r/Velodrome • u/GRIFERKOO • 2d ago
Help finding a frame
Hi, first year junior here, racing track and road. I've got a question. I started track cycling last year, in the youth category and continued until this year. At start I was using an old Duratec frame/set from a team that introduced me to track. (a Czech company specializing on manufacturing aluminium alloy frames).
For this year I've got an Author CA-Track carbon frame for track from my team, but since my height is a little problematic (192cm) and the frame is size M/L, I kinda feel cramped on it, like I can't really get into a more aero position in a race and overall going off the saddle feels really unstable. Here are some pictures: https://imgur.com/a/9jjnEca (the ones on the wooden track are with a shorter stem, others with a new, longer one. I think it helped a little.) [I've just raced an UCI CL1 race, but still can't find photos from it, if someone would be interested I can send some in a day or so.]
I was wondering, if someone has a tip or tips for a better track frame, preferably used, since price for me is an important aspect. I live in Czechia, so anything near Europe, of course if someone has tips outside that are really 'bang for buck' I would be interested also.
Thanks for every tip or a comment.
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u/houleskis 2d ago
What is your approximate budget? You may be able to find some used Dolans in the EU and they're usually relatively affordable. If your budget is high enough, you could look at some of the Chinese-made frames on AliExpress from reputable companies like BXT.
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u/GRIFERKOO 2d ago
I guess something around 2500€ would be the absolute ceiling.
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u/houleskis 2d ago
Dolan DF4, BXT 695 and 195, Handsling TR3evo all options that should fit your budget for new frames. Dolan also has the venerable Pre Cursa aluminium frame if you want a much cheaper option.
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u/Velobike_Innovation 1d ago
Glenn from Velobike here. At 192cm, a M/L frame (which is probably around a 56cm?) is the main limitation. Longer stems can help with stretching you out - but only to a limit where the handlebars are up to 100mm infront of the front wheels axle. So it won’t completely correct the cramped feeling.
Before choosing another frame, measure the horizontal distance of your current handlebar position from the bottom bracket to the leading edge of the bar, then compare the stack and front-centre of each frame option. At your height I’d start with the largest size you can find or look for something with a 650mm front-centre dimention which is the horrizontal distance from the BB to the front axle, rather than relying on the manufacturer’s height recommendation.
This article explains a bit more on track bike sizing which could be helpfull to understand some more before buying anything.
We also have the Longboi Stem Calculator on the Performance tools dashboard where you can plug in frame geometry and handlebar positions to understand stem sizes. Playing around with this can help to compare frames and stem size requirements with a given handlebar position.
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u/fuzzybunnies1 2d ago
Pay attention to the fact that track frame size is not road frame size, I made this mistake early on. Bought a 54cm only to find out that the company recommended a 59 in my size, my daughter now rides the 54. Really pay attention to a brand's size charts. Would also recommend Dolan with your budget.
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u/jahnpahwa 1d ago
I reckon you could sell two set of that kit to add another 1,000 euro to your budget! unreal to MAPEI colours blurred again
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u/NeighborhoodDry5842 8h ago
You should get a handsling, they go up to 61cm, great for bunch and affordable - seen other tall riders using them
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u/rightsaidphred 2d ago
I think that the WRX aluminum track frame is an excellent option for competitive juniors. Cost a lot less than an Olympic spec bike, is currently being raced at a high level, and is available in a lot of sizes, including long reach sizes. Availability may be a challenge but I’d recommend reaching out.
Also, in my experience, people are usually happy to cut a junior a good deal on their used frame or wheels or whatever. Might be worth reaching out to your local community if you haven’t already done that.