Track Bike Frames – suitable fixed and singlespeed
Classic Track and Road-Track frames now have their own page (see below) – this page is for for more modern track from 1970s onwards or other frames with rearward facing dropouts suitable for track or singlespeed use.
Post-1970 English, American and Japanese road frames have three pages. Classic Road pre-1970 frames, Classic Track & Road-Track, Lo-Pro & Retro TT, Italian, Touring, Track, and Continental frames each have their own special pages as do 'Bargain Basement' frames (those under £100).
All our categories can be found in the sub-menu below – clicking on the category you want look at will get you directly to that page.
PLEASE NOTE: I measure all British, American and Japanese frames in inches ctt (centre to top) and convert to the nearest cm, conversely I measure all European and Italian frames in centimetres ctc (centre to centre) and convert to the nearest 0.25in.
A problem with all frames measured ctt is that the top measuring point varies from maker to maker and I try and second guess where the maker intended his measurement to be to – some mean top of top top tube, others the very top of the seat lug, and others to the seat lug top line…
FRAME SIZING
Do not assume that you will need a frame sized the same as your modern one – either seat tube or top tube. Fashion plays a great part in frame design and sizing. In the early years of the 20th century frames were sized as large as possible with virtually no seatpost showing … by contrast riders were advised in the 1920s to have as small a frame as possible.
Race/road frames from the 1920s/early 1930s will generally be sized about 3–5cm smaller than a modern frame but with a much longer top tube and shorter stems. Towards the end of the 1930s larger frame sizes became fashionable – up to 2cm larger than a modern frame. Top tube lengths were still longer used with shorter stems. In the 1940s and 50s frames were sized a bit larger still – 3–4cm more than a modern frame still with longer top tubes and shorter stems. In the 1960s and 1970s frames gradually reduced in size until the late 1980s. At the same time top tubes began to get shorter and stems longer.
Standover height is NOT a useful method of frame sizing either with modern or old frames. Short legged riders will rarely have much or any clearance between the top tube and their crotch unless the frame has a sloping top tube design. Taller riders also face other problems. A complete guide to frame sizing for frames of different periods is impossible to detail here. For frames from the 1980s onwards I suggest buyers look at Dave Moulton’s contributions on frame sizing. Possibly start off with http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2006/2/27/a-different-thought-on-frame-sizing.html
and then look at: http://www.davemoultonregistry.com/MoultonFrameSizeChart
I am willing to advise any customer on frame sizing with older frames.
Featured Frames
British and American road frames smaller than 21.5in
British and American road frames 21.5in–22.5in
British and American road frames larger than 22.5in
Bargain Basement
Classic Road frames pre-1970 smaller than 21.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 21.5in–22.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 larger than 22.5in
Classic Track & Road-Track frames pre-1970
European frames 56cm or smaller
European frames larger than 56cm
Italian frames 56cm or smaller
Italian frames larger than 56cm
Lo-Pro & Retro Time Trial frames
Touring frames
Track frames (look below)
Please contact me at: hilarystone@hilarystone.com to check on availability and confirm shipping cost.
MASI 3V PISTA late 80s/early 90s 19.25in Reynolds 753
Seat Tube (ctt): 19.25in (49cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 21.25in (54cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C
Frame tubing: Reynolds 753
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Faliero Masi was regarded as one of the very top Italian framebuilders alongside Ugo De Rosa and Cino Cinelli. The Masi story is quite complicated. Masi is not a very well known name amongst British riders but Masi bikes have been ridden by some of the very top riders in the world – Rik van Looy in the 1950s/60s – his Superia was in reality a Masi, Tom Simpson’s Peugeots were apparently Masis and Eddy Merckx’s Faema bikes (1969–72). Faliero Masi was a racer and learnt to build frames in the 1930s at Gloria, one of the leading Italian firms at the time. After WWII he set up on his own in a workshop under the Vigorelli velodrome in Milan and quickly built a reputation for being a servizio corse builder; that is building for racing teams. He set up an American branch in 1973 and it was there that many of the leading current US frame craftsmen trained – Brian Bayliss, Mario Confente, Jim Cunningham (CyclArt), Mike Howard and David Tesch. Soon after the move to the US in 1973 Faliero stopped worked and passed the workshop onto his son Alberto. It was Alberto who was responsible for introducing precision investment cast lugs that made possible the 3V Volumetrica design The 3V Volumetrica employed thin gauge oversize steel co-moly tubing – a 1 1/8in diameter top tube and 1 1/4in down and seat tubes. Most 3V frames were built in Italy but this Pista frame built from Reynolds 753 tubing was built in the USA… It dates I think from the late 1980s/early 1990s. Its in very sound condition and rides really nicely – my son raced on it for a few months when he was in between frames of his own… The paint has quite a number of small marks. But it is exceptionally rare and special. £595
RALEIGH TEAM PRO TRACK FRAME 1987 21in ex Shaun Wallace
Seat Tube (ctt): 21in (53cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 21.25in (54cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C
Frame tubing: Reynolds 531C
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
The Raleigh SBDU workshop (SBDU) was established in late 1974 under the direction of Gerald O’Donovan. Frames were built for the Ti-Raleigh continental pro team from the very beginning. And the unit worked with Reynolds in developing Reynolds 753 and the first frames were tested by the Ti-Raleigh team in 1974. The SBDU was quite an unusual operation for such a large company with a modest production capacity – at a maximum only about 1000 frames or so a year from about four framebuilders. In 1987 Raleigh SBDU moved to Nottingham to join the former Carlton Lightweight bike unit which had moved to Nottingham six years earlier. The SBDU builders operated separately from the former lightweight unit builders for the first three years and after the formation of the Raleigh Special Products Division in 1990 some still worked apart to build special one-off frames and to do prototyping.
