[keljordan95]

I'm fairly new to track bikes or cervelo triathlon bikes in general. I'm considering purchasing a 2005 cervelo p3sl and I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on it?

Here are the specs:

Aluminium frame
Fork: Carbon
Stem: Cannondale
Bars: Nitto Olympia or Cinelli EXA bars
Saddles: Selle italia
Seat Post: cervelo carbon tear drop
Crank: Generic track crank, 52t
Wheels: Weinmann track wheel set, 15,16 or 18t cog with vitoria tires.

Its currently set up as a track bike (single speed) and they are asking $750. I also have the option of choosing the bars, and cog.

Thanks for the help

 

[wim]

It's not a track bike (rear spacing 130 v. 120 mm; bottom bracket too low for some tracks), but it could be made to work if the dropouts are horizontal and if you avoid certain events on certain tracks. You need to be fixed on the track, not single-speed (if by that you mean one freewheel-capable cog). The $750 could get you a real track bike instead of a kludge, so it might not be a good deal depending on what you want to do with it.

 

[keljordan95]

Thanks for the response!

I am currently looking around for a used fixed gear bike. I have been riding road bikes so far and don't know much about fixies or single speed and what qualifies a good fixed gear or single speed bike. I just know that some hubs are flipflop and hence can be either fixed or free wheel. I was looking around and I came across this bike.

My main goal is to get a commuter fixed gear bike. Long rides through the city and also along paths that are mainly flat.

 

[wim]

My main goal is to get a commuter fixed gear bike. Long rides through the city and also along paths that are mainly flat.

The "track bike" thing threw me off. Used to refer to "bikes ridden on a track" only, but I guess it no longer does.

At any rate: for that kind of money, there are many fixed / single-speed bikes out there that would fit your purposes much, much better. Based on personal experience, I'd get me a Wabi Classic. Great bike, stellar customer service and a real person to talk to (CEO Richard Snook) if you're new to this and need some help before ordering. I'm not now associated with Wabi nor ever have been.

Single Speed, Fixed Gear Bikes. Fixie Parts & Accessories | Wabi Cycles

 

[keljordan95]

Great, thanks for the help. Are there any other companies you would also recommend for basic commuting (fixed gear)?

 

[wim]

Well, if it's just going to be basic fixed gear commuting with the bike locked up outside in all sorts of weather and in danger of being stolen, I certainly wouldn't spend $750 or so for a classy-looking fixed gear like the Wabis. I'd just go with Bikes Direct and spend $400 tops.

Another fixed gear I personally owned for some length of time and liked a lot is the (now) $795 Bianchi Pista. But part of my like for that bike was based on the fact that it actually doubled as a good track bike for track competition when the fancy struck me.

 

[stevesbike]

nashbar/performance sell an alloy single-speed frame for around $100 - you can pick up parts cheaply on ebay, etc. and come in well under $750.