stem angle.