Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - So my IRO just came in...

And I'm disappointed! My front wheel's dishing is off. Which means I have to email Tony (you know how that goes) and hopefully get a new wheel which is going to take two weeks to get to my house, which means I'll have a bike for two weeks, but I won't be able to use it. :mad:

Local
Bike
Shop

I
don't
have
the
money
I
just
bought
a
$600
bike

yeah, if i were you i'd get it redished or relaced at a lbs. it'd be pretty simple for a good wheelsmith.

yeah, if i were you i'd get it redished or relaced at a lbs. it'd be pretty simple for a good wheelsmith.

and cost less than $20 which is change compared to $600

this is true. but I'm a little disappointed. I just payed $600 for a bike that is "broken" that's unacceptable

$6 spoke key and do it yourself. I mean, you obviously know how to check that it is out of dish. It's pretty simple to make it right.

its not broken. wheels often need to be trued/dished when you buy them

I feel your pain. I've been waiting literally MONTHS for some cranks from IRO. They were supposed to be shipped with my group buy RR frame which I was told would ship in early March. It shipped in early April (I was very understanding about the delay - problems with the post office). What really cheesed me off though is that the cranks weren't in the package, although they were on the packing list so I paid taxes and duty on them! I called Tony the day I received the package with the missing parts, and he told me he'd send out the cranks.

I called a week after initially contacting him about the missing crank to ask if it had been shipped yet and was told that they would 'ship tomorrow or the next day'. WTF? Today is 'the next day', so I still have no idea if they've been sent yet.

I have bought several times from IRO, and have defended them on this board against charges of bad customer service, but my patience and understanding is really wearing thin at this point.

well this is all new to me. What would you guys do? because really I have very little money. lbs? or get a new wheel from tony? I think I'd have to pay for shipping for that wheel though right?

I had to get my IRO's wheel's trued up after a month or so. Just ride it for a little bit, then call it maintenaince.

I however was able to trade a 6 pack for the truing, you might be able to do the same at your LBS.

go to your LBS. cheaper. quicker. they are your friends.

I feel your pain. I've been waiting literally MONTHS for some cranks from IRO. They were supposed to be shipped with my group buy RR frame which I was told would ship in early March. It shipped in early April (I was very understanding about the delay - problems with the post office). What really cheesed me off though is that the cranks weren't in the package, although they were on the packing list so I paid taxes and duty on them! I called Tony the day I received the package with the missing parts, and he told me he'd send out the cranks.

I called a week after initially contacting him about the missing crank to ask if it had been shipped yet and was told that they would 'ship tomorrow or the next day'. WTF? Today is 'the next day', so I still have no idea if they've been sent yet.

I have bought several times from IRO, and have defended them on this board against charges of bad customer service, but my patience and understanding is really wearing thin at this point.

The cranks are heavy anyways. You don't want them.

just get the LBS to do it. you gotta support your local shops sometimes, and it'll be less of a hassle. just ask a buddy for the money, and treat him to beers one night out or something.

The cranks are heavy anyways. You don't want them.

The cranks are just fine for city riding.

I feel your pain. I've been waiting literally MONTHS for some cranks from IRO. They were supposed to be shipped with my group buy RR frame which I was told would ship in early March. It shipped in early April (I was very understanding about the delay - problems with the post office). What really cheesed me off though is that the cranks weren't in the package, although they were on the packing list so I paid taxes and duty on them! I called Tony the day I received the package with the missing parts, and he told me he'd send out the cranks.

I called a week after initially contacting him about the missing crank to ask if it had been shipped yet and was told that they would 'ship tomorrow or the next day'. WTF? Today is 'the next day', so I still have no idea if they've been sent yet.

I have bought several times from IRO, and have defended them on this board against charges of bad customer service, but my patience and understanding is really wearing thin at this point.

I kinda know what you mean too. sorta. I mean they never get back at emails, and they never answer their phone. which is very very frustrating. but when they do light shines down from heaven and they are some of the nicest, friendliest people around. so I'm kinda stuck in between like you. I guess I'll take all of your advice and just go to an lbs then.

Are you absolutely positive that the wheel is straight in the dropouts?

Front wheel dishing? Do you mean it's out of true? Have a friend or an LBS deal with it. It'll be cheap and quick, and you'll be riding a lot sooner than if you start shipping wheels back and forth to be trued.

Are you absolutely positive that the wheel is straight in the dropouts?

