Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Better new frameset than IRO?

For 250 or less that is... I am going to buy a Miche track group, and am considering putting it on a Mark V. I am planning on selling my conversion to partly fund it, and I am not sure that this frame can be beat for 250... anyone have any other suggestions?

soma pake's a little bit more, but i'm pretty sure you can find one for less than 300

strip a mercier?

spend more money on your frame than on your components, and upgrade them later (but not the wheels). I got my Soma Rush for about 375, about one plateau level above pake/iro/pista if you ask me. To get better than the rush/DB/BN, you'd be looking at a big jump up in dough.

The Mark V frame is no better than the Pake, Windsor, Mercier TT or Hour - the last three can be had completele for around $250 on ebay.

I'd recommand buying a Mercier on ebay and turning around and selling the components. Basically an identical frame.

I cant seem to find any on ebay right now...but thats def. something to consider. Is it possible to get more than $150 for the components that come on one of these ebay bikes? especially if sod as a set?

Yeah, none on ebay right now.
I'm sure some will come up soon enough.
I bet you could get $150 easily for a full set of components.
I definitely think stripping a Mercier is the most economical plan.

I demand to differ with all those here who say that "the IRO MarkV is no better than the Pake" . . There is no "track bike" that appears more cheaply constructed than the Pake imo. If there is such a thing as a ''Walmart fixie'' -the pake would definitely fit the bill. Honestly, the Mark V is a bomb proof and elegant looking bike by comparison. What are you people smoking?

I dunno.
I've been riding a Pake for about 6 months now and love it. Super solid, dare I say, bomb-proof ride. A little heavy, but whatever. I really don't see anything about it that's cheaply constructed or "Walmart"

The tubing is the same as the Mark V, and, while I'm no welder, the welds look no less well done than any other low-end frame I've seen, including the Mark V.

Aesthetically speaking, I don't know what's more elegant about the Mark V than the Pake. Definitely not those decals. Look at my signature for one elegant ****ing Pake.

actually... I would only be selling the components id replace with the miche group.(wheels, crankset, bb, pedals) is that still worth 150? Also, Ive never had a track frame... if I have a standover of 31", how do I find a track frame(with a higher BB shell) that will fit me?(does anyone know the BB clearance of these bikes?)

My friend sold the rear wheel from his Windsor for over $120, so yes, you should be able to fetch $150 easy for a wheelset, crankset, bb and pedals.
FYI - I'd buy the Miche headset from Chucksbikes for $25 too.

I also have roughly a 31" standover and I ride 57cm.
I have very little clearance, but that's how my first bike fit and that's what I'm used to now and I like the longer reach.
I'd say 55cm to 57cm would fit you fine.

I think at some point, it will be revealed that all taiwanese frames are basically the same bikes with different decals.
I think Pakes are marketed as being the Soma Rush made out of 4130 versus Reynolds 631, at around half the cost.

thanks so much for the info hyper... IRO's 56cm has a 31" standover, so thats what I was going by. The mercier site says the TT has a BB drop of 292 which makes no sense in any units... Im hoping someone can help me out on that. Am I going to see a big difference in geometry going from my nishiki roadbike frame to one of these ebay bikes?

Also... I would love to grab a miche headset and seatpost to round out the group, but I am planning on buying the group this week(to take advantage of the deal while chucks still has them in stock), and mulling over a frame selection sometime soon. so I dont know what seatpost diameter to choose, or wether to get a threadless or threaded headset.

thanks so much for the info hyper... IRO's 56cm has a 31" standover, so thats what I was going by. The mercier site says the TT has a BB drop of 292 which makes no sense in any units... Im hoping someone can help me out on that. Am I going to see a big difference in geometry going from my nishiki roadbike frame to one of these ebay bikes?

Also... I would love to grab a miche headset and seatpost to round out the group, but I am planning on buying the group this week(to take advantage of the deal while chucks still has them in stock), and mulling over a frame selection sometime soon. so I dont know what seatpost diameter to choose, or wether to get a threadless or threaded headset.

You're welcome.
Good luck with it all.
It seems like you're on a good track.

you sol, chuck doen't have em in stock anymore, you can pick up the grupo from worldclass for around 400 with seatpost and headset but minus pedals

really? I just emailed him 2 days ago and he said he had 8 left!

the mercier should have a 62mm BB drop

weird it was not on his web site the other day, just checked and it's back

phew... alexi... you seriously gave me a sick feeling in my stomach... ive been eyeing these for a month now, and have a check big enough to cover them in my hand.... I just need to deposit it tomorrow, and wait till wed. for it to clear. If they had sold out 3 days before I ordered I wouldve cried.

i need a miche seat post^

Im looking at the size measurements on the IRO website, and they don't quite make sense to me since its different geometry... the bike I have now fits me fairly well, and has a 32" standover and a 56cm TT The ST measurement makes no sense because of the higher BB. Would I need a 56 or a 59? I am about 5'10"-'11", and heavy but of otherwise pretty normal proportions.

Im looking at the size measurements on the IRO website, and they don't quite make sense to me since its different geometry... the bike I have now fits me fairly well, and has a 32" standover and a 56cm TT The ST measurement makes no sense because of the higher BB. Would I need a 56 or a 59? I am about 5'10"-'11", and heavy but of otherwise pretty normal proportions.

I'm 5'10" and rode a 53 mark v for a little while. It was too small.
A friend has a 59, I've tried that and it's too big... I'd say go with the 56.

Thank you very much! Does anyone know of an IRO dealer in philly where I can actually test-ride one?

Im looking at the size measurements on the IRO website, and they don't quite make sense to me since its different geometry... the bike I have now fits me fairly well, and has a 32" standover and a 56cm TT The ST measurement makes no sense because of the higher BB. Would I need a 56 or a 59? I am about 5'10"-'11", and heavy but of otherwise pretty normal proportions.

Keep in mind that the measurments listed are c-t. For C-C measurements you need to subtract 4. SO the 59 really is a 55 and should fit you fine. I am 6' and ride the 62 which is really a 58.

HRRRM... 59?well, if you are comfortable on a 62, and Im about 2 inches shorter, Id think the 59 would work for me... Youd think with the number of them I see around here there would be a dealer.

HRRRM... 59?well, if you are comfortable on a 62, and Im about 2 inches shorter, Id think the 59 would work for me... Youd think with the number of them I see around here there would be a dealer.

It should. The whole Iro measurement system is "special". I had a 59 at first and it was too small. Once I realized I was really riding a 55 it all made sense. Iro has standover height on their website. Measure yours and compare then go with what seems right.

Just want to echo that IRO's quoted stand-over will be better for determining fit than the measurement they term "size." My friend, 5'10", recently bought a "53cm" Angus (granted, that's the lower end of his size range), and the frame ended up becoming mine (I'm 5'2" - yes, it's at the high end of my size range, but still). It's definitely a good idea to try one in person, if you can make it happen.

Well, I ended up buying a 56 cm GTB... Heres hoping itl work for me when it arrives on Wed!

why not save up for a little bit longer and get a debernardi. arent those things like 500? or atleast a eai bareknuckle frame