A tracklocross bike can start life as any number of other types, but in all cases except a track bike, the conversion is mostly a lot of subtraction. The best candidates, other than a purpose-built frame by Squid or Surly or Destroy, are 1970s road bike frames because they are rich in the following attributes:What else are you gonna do with a 1974 Schwinn Super Le Tour? You could build it up as a period-correct road bike I suppose, but other than look really cool, it won't do anything as well as a modern road bike. But as a tracklocross rig it's just as competitive as anything on the "circuit" (ha), and you'll get all the hipster cred.
- horizontal droputs - essential for chain tension
- ~120mm rear dropout spacing - so track/singlespeed hubs will fit (126mm will work with steel frames, as they can be bent slightly.) No you don't have to use a track hub (Squids use 135mm spacing), but they are plentiful and used track wheels are often cheap.
- tire clearance - most 1970s road frames have plenty of room for 32-40mm gravel/cyclocross tires.
- standard 68mm British bottom bracket shell - easy to get square-taper bottom brackets such as a Shimano UN-55 (103 or 107mm width) that will work with most track cranks.
A note about track frames - most have very little tire clearance so they're not the best for tracklocross conversion. Some do, like the Traitor PBR bike below, but they are uncommon. And you'll probably need a different fork.
1972 Tom Bromwich
1980s Miyata something-or-other
1988 Bianchi Campione d'Italia
late-'80s Peugeot Montreal Express
1974 Schwinn Paramount
2008 Traitor PBR Edition
2000s Spot
1970s Motobecane Super Mirage
1978 Schwinn World Sport
1972 Colnago (modern DA crank is there for the power meter... yeah it looks dumb, and might injure someone)
1980s Olmo
©1978-2023 Fiesta Island Tracklocross Association - A non-real entity with no legal standing.