So, I'm abysmally new to the forums, after a truly abnormal amount of lurking here and learning I've found two possibilities to start my journey. I've found a 2010 chrome pista locally for 400 new, and A custom painted Iro Mark V for around 80 before shipping, both in my size (59cm). I'm assuming that most here will recommend just scratching the pista and building something up, but I would still love some seasoned input. If I do go the IRO route, how much money am I looking at to get it on the road with some reasonable gear? Footnote: I make 9 an hour, so be gentle with your recommendations!

Oh, and time is an issue as the frame wont be here long...

Building from scratch will likely be more expensive than buying the complete Pista. Your big purchases on a build will be wheels and a crankset. Depending on what you consider to be "good gear," these two items alone could set you back $200-300. Then there's all the small stuff that really adds up: Bottom bracket, pedals, clips/straps, handlebars, grips/tape, brakes, brake levers, chain, cog/lockring. It can really get pricey.

On the flip side, when you build up a bike, you're probably less likely to want to upgrade, since you got what you wanted the first time. If you already have a bike, and this is just a project that you can take your time on, collecting parts whenever you have the money, it might not be a bad idea to build up the IRO

I guess you're right, and it could be a good deal of time too. Do you think the Pista is a solid buy @ 430? I also found a Torelli Tipo Uno, which seems to barely exist on these forums, but its a beautiful bike in person and its going 400 OBO on the bay right now... Argh, so many choices, and now some guy just put up a steamroller with a bunch of phil wood gear on it for 700 BIN... Being on a budget is killing me, and of course theres the kilo's but I hate the badging on them, and for the price of a stripper I can get a pista... I feel like a lost child in the mall... I need an adult...

If the build on the Pista is all stock, $430 is not a great deal. Here is a brand new Pista for $400: Pista. If $700 is a price you're willing to go to, you have A LOT of options: Surly, Soma, Moto Team Track, Traitor, the list goes on. It all just depends on what kind of riding you want to do.

Thats an 08 jazz, for 450, the one I'm buying is 430 2010 pista chrome, from an lbs to boot, so no shipping.

just buy a chrome kilo tt brah~
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ial_chrome.htm
$385 shipped

if not, THEN buy the pista.
iro is not the way to go if you cant even make this decision by yourself. iro worthy parts are not going to net you less than your pista option.
iro frame > bianchi pista frame> kilo tt frame, but parts are tbd and unless you know what you're doing, how can we guarentee what you put together is better or worse than the bianchi pista?
and if you do know what you're doing already, then i dont understand why you still have to ask us.

Just wanted a little friendly advice... although I knew someone on here would come back like that. I have a mountain biking background so am I a walking track parts encyclopedia yet? No, but I know what I'm doing and will pick up on what is what quickly... I just think the kilo badging on the tt and pro aren't my cup of tea. No one on here came out of the womb knowing all that they do now... Thanks, "brah"

maybe this complete for 550...
https://www.irocycle.com/markvbuild-a...heelset-2.aspx

It's a classic build vs. buy choice. Do you just want to get on the road and ride, or do you want to build up something unique?

My thoughts: If you have a bike to ride around on already (meaning you can take some time to build the bike - you're not desperate for a ride) and you have any patience, then build. Get the IRO and have fun building it up your way. Seek out decent cranks (and BB), choose a decent wheelset, cog, and chain. Find a stem and post and saddle. Study and select all that stuff. Use your MTB takeoffs (stem, post, saddle) to tide you over or fill in the gaps while you wait for killer deals to come up.

Then in X years or sooner, you can sell the IRO frame and move your stuff over to some cool new frame.

Ah, and there enlies the problem... I am currently without a bike, right now I'm between the Pista for 430, a Torelli Tipo Uno for 400 or so, and some guys steamroller with a good bit of phil wood gear on it.

The steamroller is by far the best deal, even if you were to just strip the parts and discard the frame you would still come out ahead. Being on a budget I would say throw a bid for as much as you can afford on the steamroller and if you don't win it get the pista. I have an IRO and they are great bikes, that being said if you don't know exactly the parts that you want than building up the frameset will be significantly more expensive without really any nicer parts.

Not all Kilos have decals, brah:



https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...t_stripper.htm



https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ial_chrome.htm

I'm aware, but paying more for the same bike with throw away components just because they removed the decals? Sweet, brah.
Besides if you're going that route just get the frame from bikeisland...

if you make nine an hour and live in a place with anything close to moderate cost of living, i'd strongly urge you against a build if there is not a co-op that has INSANE prices... like under 15 for every single component and wheelsets for less than 100, and doesn't charge for labor, and lets you borrow tools. otherwise you'll certainly spend more than 400 and you won't get a bike that is any better than that pista, assuming it's in good shape.

i'm all for piecing a bike together that suits you, but not when you're on a small budget. if you don't want to spend more than 500, don't build a bike because you aren't going to end up with anything any better than the pista. people may like the IRO mark v a little more than they like the pista but they're not that different. and one's (presumably) good to go without spending 150 on wheels, 20 on bars, 50 on tires and tubes, 50 on cranks, 50 on a saddle, 50 on a seatpost and stem, 10 on bar tape... and then you don't even have pedals and brakes and you're over the price of the pista. and you have parts that are hand picked but not any better than what comes on the pista.

I recommend getting an education.

perfect time to go for that 2nd masters degree in this economy.
so what have you decided?

Your paycheck and your desires are obviously at odds with one another.

Good luck on your quest, brah.

for what it's worth, you can a pretty decent wheelset from IRO starting at $150. i believe they are formula hubs and velocity fusion rims...

They're sealed but I don't believe that they are Formulas, they look a little more like these. https://www.businesscycles.com/graphi...b-diacompe.jpg

No reason for posts like that.

Apparently a nice bike isn't a reason?

You can't afford to piece a bike together from parts on a $9/hour budget. The Steamroller is the best deal, but it isn't that great anyways and you can't afford it. Between the Pista, Kilo Stripper, and Torelli (which I have never heard of but it looks alright from the website), just pick whichever one you think looks the best.

I agree with that, and by the way to the little man who made the education topic, I am in school, I go to SVA in NYC... Full time, and work full time, and raise my son... YOU DON'T KNOW ME, don't be an a hole... What do you do with your life?

I do love the phrasing, but correct me if I'm wrong but I think that applies to roughly 95% of everyone under the sun, especially in this economic climate... ;-)

You're wrong. We all typically buy what is within our means and building a bike a la carte is clearly not within yours - especially considering that you're working your way through school and raising a kid (unless you want it to take two years).