so tony wrote me back. this is what he said:
"The LC and Mark V are not the same bike. So you can't compare geometry. If you add a link to your chain it should move the wheel back so there is not an issue. Not sure what to tell you about the water bottle mount. What type of cage are you using?"
i wrote him back saying thanks, that i would try that, and then i let him know that most people were under the impression that the iro lc and the mark v were one and the same. hopefully i'll get an answer about the differences in geometry! at least that explains why chris' measurements matched mine but nalzar's didn't! would love to get it to the shop as well but it's been pissing down in houston!