Hey guys, I'm just getting into the whole fixie/ss game, and I just built up my first fixie from an old Schwinn world sport with some weinmann deep v's and origin hubs. Rides nice but a bit heavier than what I would like to be riding on.

Now I'm trying/looking to spend a bit on a nice/light steel frame and start from scratch again. I've been looking at the surly steamroller and IRO marc V, but can't really decide which.. advice on this or any better frame? And what's the difference between 4130 chromo and 725 reynolds steels.. comparable or is there a type of steel I should lean towards? Also found this Scanttante SSR frame at performance bikes.. https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...0_20000_400314 Looks decent for 170 bucks but how does it measure up?

I'm hoping to build something up that's less than 20 lbs.. 18 would be nice. I'll mostly be riding in the city, some rolling hills but nothing too steep. Not sure what wheels I'm gonna throw on, but I have a Fuji SL-1 with shimano R500's that I want to upgrade for the next racing season.. would putting the shimano's on the fixie work? Thanks!

I was looking into the scattante SSR when searching for a frame.. The forkends aren't reinforced, so if you're going to use the bike pretty thoroughly I'd say go for a stronger frame. But dropping by performance bike, the frame looked great. simple color scheme and with a carbon fork should ride great.

the shimanos should work fine with the bike - I've definitely moved around wheelsets when just getting around to build a new setup. but I'm not very acquainted with road so I'd wait for a second opinion.. hope it helps!

they won't work on an aluminum 120 spaced rear frame, you'll need to find a 130mm rear spacing frame or set the fork ends of a steel frame farther apart to use those wheels.

if you want something close to 18 lbs you may be better off buying a complete bike. reynolds steel is usually better but it really depends. i haven't heard of many bikes using 725. 520 is basically 4130. my bike is 520 and i like it a lot.

i would suggest the IRO or a slightly more expensive frameset like a gorilla or a traitor bike.

Mark V.

You won't regret it.

This.

my mark V inspires me daily.

Blanket statements without backing arent very useful, because they dont provide any information just an opinion.

Your new avatar scares me daily.

those damned PNW spidars.
finally cold enuf for them to go away

You're not serious are you...?

@ OP: Get a Mark V...

Cool - so the general consensus seems to be the Marc V. Any particular reasons for this over the Surly? And is there any reason that more expensive frames like Gorilla is so much more expensive than a Surly or Marc V? Seems to me the quality of tubing they use wouldn't merit that price. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.