iro mark v/angus - rack/fender mounts?
 

was curious if the iro mark v/angus had rank and/or fender mounts?

i'm interested in getting it as a commuter bike. (5-8 miles commute). it's getting to be summer soon, so i don't need the fenders now; just want to know if it'd be possible later to mount fenders/rack.

(Novice)

I am very interested in buying a standard IRO Angus. In my readings however, it was highly recommended to test ride prior to making one's purchasing decision. Unfortunately there are no IRO dealers here.

My LBS carries Kona Paddy Wagons. I was curious if these would be similar enough to the Angus that test riding it might give me an idea of what to expect on the Angus.

Thanks in advance,

-r

What do you have to say about Republic bikes? You get a lot of choice about colors, which is cool. And $400 ($460 for the bullhorns and CrMo frame).
http://bit.ly/9PJjW8

Any other companies that let you customize this much? I like the IRO Mark V, but it only comes in Black. I'd also be open to just buying a frame and building the bike myself.

Hey Everyone.

I've been browsing through these postings trying to get an Idea of the best route to take for buying a single speed/ Fixed on a budget.

Basically my budget is $350 (I know it's cheap, but that's all I can do right now. And it will be a school commuter, So I'm looking for something I wont stress as much about when leaving it locked up for extended periods on campus))

Looking Online and at some local shops, my options seem to be:

The Torker U Dis. ($300@ LBS)
Schwinn Cutter ($330 ?)

Dawes SST (299 Bikes Direct. Flip flop hub but need free wheel)
Motobecane Mesenger Track ($299.95 Bikes Direct)
Windsor Clock Work (299 BD)
Gavin FISSO ($329 Road Bike Outlet.com)
Gavin SOLO ($350 RBO)

(or Local Used)

08' Redline 925 ($240. Needs Pedals and Front TIRE)
Trek SOHO ($300)

I know the online outlets like Bikes Direct and RBO get some guff for poor customer service, as well as no where to turn when something breaks before it's time.

I'm basically looking for some feedback from anyone who has either owned/tried one or more of these bikes and could make a recommendation.

Sorry for the newb question as well as posting something that has been mostly covered already. I'm just trying to organize all the low budget fixie and Fixie/SS in the $250-350 pricerange and see how they add up.

Thanks for your time!

Used road bike from the late 80s: 100$
New rear hub with a sprocket of your choice: 60$
Add to that the price that your LBS will charge to change the hub in your old rear wheel and you have a fixed gear bike for cheap... If you want to go single speed it will only cost you the price of the bike because you can do it the easy way, do not remove all the freewheels at the back, just remove the derailleurs, pass your shortened chain and you're done. We're talking bike on a budget here, that's a bike on a budget, it won't be as flashy, but who cares?

You're talking about X component is better than Y, but, lets be realistic here, most people will never realize the difference in quality and most people have a bike and use it to do less than 1000km a year, so an old road bike which gets converted is still the best solution. No it's not going to be as light as what you can get brand new, but seriously, do you really need to care about that that much? My bike weights 10kg (22 pounds) and, to me, it's still the best bike in the whole world because it's comfortable, it looks good and it performs well.

The two cents of a realistic newb :p

I am also looking for similar price range.
I also don't want drop handlebar since I need it for traffic ride and also want to add a front basket so I can put my backpack there to avoid sweat on my 2 miles to work.

I am thinking of the Windsor Hour (it's like the clockwork but no break), and I'll have to buy bullhorn, front brake (and hopefully basket that can fit).

what have you find so far and what do you think of my option?

Here is my original thread where I get some tips from experienced members. might be helpful for you as well -
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=Gavin+FISSO

Hello everyone. For the last couple posters, if you haven't found anything yet - IRO is having a sale Mark V completes for $400.
http://www.irocycle.com/markvbuild-a...heelset-2.aspx

Crosslake Sales Track Frame
 

I got a Crosslake Sales Aluminum Track frame from a local co-op for 90 dollars, including all components and whatever I put on the frame. I'll talk about the frame though (this frame was being sold as a complete bike on Crosslake Sales new for about 250 dollars, if I remember correctly; right now it appears out of stock or discontinued). As far as the actual source of manufacture of these frames goes, your guess is as good as mine.

The frame was in very good condition when I got it. It appeared to be barely rode. The bottom bracket was still in decent condition, and the dropouts were pristine, so I assumed it had been rode very little. I replaced the BB nonetheless at the co-op.

Being my first track bike, I coulden't really say anything about it. It definitely felt different than my steel roadie - lighter, more responsive, stiffer.

After riding for a while and riding other people's track frames and test riding bikes from LBS's (Langster, Steamroller, Pake, Pista, Trek T1)... I got a good feel for how well the Crosslake stacks up.

