Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Iro Jamie Roy Vs. Nyc Cityfixed

I'm about to purchase my first fixed gear and I'm curious as to what people think is better. From the bike to customer service to everything. The IRO and NYC seem to be the nicest out there. I can't find anything else on the net.undefinedundefined

I would suggest trying to search the boards first. These things have been discussed countless times.

99% of posters here are going to say IRO.

do a search for "NYC bikes" to find out why.

I haven't posted in a month or so. Just been busy. Been riding. But as soon as I saw this thread I knew I had to say something.

I don't care how many times somebody asks about NYCbikes, I'll repeat myself over and over. I don't mind.

They suck. They are terrible. A pure example of quantity not quality. A great example of elitist bike shop boys that talk down to all their customers. A fine example of a bike shop that has no love for the physical act of cycling (call it a hunch).

My personal story has been told, but I'll tell it again, cliffnotes style.

Bought an item off ebay.

Rode by to pick it up in person.

Still charged me shipping.

nuff said.

out.

99% of posters here are going to say IRO.

the other 1% say go custom.

Thanks for the info. IRO sounds like the best way to go.

IRO, or tony has the best customer service out there.

I would rather shoot both my own feet off than deal with NYC Bikes from what I have heard around here...

Go Liverpool! You'll Never Walk ALONE!

when I sent tony a thanks for the wheels I bought, I sent a picture of the bike that they went on. afterwards we had about 4 or 5 emails between the two of us talking about obsessing on color matching bikes. it blew my mind that I even got a response, amazing dude, even if his products sucked (which they don't) I'd keep goin back just to talk to him.

']I would rather shoot both my own feet off than deal with NYC Bikes from what I have heard around here...

Go Liverpool! You'll Never Walk ALONE!


well done for liverpool. i was pretty pumped to see that they'd won (i couldn't catch the CL final). but always nice to have a gooner on board! welcome, arsenalfan78!

I love my IRO. I'd get another any time. In fact, I may be buying another frame from him or perhaps a Surly if I loose a bet about who is on the podium at the TDF!

I've been training on mine almost exclusively for the last couple months (except for a couple weeks in the mountains) and I've put about 1500 miles on it. Tony built up my Mark V, but the next one I will build. I like his cranks & will use them in building the next fixed gear. They seem to be very solid & the chain line is perfectly straight.

I actually made the exact same post with literally the exact same title about two months ago. I took everyones advice and ended up buying an IRO Mark V Pro. I couldn't be happier with my bike. Tony and I went through part by part and built up my bike. He even upgraded my wheelset for free (quite a suprise to me). I love the clean lines of the Mark V pro frame and the blade fork looks killer. All that being said...

BUY AN IRO!!!!!!!!!

you will not regret it.

He even upgraded my wheelset for free (quite a suprise to me).

tony may be legaly insane.

99% of posters here are going to say IRO.

do a search for "NYC bikes" to find out why.

Actually it's more like 99.99999999999999999999999999999% would say IRO.

But hey, whose counting?

IRO and NYCbikes come from the same factory, and have pretty much the same numbers, material,ride quality.... However, Tony is a godsend as far as cutomer service goes. I'll be buying more from him, at least when I have some money. Support IRO! Plus, my Mark V rides like a dream!
P.S.
IRO's hubs will gladly accept Phil Wood bearings, if (and that's a big "IF") they need to be replaced.

I'm about to purchase my first fixed gear and I'm curious as to what people think is better. From the bike to customer service to everything. The IRO and NYC seem to be the nicest out there. I can't find anything else on the net.

I think our Model G stands up well against the others.

http://www.kogswell.com/images/g/silverGstarboardLARGE.jpg

$430 which includes frame, fork, brake calipers, headset and shipping to locations in the USA.

$45 extra for our 120mm, fixed/fixed rear hub

More photos here: http://www.kogswell.com/images/g

PayPal and credit cards accepted.

Email us at: info@kogswell.com Phone us at: 1-952-445-8804

For refereneces, please talk to my friend Tony Portera at IRO.

