Which bike to get?
#1
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,760
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
11 Posts
Which bike to get?
I've been reading about how great it is to ride a fixie and how it helps your pedal stroke and improves your road riding abilities and I'm sold. Plus, it'd be nice to have a bike in the stable that I can just jump on and ride.
But which bike? I think I'd prefer something like the IRO Jamie Roy over a dedicated track bike. Are there other bikes like IRO that I've missed? Are the Lemond Fillmore or the Fisher Triton worth a look? And if I did order an IRO, which upgrades are worth it? The upgraded wheelset seems to be a good idea but I know nothing about anything else.
But which bike? I think I'd prefer something like the IRO Jamie Roy over a dedicated track bike. Are there other bikes like IRO that I've missed? Are the Lemond Fillmore or the Fisher Triton worth a look? And if I did order an IRO, which upgrades are worth it? The upgraded wheelset seems to be a good idea but I know nothing about anything else.
__________________
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boston
Posts: 290
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
not quite sure, but as far as I know, the wheelset is the only upgrade available through IRO. but I could be mistaken. If you read other IRO threads you will find nothing but good things about them
edit: you might want to check out the KHS flite 100 or binachi pista if you havent already
edit: you might want to check out the KHS flite 100 or binachi pista if you havent already
#3
hateful little monkey
Join Date: May 2003
Location: oakland, ca
Posts: 5,274
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bbattle
I've been reading about how great it is to ride a fixie and how it helps your pedal stroke and improves your road riding abilities and I'm sold. Plus, it'd be nice to have a bike in the stable that I can just jump on and ride.
But which bike? I think I'd prefer something like the IRO Jamie Roy over a dedicated track bike. Are there other bikes like IRO that I've missed? Are the Lemond Fillmore or the Fisher Triton worth a look? And if I did order an IRO, which upgrades are worth it? The upgraded wheelset seems to be a good idea but I know nothing about anything else.
But which bike? I think I'd prefer something like the IRO Jamie Roy over a dedicated track bike. Are there other bikes like IRO that I've missed? Are the Lemond Fillmore or the Fisher Triton worth a look? And if I did order an IRO, which upgrades are worth it? The upgraded wheelset seems to be a good idea but I know nothing about anything else.
#4
Minneapolis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Just under Minneapolis
Posts: 873
Bikes: 1998 Stumpjumper Pro, SE Draft, 1984 Bianchi ATB, 1980? Raleigh Comp GS, Civia Loring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Off the peg or roll your own? If you have something that'll convert, that might be a good option. Unless $ isn't a limiting factor - then a whole bike is easy enough.
#5
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,760
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
11 Posts
I haven't seen anything at the bike shops here to test ride. Occasionally they'll get a track bike on order or a singlespeed mountain bike.
I've got nothing to convert to fixed and the bike shops here don't carry used bikes except one place has some expensive used Colnago and Sano frames. I can spend up to 1k.
The geometry of the track bikes is more aggressive than my road bike, particularly with the track bars. I like the looks of the bullhorn bars and the moustache ones and they look like they'd ease the agressiveness of the track frame.
I've got nothing to convert to fixed and the bike shops here don't carry used bikes except one place has some expensive used Colnago and Sano frames. I can spend up to 1k.
The geometry of the track bikes is more aggressive than my road bike, particularly with the track bars. I like the looks of the bullhorn bars and the moustache ones and they look like they'd ease the agressiveness of the track frame.
__________________
#6
Minneapolis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Just under Minneapolis
Posts: 873
Bikes: 1998 Stumpjumper Pro, SE Draft, 1984 Bianchi ATB, 1980? Raleigh Comp GS, Civia Loring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The change in geo is certainly noticeable. My first few rides on the Pista freaked me out a bit, but now that I'm used to it, no handed is as easy as on the other bikes I have.
I'm beginning to dislike Pista drops. I might go back to aeros.
I'm beginning to dislike Pista drops. I might go back to aeros.
#7
Minneapolis
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Just under Minneapolis
Posts: 873
Bikes: 1998 Stumpjumper Pro, SE Draft, 1984 Bianchi ATB, 1980? Raleigh Comp GS, Civia Loring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Last edited by colinm; 04-11-06 at 12:59 PM.
#9
live free or die trying
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: where i lay my head is home.
