Why Adapting a Track Bike Frame for Road Riding Is Just Wrong

There’s a voice in my head telling me to say it: “Don’t do it.” There, I said it.

Putting a track bike frame on the road? It’s a crime against cycling.

I mean, sure, you could get creative and Frankenstein your ride, but you’re only setting yourself up for a disaster.

Listen to me, I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ve seen it all. This isn’t one of those ‘Hey, let’s see how this goes’ situations. This is a no-go zone.

1. It’s a Track Bike, Not a Road Bike

Now, I know you’re itching to make it work—I’ve seen it before.

A Bianchi Super Pista frame, you say? Nice, sleek, pretty. But it’s a track bike. It’s built for smooth, indoor velodromes, where the only thing you have to worry about is the guy next to you cutting in too close.

A track bike’s geometry is about speed on a perfectly smooth surface.

On the road? You’re asking for trouble. The angles are steep, the frame is twitchy, and the ride can be downright jittery when you hit a pothole or a crack in the pavement.

It’s like trying to ride a racehorse in a field of mud.

2. The Spacing and Hub Problem

I know you’re looking for a multi-speed setup. But you’re in the wrong lane here, pal.

The dropout spacing on track frames is too narrow for a multi-speed hub.

A multi-speed wheel just won’t fit without some serious modification, and at that point, you’re better off just buying a new bike altogether.

Track bikes are designed for a single gear. It’s like trying to make a one-trick pony pull off a whole rodeo.

And if you want to convert it? You’ll end up with a frame that doesn’t even behave like a road bike.

Sure, maybe you’ll manage to squeeze in an internally geared hub, but is it really worth the hassle?

You’ll be riding around on something that’s more Frankenstein than fixie.

It’s a half-baked, poorly executed dream, and it’ll be your back that’s hurting at the end of the day.

3. No Derailleur Mounts

You think you can just toss a derailleur on there? Sorry to break it to you, but track bikes don’t come with derailleur mounts.

It’s like trying to hang a chandelier in a house with no ceiling hooks. You’ll have to get creative.

And that means”hacking the frame”, and fiddling with parts that just weren’t meant to fit. It’s a terrible idea, my friend.

You can find workarounds, like running chain tugs with a mount for a derailleur, but who has the time for that?

You’ll be making things more complicated than they need to be. Just leave it as is or don’t bother at all. You’re better off with a bike that was built for what you need.

4. Brakes? Forget About It

Track bikes have a particular flair. They look good, they’re sleek, and—oh, wait—they don’t have mounts for brakes.

Sure, maybe your front fork has a hole for a front brake. But there’s nothing on the rear for your brakes to clip onto, unless you fancy trying to engineer that yourself.

And even if you do manage to attach a rear brake, guess what? It’s a pain in the ass to get the damn thing right.

So, unless you’re into living dangerously or you’re planning on riding in a straight line all the time, forget it.

5. Chainline Nightmares

The track bike chainline is built for a single gear. You want more gears? Get in line for a headache.

The chainline isn’t adjustable in the way it is on road bikes. You’ll end up with a misaligned, wonky mess that’s destined to cause shifting problems. Imagine grinding your gears every time you switch speeds. You’ll be cursing the day you thought this was a good idea.

6. The Handling Isn’t Ideal for Road Conditions

Track bikes are made for controlled conditions. Smooth, uninterrupted, fast lanes. On the road? Forget about it.

The handling on a track bike isn’t forgiving. It’s twitchy and aggressive, and every bump will send your teeth rattling. It’s like trying to ride a sports car on a gravel road—yeah, it can be fun in the right place, but not when you’re dodging potholes or taking sharp turns.

Road bikes, on the other hand, are designed with stability and comfort in mind. Track frames? Not so much. You’ll be fighting the bike every time you hit the pavement.

7. You’re Better Off with a Road Bike, Seriously

At the end of the day, I know what you’re thinking: “But I love that Bianchi Super Pista, man. It looks so good!”

Sure, it does. It’s a beautiful frame, designed for a very specific purpose. But here’s the thing: it’s not a road bike.

And no matter how much you try to twist, turn, or reengineer it, it won’t become one.

You’re not going to get the same ride quality, speed, or efficiency that you would on a bike designed for the road.

For what you’d pay to convert the track frame and deal with the issues, you could buy a solid road bike that’s ready to roll. So take the hint and save yourself the hassle.

Table Summary

Issue	Track Bike Adaptation to Road Bike
Frame Geometry	Too steep and twitchy for road riding
Dropout Spacing	Too narrow for multi-speed hubs
Derailleur Mounts	No mounts, impossible to install without modifying
Brakes	No rear brake mounts, front brake only, difficult to install
Chainline	Wonky, misaligned for multi-gear setup
Handling	Poor, twitchy for road conditions
Alternative	Easier and smarter to buy a road bike

Look, I know you’re excited about the idea of making it work, but trust me: it’s like trying to make a dog meow.

Sure, you could force it, but it’s not going to end well. Track bikes were made for one thing and one thing only: racing in velodromes, going fast in a straight line on smooth, uninterrupted lanes. The road? It’ll chew you up and spit you out.

So, take a breath. Step back. Get yourself a road bike that’s built for the chaos of the street. Leave the track bike for what it’s meant to do—ride in circles at breakneck speeds, not dodge cars and potholes. And remember, sometimes the best thing you can do is let things be what they are.

But hey, what do I know? Maybe you’ll like the pain.