Matthew Grimm / Sales
Kogswell Cycles
http://kogswell.com

Mmm, lugs
http://www.kogswell.com/images/g/silverGpeg.jpg

That's really nice looking!

[QUOTE=Kogswell]I think our Model G stands up well against the others.

Do you make a frame w/o the fender mounts and brake bosses?

Do you make a frame w/o the fender mounts and brake bosses?

Our customers asked for fender mounts. So I added them.

Then I started scrounging old steel fenders, painting them, and putting them on my bikes.

Now I'm hooked.

This is my daughter's Model M fixee. Did you know that 12-yr-olds like fixing too?

http://kogswell.com/images/ma0s.jpg

And here's a Mod. G that someone in Portland built for his GF.

http://kogswell.com/images/dg.jpg

So I've gone from anti to pro fender. I even put a fender mount under the fork crown.

So that's the fender thing.

Not sure what you mean by a brake boss.

Matthew

i can tell you that mr grimm is the real deal re: customer service too. bet thats why he's friends with iro tony. kogswells are nice rides and deserve lots o' consideration when thinking about new bikes.

what is the standover height on the g58?

what is the standover height on the g58?

32 inches

Matthew

32 inches

Matthew


How much is that g58 kogswell.

How much is that g58 kogswell.

The G model (both the 54 and 58cm sizes) are $430 which includes:

frame, fork, brake calipers, headset and shipping to locations in the US

Here's one that's built up:

http://kogswell.com/images/ggl.jpg

Note that they end up looking fairly roadish rather than trackish.

Matthew

BTW: G58 is our shorthand for Model G / Size 58cm

I had a IRO jamie Roy bike and I now have a NYC cityfixed. Id have to say I must be that .00000001% that is in love with my NYC bike.. It was a wait getting it, but I never had a problem with the guys at the shop, or any of my parts. The parts there are even a lot lower in cost then some of the manhattan places ive been.

I love all this NYCBike hating from the cool cats on this forum. Maybe that's what keeps their ebay prices down - no bidders. I joined this forum to get real answers about the CityFixed, and all I can find out is they won't let me bring a bike into their shop (we have 800 sq ft in Chicago packed with bikes, anyone brings their bike in the next guy can't move), and that they charge ebay'ers a fee for parts sold at half of wholesale.

I've also found that Peripathetic can't find a bike shop in NYC that'll give him free advice, may I suggest reading a book (a really hard to find one like Bicycling's Guide to Repair and Maintenance - only about a billion in print - gave me enough knowledge to start working on my own bike, now I get paid for it).

Speaking of research, a little internet searching will tell you that Maxway Cycles from Taiwan is proud to provide the frames for (amongst many others) Iro and Surly (seems like he got their off the rack track models), no mention of NYCBikes (though I know the cross frame I got from him is made in asia).

So... I have had great customer service from NYCBikes (though I am sure their will be four posters after me to slam all I have said, "I bought a tube from him and he wouldn't give me an overhaul for free"), I have a recreational racer with touring geometry and don't want that in my fixed gear bike, and I would like to hear from anyone who has ridden one, not the echo of people who have read others posts, or the whine of people who think shops should give %$#^ away for free "I always got it for free before when my daddy paid, why won't they give it to me now!"

I don't like the IRO or the NYCBikes product.

IRO parts spec is very poor IMO. They don't even give you a decent quality cog with their $600 build up.

I don't like the IRO or the NYCBikes product.

IRO parts spec is very poor IMO. They don't even give you a decent quality cog with their $600 build up.


Tony has to make a buck.

And you're statement ignores the buyer side of the market

When people start to take their bikes seriously and pony up that extra Franklin, Tony will be there with better cogs.

And if there's a better TIG welded frame than the Mark V Pro, I'd know about it.

There ain't.

I love all this NYCBike hating from the cool cats on this forum. Maybe that's what keeps their ebay prices down - no bidders. I joined this forum to get real answers about the CityFixed, and all I can find out is they won't let me bring a bike into their shop (we have 800 sq ft in Chicago packed with bikes, anyone brings their bike in the next guy can't move), and that they charge ebay'ers a fee for parts sold at half of wholesale.