The ride is nice and solid, the frame is actually very light on its own, comparable to many more expensive AL frames. The geometry seems comparably aggressive; I don't know the exact specs, but the seat tube angle is very vertical, the head tube seems to be about the same as most other (track) frames. The clearances are pretty relaxed. You have about .75 to 1 in. of clearance between the edge of the rear tire and the seat tube (however much less between the tire and rear brake bracket), and about 1.5 in clearance between edge of front wheel and downtube. With the standard fork that comes with the frame, you can do barspins with any 700c wheel with a hair of clearance (probably not important, but interesting to note if your thinking about Tarcking one). The fork itself is cro-mo and isn't that bad, it has a high, thick unicrown which looks a bit ugly from the front but its drilled for a brake (the frame also has a rear brake bracket). As far as durability goes, I did a head over heels endo, flinging the entire bike about 15 feet over me onto concrete, the front wheel taking to brunt of the impact. The wheel was borked beyond proper repair and even the bars were bent, but the fork was A-OK.

There are a few unusual things to note about this frame:

Build quality - Looking it over, I have to say this is not the best-made frame, detail wise. You get what you pay for - ugly welds, and the dropouts are chunky and cheap-looking (no steel insert or anything to prevent the soft aluminum alloy from being chewed up). It is inferior to the Dawes SST-AL in this regard. Not only that, but sometimes it seems to me that the seat and chainstays are inconsistently manufactured - the left seatstay appears to the naked eye to posses a slight bend near the dropout, inconsistent with the right stay, as if the frame was damaged or mis-crafted during the manufacturing process - but as far as I can tell it has no effect on the actual geometry of the bike; the rear wheel seats easily and lines up correctly. There are no problems with the chainline or wheel alignment. Most significantly, the bike rides straight, so I don't believe this is anything more than a cosmetic screw-up, slight dent, or something to do with the aluminum shaping process, although it is visually disconcerting to a discerning eye.

Head tube - Along with a bulky 1 1/8th in. headset, and threaded stem, which I find very annoying (and limits your fork upgrade options), the head tube is large and long, noticeably moreso than other 54cm frames. The ends of the head tube stick up and down out past the ends of the top-tube and down-tube, similar to the Origin8 Uno's head tube. Not only does this look a bit awkward, but tilts the overall geometry of the frame slightly - the frame sits a little higher toward the front, resulting in a very minute backward slope in the top tube. Sit the bike against a handrail or other perfectly horizontal reference, and you can see the slightly canted stance of the frame.

Also the stock headset is total shiat. It constantly needs to be re-tightened every so often, and never feels completely smooth, even after cleaning and repacking with fresh grease (could be the bearings need replacing).

However, details and quirks aside, the ride quality of this frame is very good for its price. It feels light and crisp, turns on a dime, and is stiff. When you dig your toes in, the bike accelerates smoothly without yawing from side to side or becoming unbalanced. It smoothly sweeps in and out of turns with an easy lean. You can feel every bit of grit in the road, and if that's your cup of tea, like it is mine, then this bike delivers. Although the wheelbase is not terribly short, the bike feels very tuned-in, and the riding position feels poised and sprinter-like; the bike feels short and responsive, if not slightly twitchy at times. With risers or drops, the bike feels well balanced, and for a skinny person like me, your center of gravity feels centered and well poised.

The more you hike your seat up, the better this frame feels. It feels like it always wants you to be sprinting, and the geometry makes it easy to lay your weight on the pedals without having to get out of the saddle. I know I'm talking about a second-rate bargain frame like its a Felt TK2, but the bike really feels very rigid, precise, and responsive with the gentlest of input from the rider. My friend's Langster feels downright sluggish by comparison, no joke. He even expressed a similar disposition after having some saddle-time on the Crosslake.

Basically, if you're looking to buy a brand new ss/fg, avoid this frame; pay the few extra and get yourself a proper Kilo, Pake, or Steamroller... However, if you really are set on an aluminum frame and can snag a Crosslake at super discount like I did, you probably wont regret it. If you don't care about craftsmanship and can ignore its minor idiosyncrasies, you will forget that you're riding such a cheap frame. It's built like a Fiat, but handles like a Ferrari.

Republick is a company started to take advantage of dumber hipsters and people who don't know anything about bikes. Please don't let their pretty colors fool you - **** components, hi-ten steel (HEAVY) frames, waaaaay overpriced. Don't do it.

Also need a single speed on the cheap
 

I too am in the market for a single speed and have a tight budget of $300. I'd like to pick something up while I still have time to ride (not a huge fan of riding in cold, slushy winter weather).

I'm currently considering:

Nashbar Hounder 49cm (currently $200 with discount code)
Motobecane Messenger Track 49cm ($299)
Dawes SST 49cm ($299)

I'm 5'2" and 115lbs so I don't want anything too hefty, and would prefer something that is under 25lbs if possible. If I were to get one of these now and save up to change out some components to upgrade, would that be doable? I'm pretty novice so I'm not confident enough to buy a bike and do my own conversion. Would rather start with a new, working bike and upgrade little by little (what my tight budget would allow).

Thoughts?

Also, as far as putting the bikes together, my LBS would help out for about $40, which I'm prepared for.

