Frame Upgrade: Surly V. IRO
 

I'm looking at upgrading my frameset to either a Surly Steamroller or IRO Jamie Roy V up from a Fuji Track.

Now, my Track really isn't very old at all. I only purchased it in May but I'm quickly realizing that it really isn't the kind of bike I'm looking for. I can't afford to have multiple bikes for multiple occasions, nor do I really get out to the track as often as I'd like. What I really need is an all weather bike with tire clearances big enough for knobbies during winter.

I did a little research and found that through my shop I can pick up a Steamroller for about what I'd pay for a Jamie Roy and am looking for some insights. Besides the Jamie Roy being aluminum and having frame/rack eyelets - what other differences/advantages/disadvantages are there?

On a side note:
How much do you guys think a blue 2006 Fuji Track framset would go for?

If you want an all-rounder type bike why consider a track-ish frame at all? It you like the snappy handling on the street and actually do ride at the track from time to time, buy a beater on craigslist for winter and be done with it.

just get an iro and be happy with it.

and i'll give you twenty bucks for that fuji,

30 for the fuji here.

If you want an "all weather bike with tire clearances big enough for knobbies during winter," and you're already looking at Surlys, then just get a Cross-Check. It has horizontal dropouts so you can ride it as a single speed or fixed gear quite easily, canti studs so you can run heavy-duty brakes in the snow, and tire clearance for days.

^^^ agreed. the cross check might just be the best all rounder there is. The IRO will only take 28mm tires without fenders I believe.. thats not the best. Check out the Rob Roy if you want to go with IRO. Its their cross bike and would work the best as an all rounder for you.

Are the Steamroller and Jamie Roy considered track frames?

That is exactly what I don't want. This is certainly a one time deal. After the summer is over I will no longer be working at a bike shop and will no longer have an affordable means of making silly frame changes.

Cross-Check/Rob Roy:
I'll have to look into these. I do like V-Brakes a lot more but I'm not sure if I'm down with all the braze ons. I still want at least some of the smooth lined appeal of a track bike.

I'm curious why you're restricting yourself to either the Surly or the Iro? I personally hate aluminum, and I've had some bad luck with it in cold temperatures, and I think its durability is questionable, so I'd say go with the Surly...but I second the Cross-Check over the Steamroller. I understand that you want the 'look' of a simple track bike, but I dunno if that should be the guiding criterion for your choice, especially for winter riding.

If you don't mind another suggestion, I recommend the Bianchi San Jose. It's a little 'louder' than the other bikes, but I bought one for about $550, and I love it-- you might be able to get it cheaper through your shop. I added a Brooks, some fenders, a rack, some cork and shellac, and it looks (and rides!) pretty great. The only downside to it is the obnoxious Bianchi badging (under clearcoat, of course), but hey, what the hell. The '07 even comes with a flip/flop rear. Neato. Some folks around here seem to have an issue with Bianchi, or large-production 'off the rack' bikes in general, but I think it's a great bike, and do about 80-100 miles a week on it commuting, and it works really well.

look at their drop outs

and that will tell you... what kind of dropouts they have. a track frame is presumably one meant for track racing, with a high bb and a tight wheelbase. ive heard of velodromes that will not let slack road fixed-gears on the track because they have all the same issues a conversion would have.

to answer the question though, i think a steamroller is more 'track' than a jamie roy, which is basically just a road bike. correct me if im wrong though.

there's a lot more to track bikes than track ends. the jamie roy is definitely a ss road bike.

my vote would also be for the cross check. however, the san jose or the roger would definitely be worth considering, though i don't think you can purchase the frameset new. my friend has a san jose and loves it, despite the junk components.

just to add to your quandry, the on-one il pompino would be another frame to consider. like the surly, it's steel, has large tire clearance, canti mounts, fender and rack mounts... but has track ends rather than horizontal dropouts and is single speed specific.

i'd take the Steamroller over the IRO even though it lacks the fender eyelets (p-clips!)
Mainly because it's spaced at 120mm instead of 130 which saves you the expense and hassle of respacing your hubs (probably need a new axle) or getting new wheels altogether.

a steamroller isn't very "track" like anyway.

The Jamie Roy takes 38 width tires according to their website.
I have some 37's on order so I'll let you know.

They are both slacker than what most here would consider "track frames". That's why I said track-ish.

Just a couple more points:

The Cross-Check is definitely the most versatile frame, as it allows SS/geared setups without a chain-tensioner, etc., and Surly just makes great stuff. 'Course, the frame and fork cost about $400, which is alot.

The San Jose doesn't have 'junk' components, despite what other posters may think. The wheels and seat are bad, but aside from that everything else is either a quality brand or serviceably generic. The worst part of the wheels are probably the 28h lacing (WTF?), but the hubs are sealed cartridge, and seem okay. The cranks are Sugino XD, Cane Creek brakes/levers, and the Bianchi-badged stem, bars, and seatpost--while not the sexiest items around--are of decent quality and work well. The wheels do work, though, and I've ridden the hell out of mine. I expect to replace them next season...but even with a new, middle-quality wheelset, the San Jose is cheaper than a built-up Cross Check. But definitely not as nice...

The Bianchi is spaced 130, but comes with 120 hubs with spacers, so other track wheelsets could be run in it without wrecking the chainline.

surly

iros are played

included with your surly is a yellow jacket and helmet mirror

All you need to do is hang the old frame in your garage. Within a few months time (mine took about 6 months) you will have another bike.

I have a crosscheck. It would make a good fixed gear, but I will say that horizontal drops vs track drops definitely have their limitations.

well i talked to one of the other guys at the shop today and he pointed out the san jose as well.

why i'm limiting myself to the steamroller or the jamie roy is because i have access to the steamroller at employee prices and the jamie roy is well... in my price range.

i don't really want to get the san jose mostly because it comes as a complete and even after selling my current bike i'd come out in the hole. on the otherhand selling my current frame and purchasing a new framset will get me a new (read: better) bike at a lot less extra expense.

also:

i think i'm pretty set on the steamroller v. jamie roy. i've looked at the other options today and i know i'm going to stay fixed so i'd prefer a bike with track drops. that said i've also looked at the 1x1 but the disc brake tabs kind've turned me off on it.

perhaps down the road i can look for CC fork with canti studs so i can upgrade my brakes, but i'll tackle that when i get there.

for now i just need a versatile, all season, fixed gear frameset (read: no braze ons).

our shop carries specialized, gary fisher, cannondale, bianchi, raleigh and surly, all of which have and sell single speed bikes. only specialized and surly sell SS framesets, and only surly comes at a price point i can afford.

as for whats available online outside of my shop, only iro fits my budget unless that is someone can suggest a frameset in the $250-300 range of sufficient versatility (read: tire clearence) that would be a superior choice to either the steamroller or jamie roy.

You sure you don't want fender eyelets? They're not all that noticeable compared to stuff like brake cable brazeons or dt shifter bosses; p clipped fenders look crummy; and winter riding is pretty miserable if you're getting sprayed with salty slushy water all the time.

eyelets would be great, but i can deal with p clips.

^ Fair enuff

the Kona Paddy Wagon is available pretty cheap as a frameset. It takes long reach brakes and comes with fender eyelets.