I recently tried out a Surly Cross Check and really liked it. Unfortunately, I cannot find a IRO Phoenix to ride. Does anyone have any input on the Phoenix?

For the price it looks like a great deal. My main concern is the rather odd geometry of the Phoenix, but the numbers look pretty close to the Cross Check, anyone know how different they really are?

The 56 Cross Check fit very well, would the Phoenix in the same size be a good fit?

The Cross Check has rave reviews. Haven't ridden the Phoenix, so I cannot stipulate on its capabilities and or sizing.

But, don't rule out a used, rigid MTB. Could serve your purposes well. And possibly serve up for less cash.

Building on rusty's tip, if I lived in the Bay Area and had $450, I'd be all over this.

They're really different types of frames. The Cross Check is a multi purpose frame with horizontal dropouts and a derailleur hanger spaced for road or mtb geared wheels. It also has cantilever brake bosses and can take huge tires. The Phoenix is more like a Kilo WT with track dropouts and 120mm track spacing that can take medium fat tires but not nearly as large as the Cross Check. So, it depends on how you want to use this frame.

oh snap. that bianchis in my city.

Get the Cross Check--more build options, better resale value if you ever get rid of it.

Just swapped a bunch of stuff over from a IRO Rob Roy (predecessor to the Pheonix, but with canti mounts and 130 dropout spacing), to a Cross Check.

If you're never going to run gears, go with the IRO and save some cash. If you want room for future builds which might include gears, get the Cross Check.

For cheaps Pake C'mute, same geometry and rear drop outs (ie. can be run fixed, single w/gears) as the Cross-Check, its the Pake Fake-Check.
Bikemania selling frame and fork for $230. ish

The Cross Check is way more versatile. SS, commuter, touring, Cyclocross, and it does all of these incredibly well.

I love everything about the C'Mute except that godawful fork. If it had a lugged crown, they'd make a huge dent in Crosscheck sales. Still, it's well thought out and a much better deal than the Crosscheck, I think mostly just because Pake doesn't have the same cachet as Surly.

+1 for the crosscheck. You don't say what you want to do with this bike but whatever it is I can pretty much guarantee that the crosscheck can do it. I love IROs, I have a mark v. Even still, the cross check is one of the best, and likely the most versatile bike being produced today.

my 60 cm IRO Phoenix is a little on the small side. i've switched out the stock tires for 700x32 Marathon Supremes, switched out the Dicta freewheel for an ENO, and replaced the a**-hatchet with a B-17. i love this bike. the upgrades pushed my bottom line up considerably, but i'm pretty sure i would have done the same with just about any other stock bike. still, even stock the bike was a real pleaser...

I vote for surly steamroller?

That wasn't on the ballot?

xczech orgasms

almost bought a Cross check, the bike kitchen had one nearly build for 350, I just didnt. I wish I had though. Frame literally could have carried me through everything I wanted to do, from trail riding to touring California.