new bike - Fuji Track Pro or Felt TK2

[Twodogs]

I'm looking at buying a new bike:

An considering a Fuji Track Pro or a Felt TK2. Both have similar specs and are the same price.

Felt has slightly better wheels and a more racey geometry (shorter wheel base 937 vs 972, which is done by having shorter chainstays and rake (25mm vs 40mm). The felt also has less bottom bracket drop so centre of gravity would be higher.

How much difference will these changes in geometry make? I'm thinking that the shorter rake of the Felt will make it more responsive/twitchy. I'm new to track from road cycling perhaps less agressive geometry would be a good thiing???

The Felt also doesn’t have steel inserts on the rear dropouts. Are steel dropouts a must?

Any thoughts/ opinions/ experience welcomed

Cheers

 

[halien]

I am also looking at these two bikes. A few people at my club use the Felts. I can get the Fiji for about $400 less than the felt.

Does anyone have an opinion on which bike is best in regards to bang for buck, handling, sprinting, bike **** factor...

 

[Twodogs]

The Felt didn't have stainless steel inserts on the rear dropouts which would mean that they would be easily marked giving problems for wheel alignment and chain tensioning. The new 2008 model now has inserts so that is better.



We have a few guys with Felts in our club – they do look cool but some of them have strange rear triangles in that you can align the wheel in the stays but the wheel will not be aligned in the downtubes – that is the frame doesn’t appear to be straight.



There are quite a few Fujis in club also – they seem to be quite good – ridden by some of the faster people. But the Fujis don’t have good wheels so people buy them and put better wheels on…..more $$$



I ended up buying an Avanti Pista Pro – and am happy with it – it has good wheels as standard and the engine is still the limiting factor of success.

 

[kennf]

Bump

 

[halien]

I wound up getting a 2006 Fuji Track Pro. It is heaps lighter than my old steel frame and appears to be faster (well it is red!). Thanks to being last year's model it was $400 cheaper. Always a bonus.

<p>
<img border="0" src="http://www.thealiensniche.net/cycling/bikes/track_3.jpg" width="600" height="416"></p>

 

[Sikhandar]

Uhm...in Italy the only way to have a track bike is to have it built by the craftsman...there's no mass distribution on the national ground. A alu 7005 bike (built with your measures) costs about 350€... much more if you want a carbon frameset (with Deda tubing, for instance).