I'm absolutely positively positive. I went to two bike shops, both of which said the same thing: the wheel's dishing was off. so there you go

I'm absolutely positively positive. I went to two bike shops, both of which said the same thing: the wheel's dishing was off. so there you go

you already went to the shop but didnt think to get it fixed? what did the mechanic say when you walked away?

you already went to the shop but didnt think to get it fixed? what did the mechanic say when you walked away?

well if you read a few lines up you'll see that I have "very little money". I realize that it would only cost $20, but that's $20 I don't need to spend if i can just get it repaired for free by Tony, which I now know that i can't. So! I'm going to an lbs tomorrow. DONE

You would pay as much on shipping as you would to get it redished.

I
don't
have
the
money
I
just
bought
a
$600
bike

A spoke wrench from the LBS costs like, 8 dollars. Shake out your couch.
Isn't dishing usually achieved by using shorter spokes on one side than the other? Pending he laced a front wheel with spokes for a rear road wheel, the true is probably a little off. no big deal.

Why the crap did you post this here before even contacting Tony. Shipping a new wheel sounds like it is way costlier than having the LBS do it. And maybe Tony could have given you a discount on your next purchase or something.

Why the crap did you post this here before even contacting Tony. Shipping a new wheel sounds like it is way costlier than having the LBS do it. And maybe Tony could have given you a discount on your next purchase or something.

Because CLEARLY the benefits will be greater if he stirs a whole bunch of internet tough d00dz into a fury and then threatens a mob scene.

Because CLEARLY the benefits will be greater if he stirs a whole bunch of internet tough d00dz into a fury and then threatens a mob scene.

In all fairness the customer service at IRO has really gone down as of late. See post #9 for my experience.

I'm guessing they've been pretty busy lately, what with nice weather coming and tax returns getting spent.

I'm guessing they've been pretty busy lately, what with nice weather coming and tax returns getting spent.

Still, when they make a mistake they should fix it ASAP, not weeks later.

Right, or at least give you an apology and maybe a discount. I'm just supposing why they might be having problems.

Right, or at least give you an apology and maybe a discount. I'm just supposing why they might be having problems.
At this point I'd just be happy with the parts I have paid for and weren't in the box. I've been really patient up until now, but enough is enough.

At this point I'd just be happy with the parts I have paid for and weren't in the box. I've been really patient up until now, but enough is enough.

Well I agree with your case, if anything you should be the one making a thread.

I hate to complain about a company that used to be universally loved, but I had a similar experience with the last group buy deposit. (I've talked about it here in the past, so bear with if you're heard it already.) I was charged double for the deposit and despite a bunch of voicemails and emails to every address and phone number I could find, I got no response. I'd just about written off the group buy-- was seriously considering asking for my money back (assuming I'd somehow get through that time around).

Finally got an email response when the frames arrived from Taiwan, and Tony took care of the problem. But really, I should have gotten some acknowledgment way back in September when I first reported it, not six months later.

This was the third frame I'd bought from IRO and the other two purchases (in '04 and '06) had great service-- spoke with Tony on the phone, received email replys just a few minutes after hitting "Send". Seems like the business might be a little overwhelmed these days, sure, but that didn't ease my frustration any. I cut the guy a lot of slack since he's a small business-- if I'd had such poor communication from Pricepoint or Jensen or something, I'd be reaching through the phone to strangle 'em.

Anyhow, growing pains suck...but there they are, and hopefully the good customer experiences still outnumber the bad.

dude... seriously...
you certainly have a friend who can true wheels. if not, you should learn.

machine built wheels SHOULD be checked out by someone who knows a little about wheelbuilding before you ride them anyway, i mean do you trust a machine to do a better job than a human? just go to your lbs and get it fixed. quit complaining, you got a nice bike for a very fair price.

I feel your pain. I've been waiting literally MONTHS for some cranks from IRO. They were supposed to be shipped with my group buy RR frame which I was told would ship in early March. It shipped in early April (I was very understanding about the delay - problems with the post office). What really cheesed me off though is that the cranks weren't in the package, although they were on the packing list so I paid taxes and duty on them! I called Tony the day I received the package with the missing parts, and he told me he'd send out the cranks.

I called a week after initially contacting him about the missing crank to ask if it had been shipped yet and was told that they would 'ship tomorrow or the next day'. WTF? Today is 'the next day', so I still have no idea if they've been sent yet.