I've also found that Peripathetic can't find a bike shop in NYC that'll give him free advice, may I suggest reading a book (a really hard to find one like Bicycling's Guide to Repair and Maintenance - only about a billion in print - gave me enough knowledge to start working on my own bike, now I get paid for it).

Speaking of research, a little internet searching will tell you that Maxway Cycles from Taiwan is proud to provide the frames for (amongst many others) Iro and Surly (seems like he got their off the rack track models), no mention of NYCBikes (though I know the cross frame I got from him is made in asia).

So... I have had great customer service from NYCBikes (though I am sure their will be four posters after me to slam all I have said, "I bought a tube from him and he wouldn't give me an overhaul for free"), I have a recreational racer with touring geometry and don't want that in my fixed gear bike, and I would like to hear from anyone who has ridden one, not the echo of people who have read others posts, or the whine of people who think shops should give %$#^ away for free "I always got it for free before when my daddy paid, why won't they give it to me now!"





<sniff> Hmmm, smells bad in here.

You have a remarkable knack for simultaneously insulting those from whom you seek advice and indulging your own self-gratification.

Maybe you can supplement that great living you're making by starting up a separate NYCBikes forum where you and your other troll friends can satisfy each other's needs.

This thread is dead.

Nobody has mentioned the Steamroller as an alternative? I don't mean to derail the IRO vs. NYC thread, but Kogswell was already thrown in so I thought it was fair game. Also, I just bought a used one for less than the IRO or NYC, its on the way as we speak and now I'm wondering if I should have just ponied up the cash for one of those two.

Bianchi Pista gives you much better parts than the IRO and costs $100 less. It actually has a Dura Ace cog too. Not to mention you buy it at your local LBS instead of being a mail order bike.

I'd say that the parts spec is comparable, with the edge maybe going to IRO for the wheelset. When it comes to the cheap stem/headset/bb/seatpost/saddle that come on either of them ,there isn't much of a differnecee. Tony ships his bikes with Soma cogs which, admittedly aren't as nice as DA, but aren't exactly stamped POS-es. Oh, and the IRO is the same price as the Pista. both are $550 MSRP. (yeah, yeah, shipping, but that might offset the cost of taxes if you're ordering out of state)



The reason he can offer a 50% replacement policy is probably because he is making bucks on each sale.

Even when he sells them for 50% ($300) he still is probably making some money. Bike should really be $400-$450 instead of $600.

I'm not impressed with his stuff. Sorry.


With the bulk discounts and volume prices Bianchi gets from manufacturers, you could say the same thing. But you don't see them offering a no-questions-asked crash repolacement policy do you?
You don't think he should make money?



You'll get more street props though with the IRO I guess. You can be an anti-hipster hero that way.


nice troll.

I don't like the IRO or the NYCBikes product.

IRO parts spec is very poor IMO. They don't even give you a decent quality cog with their $600 build up.
well, all i bought was a rear wheel, but tony threw in 2 of those non-'decent quality cogs' for me to see what gear was appropriate for my legs and for my chainstay/chain length... when i found out, i bought a 'real' cog.

now that's nice!

Even when he sells them for 50% ($300) he still is probably making some money.

At $300, he's doing something else.




I'm not impressed with his stuff. Sorry.

I am. Tony does a tremendous job of balancing the components mix.

And the MkVPro simply has no peer in TIG. But then I see things from a different perspective.

That pespective being that you know what your talking about and not trolling the forums. Honestly 53 whats the point of all this.

That pespective being that you know what your talking about and not trolling the forums. Honestly 53 whats the point of all this.

I have to agree with Ghost. The parts spec is not that good. Break it down for yourself.

Whoever said the wheelset was better I don't know why you think this way. Straight guage spokes and arrowheads are good? I like the rear hub better on this years Bianchi too.