Posts: 6,999
Bikes: bianchi pista workhorse, cannondale r1000, mountain bike fixed conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
hey, i have several bikes i have to assemble before i can ride them....
i think (maybe?) he's just referring to lower maintenance. there is, after all, less to break/go wrong on a fixie (though most of us have broken plenty, i'm sure).
i think (maybe?) he's just referring to lower maintenance. there is, after all, less to break/go wrong on a fixie (though most of us have broken plenty, i'm sure).
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Man, Huntsville Alabama. Not many fixies there I'll bet. You're going to have to travel to get on one. But also check out Soma, Surly and of course ebay. Plenty of bikes on ebay at all kinds of price points.
#11
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,760
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
11 Posts
Originally Posted by gfrance
Man, Huntsville Alabama. Not many fixies there I'll bet. You're going to have to travel to get on one. But also check out Soma, Surly and of course ebay. Plenty of bikes on ebay at all kinds of price points.
__________________
#12
jack of one or two trades
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Suburbia, CT
Posts: 5,640
Bikes: Old-ass gearie hardtail MTB, fix-converted Centurion LeMans commuter, SS hardtail monster MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Check out the Jamis Sputnik and Redline 9-2-5 also.
#13
I am an incurable.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 993
Bikes: IRO Mark V pro (RIP), Bianchi Giro, Giant Xtc1, Redline Conquest Pro, Kelly Deluxe singlespeed.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
IRO doesn't really sell a true track geometry bike. The steel Mark V is actually rather similar geometry to traditional road racing with a higher bb.
On mine, I feel the need to pretty much upgrade everything. The stem was pretty flexy, and the seatpost would not hold the rails of my Selle SLR. The wheelsets (even the basic) are solid. I am not a huge fan of the formula hubs, but I think that is a minority opinion around here.
Oh, and the FSA headset seems just fine. I see no reason to spend the extra hundred on a king.
On mine, I feel the need to pretty much upgrade everything. The stem was pretty flexy, and the seatpost would not hold the rails of my Selle SLR. The wheelsets (even the basic) are solid. I am not a huge fan of the formula hubs, but I think that is a minority opinion around here.
Oh, and the FSA headset seems just fine. I see no reason to spend the extra hundred on a king.
__________________
www.oldsylebeer.com
www.oldsylebeer.com
#14
Makeshift
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 626
Bikes: 2002 Bianchi Vigorelli, 2002 S-works CX, 1973 Raleigh Super Course conversion, 1979 Raleigh Competition, 1973 Raleigh Professional Track, 1980 Austro Daimler Inter-10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+1 on the Sputnik. If you have 1k to spend, that wouldn't be such a bad way to spend less than that (for off the peg).
#15
.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,760
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
11 Posts
Thanks for the input, I've got lots of bikes to consider now.
__________________
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 409
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
IRO is a great great company and tony is perhaps the nicest man in the world.
Everyone is making a track bike/fixie/njs commuter/singlespeed with a flipflop this year.
Ignore the new guys, Tony has been in it for a while. Go with him, or at least compare like with like.
oh, yeah. And then go with IRO!
Everyone is making a track bike/fixie/njs commuter/singlespeed with a flipflop this year.
Ignore the new guys, Tony has been in it for a while. Go with him, or at least compare like with like.
oh, yeah. And then go with IRO!
#17
Loners
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Richmond VA / Fairfax VA
Posts: 281
Bikes: 1980s Schwin Sprint SS, IRO Mark V
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by RedDeMartini
IRO is a great great company and tony is perhaps the nicest man in the world.
Everyone is making a track bike/fixie/njs commuter/singlespeed with a flipflop this year.
Ignore the new guys, Tony has been in it for a while. Go with him, or at least compare like with like.
oh, yeah. And then go with IRO!
Everyone is making a track bike/fixie/njs commuter/singlespeed with a flipflop this year.
Ignore the new guys, Tony has been in it for a while. Go with him, or at least compare like with like.
oh, yeah. And then go with IRO!
#18
hell's angels h/q e3st ny
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: boston area/morningside heights manhattan
Posts: 1,582
Bikes: surly steamroller, independent fabrication titanium club racer, iro jamie roy--44/16, independent fabrication steel crown jewel--47/17, surly karate. monkey (rohloff speed hub), unicycle
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
get a jamie roy. i have one and ride it every single day. i love it like a son. i have about 2k miles on it and nary a problem. get one and thank me later.
#19
YOU ARE NOW TUNED IN
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The City that Works
Posts: 1,185
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think if you're not going to ride on a track, a fixie with road geo makes more sense. Don't have to deal with toe overlap as much. Unless you like that kind of thing. But, really, some people like the aggressiveness of a track bike on the street.