I have bought several times from IRO, and have defended them on this board against charges of bad customer service, but my patience and understanding is really wearing thin at this point.

How long did the shipping took? I'm waiting for my Rob Roy to arrive in Lithuania (shipped on the first days of April).

How long did the shipping took? I'm waiting for my Rob Roy to arrive in Lithuania (shipped on the first days of April).

Labas ritas.

It was shipped the 2nd (I think) and arrived on the 16th, so a little over two weeks. Ours were probably shipped together.

Did you order a black 60cm? If so and there are cranks and a chain in there which you didn't order they're probably mine!

Labas ritas.

It was shipped the 2nd (I think) and arrived on the 16th, so a little over two weeks. Ours were probably shipped together.

Did you order a black 60cm? If so and there are cranks and a chain in there which you didn't order they're probably mine!

Almost "Laba diena" here already :)

I received shipping notification email on April 4th, still waiting for the package... Mine is complete bike (not group buy), blue 60cm frame. If I find extra cranks and chain in my box I'll try to forward them to you.

Take the wheel to your LBS and let them determine the problem.. I am hearing redishing and out of true.. let them decide. If it is out of true, its like $10.. not worth the hassle of returning to IRO.

And I'm disappointed! My front wheel's dishing is off. Which means I have to email Tony (you know how that goes) and hopefully get a new wheel which is going to take two weeks to get to my house, which means I'll have a bike for two weeks, but I won't be able to use it. :mad:

Are you sure the dishing is off, and it's not just out of true? There's not really enough spoke in a front wheel to have it be dished wrong, unless the wheel was fundamentally built incorrectly.

it's totally possible for a front wheel to be dished to one side accidentally. Just tension all of one side slightly more than the other. I had a wheel like that for a long time. It rode fine, until I finally took the time to fix it. It was only off by a mm or two to one side.

Out of true implies a wobble - my wheel turned completely straight, just all off to one side a bit - dish.

It's a minor problem. In the case of the IRO wheel, I would bet the wheel was machine built, or done very quickly by hand, in which case it's totally normal for it to be off a bit. I would say any time you get a wheel shipped to you, you should probably throw it in the truing stand and double check everything.

Unless the wheel is grotesquely off to one side, I don't even think it's terribly legitimate to ask Tony to fix it. Budget wheels ordered over the intarwebs need truing.

Get your LBS to fix the wheel and give you a receipt. Send it to IRO and have it refunded from your total purchase not as a discount from a future purchase. Having to repair a wheel for a brand new bike out of the box should be unacceptable especially when IRO is charging $199 for their "basic" wheels.

I dont know if it is true or not but, I was told that front wheels are often shipped with a slightly less tension then ideal to prevent potential damage in shipping. Anyway My LBS trued my wheel for free when I got it. (put new tires on it right away) Also IRO will likely pay for return shipping if it needs to be returned!!!! How do you know they will not fix it?... if it need s fixed.

All I did was assemble when I first started at an lbs. Every single wheel I took out of a box needed at least some truing and/or dishing.

That's understandable for an LBS assembly where a professional tech is putting the bike together but not for a bike being sold online without any local support from that company.


I dont know if it is true or not but, I was told that front wheels are often shipped with a slightly less tension then ideal to prevent potential damage in shipping.

That can't be true, how could spoke tension cause any more damage to a wheel inside of a box than a properly tensioned one being ridden on a street?

tee hee, thanks for calling me professional :o

edit: thats how it reads to me anyway, don't shatter that please

That's understandable for an LBS assembly where a professional tech is putting the bike together but not for a bike being sold online without any local support from that company.



That can't be true, how could spoke tension cause any more damage to a wheel inside of a box than a properly tensioned one being ridden on a street?


Um in the event that it gets smashed or something heavy sits on it during shipping it has more give/flex. I am not saying I believe this ( i am also suspicious) .... but an old-school dispatcher of mine said he thought it was pretty common for wheels being shipped to arrive slightly out of true for this reason. Take it with a grain of salt (I have) but he otherwise knew his shat! this only goes or the front wheel which is often not attached thus protected by the frame

seriously, dishing takes like 5 minutes. tighten one side 1/4 turn and loosen the other, right?

seriously, dishing takes like 5 minutes. tighten one side 1/4 turn and loosen the other, right?

more or less, thats all there is to it, though if it's been shipped undertensioned as some people seem to suspect you should check the lateral trueness as well as the roundness of it. Both processes can be figured out with a little reading and time playing around.