The point being is that if you call Tony at IRO, you talk with Tony. Try that with Bianchi USA. Stories abound with people that order from Tony and end up with a upgraded part/wheel due to his being out of stock on the standard item. IRO offers at last count, 4 different 700c fixed gear frames. All are have their intended purpose.

As for the parts spec, the wheels are great. Velocity is a quality rim manufacturer that stands behind its product. The hubs are smooth as butter on a summer day.

Does Tony make money off his frames/business? I sure hope so, as that is the purpose of being in business. The free bike line forms at the dumpster.

I think our Model G stands up well against the others.

http://www.kogswell.com/images/g/silverGstarboardLARGE.jpg

$430 which includes frame, fork, brake calipers, headset and shipping to locations in the USA.

$45 extra for our 120mm, fixed/fixed rear hub

More photos here: http://www.kogswell.com/images/g

PayPal and credit cards accepted.

Email us at: info@kogswell.com Phone us at: 1-952-445-8804

For refereneces, please talk to my friend Tony Portera at IRO.

Matthew Grimm / Sales
Kogswell Cycles
http://kogswell.com

Matthew...liked the looks of the frame so much, I went to your website. Only 54 and 58cm frames? Way too small for me! Why only two sizes???

53-11,

Welcome back, good to see that your time away has not changed your ill-formed oppinions.

The straight vs. butted war is old. Jobst Brandt has a view of the world that is marred by his own dedication to self-indulgence.

The IRO is a quality bike at a good price that include outstanding feedback and support by the owner of the business. Nuff said.

Matt, that model G from portland is absolutely gorgeous. If I ever decide to get a bike with slacker angles, that's at the top of my list. So f-in classic.

I am still waiting to see 53-11's vast array of bikes. Until then - just another useless troll with little-to-nothing to say.

Money, this is mouth.

edit: ahhh...silence again.

The G model (both the 54 and 58cm sizes) are $430 which includes:

frame, fork, brake calipers, headset and shipping to locations in the US

Here's one that's built up:

http://kogswell.com/images/ggl.jpg

Note that they end up looking fairly roadish rather than trackish.

Matthew

BTW: G58 is our shorthand for Model G / Size 58cm


OK, this is going to identify me as a total fixed gear n00b...but what is the pad or tape I see on a lot of these fixies on the top tube for or about? I'm guessing handlebars swinging back and scuffing the TT?
While I'm at it, am I allowed to hate on NYC Bikes all the way from Atlanta, GA? LOL j/k. I'm learning a lot, and rather than being branded a hipster, I'm more of an old hippie type. :eek:

OK, this is going to identify me as a total fixed gear n00b...but what is the pad or tape I see on a lot of these fixies on the top tube for or about? I'm guessing handlebars swinging back and scuffing the TT?
While I'm at it, am I allowed to hate on NYC Bikes all the way from Atlanta, GA? LOL j/k. I'm learning a lot, and rather than being branded a hipster, I'm more of an old hippie type. :eek:

you can hate on 53-11 all the way from atlanta too. try it, it's easy.

53-11,

Welcome back, good to see that your time away has not changed your ill-formed oppinions.

The straight vs. butted war is old. Jobst Brandt has a view of the world that is marred by his own dedication to self-indulgence.

The IRO is a quality bike at a good price that include outstanding feedback and support by the owner of the business. Nuff said.

You are completely wrong.

Straight gauge spokes do not make the wheel more bombproof. That's the type of misinformation that is rampant in this forum.

Butted spokes make a more durable wheel. Though the spokes are thinner in the middle, the elbows (where spokes breaks), have a longer fatigue life.

http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&detail=fatiguetest (read this. Sapim leader spokes are the straight guage. All the others are various butted spokes)

']I am still waiting to see 53-11's vast array of bikes. Until then - just another useless troll with little-to-nothing to say.

Money, this is mouth.

edit: ahhh...silence again.

Argument was whether straight spokes were more bombproof than butted. Obviously this is not true.

If you call correct information trolling I feel sorry for you. Maybe you like living a world of ignorance. So be it, but don't subject others to your own misconceptions.

Read this http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&detail=fatiguetest [165] so you can learn something new.

