I've got a toss-up between 2 fixed gear cranksets: IRO or Sugino RD. The price comes out basically the same (Bikeman has good prices on the Sugino crankset and BB, btw), so is there some clear difference in quality for those who have experience with these? To put this in context, I'm converting an old beater (Kabuki/Bridgestone). The bike will primarily be for commuting, with a little extra mileage on the weekends. I'm not looking to go high-end (obviously), but my current crank spider is done and I'd like a decent drivetrain.

Thanks.

My experience with the IRO crankset is that while the arms are solid enough, the chainring was reasonably oblong. I'm not sure whether this was because the spider was formed off center or, more likely, that the chainring was not round.

i have the sugino sd crank right now and i hate it, im looking to get something new this summer

I'm on a campaign against the RD.

Go with Iro

I've ridden RD and never IRO.
Go IRO if ONLY for the customer service.

Does anyone have photos of the IRO on their bike? I wanna see it in action.

edit- nevermind, I guess the orange angus on their site has 'em on it. derrrr...

i think they are actually the same thing.
ive been riding 165mm sugino RDs with the 48t (16t cog) for a month or so and have no complaints so far.

They're different.

The IRO is a true track crank, correct?
the RD is just a road double.

sorry i mean theyre made by the same people so there probably isn't much quality difference. just pick the one you think looks purtier.

Anyone know whether the Suginos put the pedals tighter in (narrower "tread" or "Q-factor" for the jargon-inclined)? Seems they might since the spindle is shorter with the chainring on the outside of the spider for a 42 mm chainline. IROs have a longer spindle and ring on the inside for the 42 mm chainline. Then again, the Suginos are indeed converted road cranks (as others have pointed out), so maybe the IROs have an adjusted pedal positions (e.g. narrower crank arms) to compensate? Perhaps this all has a piddling effect on pedal strike relative to just using shorter cranks and I'm wasting time thinking about it.

While the RD may be just a road double, the chainring mounts on the outside of the spider. That's +1 style points.

It is able to mount on the outside, but depending on the BB, often times it has to be on the inside.
-1 style points.

Why are you against the RDs? I thought everyone here was in agreement that the IROs are too flexible and everyone thought the Suginos are good for the money. Did the IROs change? Did i miss something?