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Submitted by
Will James
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: May 11, 2013
Strengths: Great build quality, finish and components. Caveat : this applies only if you are a competitive track rider. The alloy is actually a Specialized / Columbus collaboration called SLX (name resuscitated from the CrMo days). Every tube is aero - even the bridge. Impeccable welds and no decals. This is the S-Works offering for 2013, top of the food chain. Replaceable dropouts, real tight geometry. Great Omnium crankset / bottom bracket combo and Izumi V chain. Not a cookiecutter Fuji or Bianchi (respect to fans of those excellent rides, though).Weaknesses: Availability. Really, splitting hairs here. Even The Specialized branded components are high quality choices, though I replaced them all, LOL. The Aero 420 wheelset was rear fixed only / unmachined rims + no fork or bridge drilling (voids warranty) . That equals trouble and drama in an urban setting. Oddly the Specialized website specs have the rear as a flip / flop with a Shimano freewheel. Not. The AC wheels are about as good as you're going to get on a corporate bike. One minor weakness one might foresee is replacing a damaged Venge seatpost when the bike is out of warranty (expensive).Bottom Line: It's a bike - to each their own. Mine has been modified extensively. The stock bars, stem and saddle were immediately replaced with those from Cinelli, Deda and San Marco, respectively. The stock wheels were replaced with raw Aerospoke 700c's / Slime light race tubes / Gatorskin 25's. Flip flop rear has a White 18t freewheel on one side and an EAI 18t cog on the other. There is a Keirin brake on for freewheeling, A Zero Gravity caliper / Dia Compe Gold Finger lever. It's a real PITA to install (wingnut, LOL)
Tech tip : Using the Dia Compe Keirin plates ? Counterbore the rear plate and use a 35mm or longer recessed brake nut instead of the wingnut or nylock. It won't mangle the alloy, and even with a drop of LocTite it's easily removed. It all depends on the length of your caliper's center bolt.It's not as fast as the wingnut, but it's far more stable and only a little heavier, especially if you use a titanium or alloy recessed nut.
The MASH bullhorns (more Taiwanese Columbus goodness) I installed to replace the stock (and excellent) Specialized Pista drops offered a problem regarding finding a hinged left hand lever with a narrow footprint and a 31.8 clamp. I don't like bar end levers ( too simple, sane) - and the quality options were / are few for calipers. The Gold Finger lever is your answer if you're looking to keep your hands near the stem, AKA city riding. If you like to brake from the horns, there are plenty of carbon options that I considered then abandoned for comfort / safety. The stock carbon parts combined with the stiff frame really make the bike feel like it's on rails.I could only give this bike a "5" rating after all of the modifications that were made, as I would with any bike. Customizing is what makes us lighter, faster and separates us from other people riding the same thing. Buy one if you can and want a bike to take to the track and pose at the coffee shop in the same day. Epic ride, future classic.
Favorite Ride: Mission Pie
Price Paid:
$1650.00
Purchased At: Nor Cal Bike Sport
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Submitted by
jetrenkel
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: April 12, 2008
Strengths: The stock wheelset is very sturdy if a tad on the heavy side, but I wouldn't complain after curb hopping and having completely true rims.
The nature of fixies makes them extremely easy to modify. This bike was fun to trick.Weaknesses: Price. Any old/new road frame can be converted to a fixed gear with a little ingenuity making me wonder about spending the dough for a whole bike. But I'm still really pleased with a fully dedicated track frame.Bottom Line: Before I started modifying this bike I noticed that it was perfectly track oriented. I took it in a different direction based on my needs/wants.
Favorite Ride: round campus
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At: Making Tracks
Similar Products Used: Specialized Allez
BMC Team Machine
Bike Setup: Not much is left of this bike other than the frame. And the frame has been blasted and powder coated so its pretty much unrecognizable.
Velocity Deep Vs laced to single fixed Phil Wood high flange track hubs
old school metal cage pedals
Redline stem and bullhorns
Cane Creek brake lever
Shimano front brake
Easton seatpost
Chris King Nothreadset
Selle San Marco Concor saddle
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Submitted by
jgsjr
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: September 28, 2004
Strengths: Extremely solid bike. Dura Ace Hubs.Weaknesses: Uhhh....maybe rough ride on pavement, but it was made for track use.Bottom Line: Wanted a Bianchi Pisto.....The shop sold me on the Langster Pro. Raced/trained on the local track and loved it.
Favorite Ride: White Rock Lake or Track
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At: Richardson Bike Mart
Similar Products Used: First track bike I owned.
Bike Setup: Stock. Changed seat to San Marcos. Changed to Bullhorn bars for street use. Changed fork to an Axis from performance.com to allow for a front brake when riding on the road. Added front brake
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