I despise you.

You are completely wrong.

Straight gauge spokes do not make the wheel more bombproof. That's the type of misinformation that is rampant in this forum.

Butted spokes make a more durable wheel. Though the spokes are thinner in the middle, the elbows (where spokes breaks), have a longer fatigue life.

http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&detail=fatiguetest (read this. Sapim leader spokes are the straight guage. All the others are various butted spokes)

I don't what this 53-11 did to upset this forum in the past, but he is right about what he is saying. Straight spokes are not good to use unless you are trying to save money.

I don't doubt that butted spokes will build a stronger wheel, but you can't expect anyone to take that link seriously. If you have some independent tests reflecting real riding conditions and performed on multiple manufacturers' spokes in a variety of wheel configuations, feel free to link to that, but sending us all to look at Sapim's marketing hype isn't doing much to advance your argument.

OK, this is going to identify me as a total fixed gear n00b...but what is the pad or tape I see on a lot of these fixies on the top tube for or about? I'm guessing handlebars swinging back and scuffing the TT?
While I'm at it, am I allowed to hate on NYC Bikes all the way from Atlanta, GA? LOL j/k. I'm learning a lot, and rather than being branded a hipster, I'm more of an old hippie type. :eek:

yes, it is to protect the TT when the handlebars are bare as on track bikes.... unfortunately, i didnt find that out until too late! :(

i also have similar pad on the downtube to protect it from the neck of the front brake caliper

I don't doubt that butted spokes will build a stronger wheel, but you can't expect anyone to take that link seriously. If you have some independent tests reflecting real riding conditions and performed on multiple manufacturers' spokes in a variety of wheel configuations, feel free to link to that, but sending us all to look at Sapim's marketing hype isn't doing much to advance your argument.

The tests shown by Sapim are all on their own spokes so there is no bias. (the more agressive the butting the longer the fatigue life)


The same information and conclusions are found in Jobst Bradt's book, "the bicycle wheel". He is an engineer and his explanations make sense.


Jobst explains why the butted spoke makes a superior wheel. While the thicker middle of a straight gauge spoke make make it look stronger it is in fact weaker. This is because spokes don't break in the middle, they break at the ends.

Having a thin middle section lets the spoke transfer more impacts to other spokes. This distributes the forces more evenly. As you know spokes are made of steel and steel has a fatigue limit. The butted spokes therefore are more able to keep these impacts below the fatigue limit of the 14 guage elbow any single spoke.

Furthermore the butted spoke reduces peak forces on the spoke threads at nipple which reduces spoke loosening.

I wrote a thread a while back in the road forum discussing this very same thing. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=104902&highlight=wheel+trueness+thread

53-11,

My how you master the use of the bold feature.

Nowhere in my post did I state that straight guage is more bombproof than butted. It seems that you are creating an argument that did not exist. What I said was that the argument is old and that J.Brant is . . .

Is there a fatigue difference. At times yes. The tension of the wheel, the quality of the spokes, the nipples used, the type of riding, and the number of spokes play a larger partin whether a spoke will break rather than it being straight vs. butted.

Being an engineer does not make you right in all instances. It simply qualifies you to make a statement that may or may not be plausible in the real-world. My best friend is an electrical engineer and his favorite saying (in regards to building high-end tube amplification) is to read the book, memorize it, and then throw it out and start from that point. Because the book is only the starting point.

Forget Brant, what is Your experiences in the matter? What has your building and riding told you about the argument? Textbook answers are nice, but not too telling of experience.

I've broken just as many butted spokes as I have straight, in fact more. Sometimes is is simply the nut behind the wheel.

Here is your homework for the term. Go buy a frame and build the bike. Build two sets of wheels one butted and the other straight. See how it goes. Ride it, ride it some more, and then report back with your findings. Leave J.B.'s book on the desk and put your hand to paper. Life is not about what you can remember that so-and-so said, it's about having some experience to backup your statements.

Unfortuanately this thread is off the subject line and now should be titled under spokes or some other thing. For that I am sorry to have been a contributor to the mess.