This frame was built just after the move to Nottingham for Shaun Wallace one of Britain’s best pro riders at the time. Its built from Reynolds 531C tubing and is in very sound condition though the paint is a bit tatty. It does not have any special marking to indicate this was built for Shaun but this was not unusual for frames built for non-Raleigh Team riders. £395
TOM BOARD PISTE c1989 21in
Seat Tube (ctt): 21in (53cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 22.5in (57cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with a brake drop of 47mm
Frame tubing: Columbus SLX
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Tom eas one of the most experienced framebuilders around. Before starting out to build on his own he built for many of the top framebuilders in the 50s and 60s Paris, Macleans, Fred Dean and F W Evans. Along the way he built frames for Condors and Pat Hanlon in the late 1970s.
This track frames dates I think from the late 1980s – his frames are rarely numbered. It has a an oversize 1 1/8in diameter top tube. Its fillet brazed from Columbus SLX tubing – Tom preferred Columbus to Reynolds in his later years. I watched him fillet braze quite a few frames in the late 1980s and he did very little post braze filing – being very neat with the torch… This frame has rather tatty paint. Really rather unusual £245
CINELLI PISTA TRACK FRAME 1982 56cm Little used
Seat Tube (ctt): 56cm (22in)
Top Tube (ctc): 57cm (22.5in)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Sprints/700C
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Cinelli frames were always built in really quite small numbers – it is said no more than 500 even in an Olympic year and were the choice of many top riders. Pista frames represented only a small percentage of their output – I’d guess no more than 5–10%. This frame dating from 1982 has had one owner who only lightly used it. It is virtually mint… £1195
ALEC BIRD TRACK c1970 22in
Seat Tube (ctt): 22in (56cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 21.5in (55cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Sprints/700C
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Frame tubing: Reynolds 531 double butted
Alec Bird was the brother of Ken Bird and for a while they had a shop together, Bird’s Bicycle Centre near Crystal Palace in South London. Alec was a framebuilder himself and I’m pretty certain this is his work. It’s a very nice close clearance track frame with quite steep angles that will suit many tracks. The paint is in excellent condition with lovely blue lug lining. A great track frame. £265
BRIDGESTONE ANCHOR TRACK FRAME 18.75in NJS ex-Keirin 1980s/90s
Seat Tube (ctt): 18.75in (47.5cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 20.5in (52cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C
Frame tubing: Reynolds 531 double butted
Seatpost size: 26.8mm
This Bridgestone track frame is an ex-Keirin frame and carries the NJS stamp. These ex-Keirin track frames ride beautifully and are all really well made – Keirin track racing as practiced in Japan is a tough sport. Its in really lovely condition and ready to build up. It has standard English BB and headset threads. £285
CHAS ROBERTS TRACK FRAME 1998 20.5in
Seat Tube (ctt): 20.5in (52cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 21in (53cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: 700C/sprints
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Frame Tubing: Columbus oversize
Chas Roberts built an enviable reputation for his framebuilding over the years and perhaps was better known than his father who I think taught him the skills. This frame dates from 1998 and is beautifully built from Columbus oversize tubing. Its in excellent condition generally, just one mark on the top tube when we removed a sticker… £295
MAXI SPORTS TRACK FRAME 1993 Team Castorama ridden by Jacky Durand
Seat Tube (ctc): 57cm (22.5in)
Top Tube (ctc): 60cm (23.75in)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Jacky Durand was a French professional rider who was best known in later years for his solo breakaways on Tour de France stages. This track frame from 1993 and when he was riding for Castorama under Cyrille Guimard is truly exquisite with the most incredibly tight clearances – it won’t take 23mm tyres – its pictured on 22mm tyres. Absolutely superb. £575
** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
NELSON TRACK FRAME 20.5in 1980s
Seat Tube (ctt): 20.5in (52cm)
Top Tube (ctc): 23in (58cm)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with brake drop of 48mm
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Frame tubing: Reynolds 531 double butted
Nelson Cycles was one of the few Welsh framebuilders and was based at Llangynidr near Crickhowell. This frame has been repainted but the paint has quite a number of marks. It has quite steep proper track angles. £175
** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
CYCLES AJP TRACK FRAME 53cm 1980s Alain Michel built
Seat Tube (ctc): 53cm (21in)
Top Tube (ctc): 55cm (21.5in)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Frame tubing: Tube Alleges
This track frame was built at Alain Michel’s workshop for a local bike shop – Alain Michel was one of the top framebuilders for the pros in France. This frame is a training frame though with cheaper tubing – the tube decal reads Alain Michel Cycles Tube Alleges. But it has proper steel track angles and close clearances and is not drilled for brakes. Its in very sound condition with no dents but the paint has quite a number of marks. £145
Featured Frames
British and American road frames smaller than 21.5in
British and American road frames 21.5in–22.5in
British and American road frames larger than 22.5in
Bargain Basement
Classic Road frames pre-1970 smaller than 21.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 21.5in–22.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 larger than 22.5in
Classic Track & Road-Track frames pre-1970
European frames 56cm or smaller
European frames larger than 56cm
Italian frames 56cm or smaller
Italian frames larger than 56cm
Lo-Pro & Retro Time Trial frames
Touring frames
Track frames (look above)
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