I got the Kilo tt last year for $380 as my first track-ish bike. I think its a great frame to build on, but with this frame there is a little less clearance for for larger tires than other bikes. The stock wheels are fairly heavy and have pretty bad hubs, and the fork and full cockpit setup is a hard ride and kinda heavy. The bottom bracket has started getting noisy after a year, but I haven't done any maintenance with it. Frame is a really light steel and components are decent I'd definitely recommend it!

are there any frames similar to the UNKNOWN and NEXUS track frames for around the same price? (200$ mark)

Look at the post directly above yours when bumping a thread.

Newb here

So from my research, I have been lead to believe the Kilo TT is a decent starter for someone who is a noob.


http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott.htm


I also found this: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...4#ReviewHeader


or this
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/.../clockwork.htm


http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cane/track.htm


all in my price range. I know all have pros and cons looking to just get the best for my budget


I'm in grad school so my budget is next to nothing and cant afford to go all in.

Or should i just wait and browse Ebay or craigslist for a good find?


Thanks for the help guys

It seems the Kilo TT is the way to go for any newbie. At least that's what I'm seeing. Is there a better bike out there in the Kilo price range? If you up the price range to $600 is there a better bike? Seems rims and tires have to be changed on the Kilo as well as pedals and even the saddle. I know that doesn't have to happen all at once, but could one save money by add a bit more to their budge?

If the kind of bike you want is one with an aggressive track geometry, then the Kilo TT Pro is the best bang for the buck. You do not need to replace the tires until they are worn through. You should not need to replace the wheels. Pedals are a possible upgrade but there isn't anything wrong with the stock ones. It is just that people often prefer platforms or clipless pedals or whatever and all complete bikes have the issue that they come with saddles that may or may not agree with your rear.

It is definitely worthwhile to spend the extra money for the pro version.

Great info [MENTION=244825]prooftheory[/MENTION]. Thanks for the reply. One question, what's the difference between the Kilo TT and the Pro version?

Better crank (Sugino) and wheels, mostly but there's also some chrome on the pro's finish.

The whole frame is chrome plated before painting.

Makes paint chips really cool cause they're shiny.

Thanks [MENTION=244825]prooftheory[/MENTION] and [MENTION=285301]Nagrom_[/MENTION]. Maybe I can find a Kilo Pro without a logo. That's the only thing I don't dig about it.

Anyone have any experience with Cooper bikes? They just another company cashing on the single speed craze?

http://www.cooperbikes.com/bikes/1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cooper-Bikes...item460e8f3455

Definitely this.

Okay, been researching over the past few days. Mostly just reading through the forum and this is what I've come up with so far. I'm no authority on any of this, but here's a list of complete bikes, prices, their respected websites and a very general opinion. Please feel free to add to this.

I think for me it's between the Kilo TT Stripper and the Wabi Classic. Opinions on this are welcome as well.

Sole Bikes - $379
http://www.solebicycles.com/collections/bikes
Just another company trying to cash in on the SS/FG craze (not my words).


SE Triple - $379
http://www.sebikes.com/bikes/lifestyle/urban-series
Not the greatest frame materials. I guess you get what you pay for.


Kilo TT Stripper - $399 ($449 in Chrome)
http://bikesdirect.com/products/merc...t_stripper.htm
This is the most recommended fixie/SS on the Bike Forum for newbies on a budget. I will probably end up with one of these.


State Bycicle Co. - $429
http://www.statebicycle.com/fixies_s/3.htm
These bikes don't have a good rep on the BF.


Fyxation East Side - $595
http://www.fyxation.com/collections/...cycle/Eastside
I would love to know more about these, but not many reviews. They are too new, but they've made parts for years.


Cooper Bikes Sebring - $605
http://www.cooperbikes.com/bikes/1/Sebring
Very nice design, but very few serious reviews. I'd love to know more about these as well. I'd pick between one of these and a Kilo for now.


Wabi Classic - $695
http://www.wabicycles.com/classic_bike_spec_11.html
I'm also very interested in a Wabi. If someone with more experience could compare this with a Kilo it would be awesome. I'm guessing the Wabi has better components.


Surly Steamroller - $820
http://www.jensonusa.com/!qz1TmdwMY-...FZBAMgodmwgAAQ
Another poplar bike found on BF.


All City Big Block - $895
http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/big_block


Jamis Sputnic - $800
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...putnik_gy.html


IRO Cycle - $549
http://www.irocycle.com/fixedgear-2.aspx


Bowery Lane Bones - $550 (made in NY)
http://bowerylanebicycles.com/bones.html


Trek District S - $650
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ct/district_s/
I had a Trek MB back in the 90's. Great bike. This fixe has a modern look. Vintage wanna bees don't bother.


Red Line Urbis - $550
http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/commute/2013-urbis


Bianchi Pista - $770
http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/fixed-gear/pista/
Geometry is more of a track back. May not be the best commuter.


Raleigh Rush Hour - $523
http://www.raleighusa.com/archive/20.../rush-hour-12/


Kona Paddy Wagon - $699
http://www.konaworld.com/paddy_wagon.cfm

I have the SOLE and I do like it, Its a little too big for me so i might sell it and get a smaller one, also I think its the best looking one in that price range. The Pista is beautiful but not in my budget for now.

Tt.