Planet X track bike on the road

[exgtt]

Slowly being seduced by this, the weight is crazy and the price is tempting. Id be getting some front forks pre drilled to take brakes.

Can a flip flop rear hub be fitted to the rear? I'm a complete fixed wheel novice and would like to have the choice, is it possible?

Also that front wheel looks quite set back, i dont use lots of lock on the road, is it going to be a major issue with overlap with my feet, has anyone done something similer? Seems crazy back to basics value...

Cheers guys!

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXPCTB/planet-x-fra...

[Some Gump]

My only opinion is this:
Try a fixed wheel / single speed before soending money on either.

I found fw just stupidly dangerous in traffic, and ss vastly limiting / frustrating due to my location. People rave about bot fw and ss, but they're not for everyone.

[exgtt]

The ride to work is about 4 miles and aint hilly (bramley to leeds cc), ive a cyclo cross bike and although i use it everyday im lazy and use the gears all the time. I could tolerate SS, but FW im not sure ill get on with. TBH it will be a bit of a toy, id like to take it to a track and see what thats like.

Just dont want to end up hating it and wasting my money if its unrideable on the road.

[IroningMan]

Singlespeed is fine on the road, fixed is harder - but the biggest issue I have with a converted track bike is the lack of back brake - you can't signal right and brake at the same time.

[jrb43]

I'm loathe to reveal this as currently I believe it's unique but I built up a PX track frame for my Dad to use around town with a front brake and a Sram 2 speed Automatix hub (has a coaster brake too). Cool? It's sub zero

[47p2]

exgtt said:

Can a flip flop rear hub be fitted to the rear? I'm a complete fixed wheel novice and would like to have the choice, is it possible?

You can fit a flip/flop wheel and run it either fixed or S/S

exgtt said:

Id be getting some front forks pre drilled to take brakes.

If running S/S you will need a front brake and a rear brake to comply with the laws of this country

exgtt said:

Also that front wheel looks quite set back, i dont use lots of lock on the road, is it going to be a major issue with overlap with my feet, has anyone done something similer? Seems crazy back to basics value...

Like everything you get the hang of the toe overlap and just avoid situations where your shoe will catch the wheel


Fixed is fine once you get the hang of it, some take longer than others to master it but with perseverance anything is possible.
I personally wouldn't use a track specific bike on the road, the geometry is for track work and they can be a little twitchy and harsh for pothole ridden town work. Spend your money on a decent single speed road bike with a flip flop wheel and you'll have a much better and safer experience. The Genesis Flyer is a great bit of kit and gets great reviews.

[exgtt]

Lovely, thanks for all the replies ^

[craigthecoupe]

jrb43 said:

I'm loathe to reveal this as currently I believe it's unique but I built up a PX track frame for my Dad to use around town with a front brake and a Sram 2 speed Automatix hub (has a coaster brake too). Cool? It's sub zero

got any pics? sounds awesome as a utility bike.

[anonymous-user]

you can buy rear brakes for track frames that clamp on though i dont know how good they are.

I'd just buy a charge plug, i love mine.

[Batfink]

I've done fixed gear with only a front brake. It worked fine except when some idiot pulled out in front of me and i did the best endo ever, just stopping at his front drivers door. Its a little pants in wet weather too. Other than that it was fine for commuting. I did two years of it before moving to a normal bike.

[HughG]

Planet X model As (the wheels) are only threaded one side iirc, so you can set it up as single speed, but it wont be as simple as flipping the wheel to change between them.

Also, tubs for commuting, punctures etc. = massive pain in the arse.

[DeuxCentCinq]

Are track bikes not engineered for flat, smooth velodromes, and would therefore crack and fall apart on a standard British road?

[AyBee]

Easier and cheaper to buy a SS or FW than try and convert a track bike, although some people do. I ride fixed on my commute (£350 Langster) and love it, it took a while to get used to it though and was probably quite dangerous while I was getting used to it

[Fastpedeller]

If you want to try fixed or single speed, the planet X /On-One Pompino is a great frame, and has both front and rear brakes (for cantilever, V or mini-V brakes), one of my best purchases! It rides so great.

[anonymous-user]

I ride fixed most of the time these days and, unless it is really hilly, it causes me no problems

If I am riding with a group, I am very cautious (leave plenty of room all around me) until I get to know how the others react - e.g. getting out of the saddle and lurching about

This one is Burls titanium frame with Deda carbon forks and synapsi bars, a mavic eclipse rear clincher wheel and a kysirium elite clincher front. Just a front brake, but both levers.

The head tube is ready for trimming now I am happy it is at the right height.

[jrb43]

craigthecoupe said:

got any pics? sounds awesome as a utility bike.

That's the only one I can find I'm afraid. Bike is with my father.

[Dammit]

I did ~3,000 miles of London commuting on this:



Ultimately replaced it with a steel frame that had road geo.

[exgtt]

How come was it just too much or you fancied a change?