WiseEvilEmu

Hey guys, soo I finally decided to grab a new bike... I've been riding an (get ready to laugh it up) SE Draft from around 2009... I fortunately made a few upgrades on it. I put some new rims on there with flip-flop hub, new pedals and straps, new saddle, and some bull horns... so essentially its a tank of a fixie at the moment. (and by tank i mean it weighs about the same as one...but it sure can take a beating)

https://imgur.com/RsMPR

Well I rode it close to 100 miles a week, whether commuting or just riding the lake front, Im looking at investing in a IRO Mark V Fixie (thoughts?) but to start I had no idea what Gearing to choose... right now im at a 42-18... and thats what I'm use to, but sometimes i do feel like im pedaling awkwardly fast... In general what is the best for commuter, stop/go riding, as well as the occasional cruise on the trails? Also I'm considering going the "Build-my-own" direction but they dont seem to have alot of the options they have on their customizer.

So im thinking it might be better to go in a direction to get the frameset with IRO, maybe some assorted other things if the price is right, and get some parts from some other outfit to get the style im looking for. Any tips?

Nagrom_

Building is always more expensive than buying complete. Your gear is really low, I'd run 42/16.

WiseEvilEmu

Im just thinking I'm prolly going to want to upgrade the saddle right away at the absolute least... (unless the IRO, saddle is decent?) Also by the time im done swapping out parts I feel like will have paid alot more than if I just built it in the first place... maybe im wrong though

Also does anyone know the weight of a IRO Mark V Pro complete build by them, or at least a rough estimate... The only solid number i found is that the frame for a 56 weighs 3.9lbs

jammincakes

IRO's are great, but they NO customer service. If don't like the product, sorry about it. Just a warning. I really like 46:17 a lot for a gear ratio.

Saddles are almost never a bad idea to upgrade. You can REALLY feel the difference!

WiseEvilEmu

Well I have a feeling anything i get is pretty much a step up from the Draft... that thing literally weighs over 30 lbs -.- but it was a bargain bike soo... what do you expect

Face Palm

I have a Mark V (that I've since converted to 3 speed with the Sturmey Archer S3X). Your 42/18 is really low, about 61/62 gear inches if your wheels are 700c. The Mark V comes with a 46T chainring, so you might want to start with something like a 46/17 or 46/18 depending how big a change you want. 46/18 might be a good compromise gear for you till you get used to it.

The stock saddle sucks, but for the price most of the components are decent-ish. May as well get the full build and then figure out what you want to upgrade after you try it. You can always sell the barely used parts on Ebay.

nuhtowel

Why not get a new frame and swap over your components from your other bike?

That would leave you extra money to upgrade parts as you see fit.

jammincakes

I'm not saying that IRO is bad. They're great. However, their customer service is pretty much non-existent.

If you like your parts, do what nuhtowel said and get a new frame to swap over parts. It's not worth it to swap over parts that will break soon anyway.

Keep searching.

JesusBananas

+1

I didn't quite follow why you wouldn't just use the components you've already bought either.

broakland

I understand IRO is pretty much out of business, but what kind of customer service is everyone expecting here? Its a steel frame, not a high-end piece of electronic equipment. If you buy it used: chances are its a tried and true frame and will last a lifetime

WiseEvilEmu

Do you have any other suggestions for a above average fixie frame? I mean I would imagine that a frame for this application is pretty straight forward... and once the weight is cut down without sacrificing strength how much better can it get? (prolly talking out of my ass) And like i said before, anything is a step up from the draft i am currently riding.



And that is my plan as much as possible. From what I have read the Crankset and pedals on the Draft is a POS and is an oddball BMX size, so i was assuming the worst, and thinking it wouldnt fit, and even if i did it wouldnt be worth it to swap it over. I also know the headset and stem are bargain bin parts, that need to be upgraded, now I could always bring over the wheels, saddle, bars, chain and straps... but even some of those parts are cheap just for the sole reason i didnt want to put a lot of money into a bike that i wasnt happy with, and wasnt planning on keeping for an eternity.

Point is I am assuming the worst and thinking that Im going to need to build a full bike, or buy a complete set... Even though realistically there is a 99.99% chance the wheels, saddle, seatpost, bars, straps, all could be salvaged, at least temporarily.

broakland

Look into: Surly Steamroller, Schwinn Madison, Kilo TT Pro, Bianchi Pista, Leader Pista, Fuji Track, All City Big Block, EAI Bareknuckle are all great frames under $500.

WiseEvilEmu

Ill get to researching, thanks

TheRealFaux

lol wut?

broakland

Good point, but its so gangsta!

WiseEvilEmu

I know these guys are prolly going to be shot down, but how does anyone feel about bigshot bikes... The only thing that really attracts me is there customizer and somewhat the price. Which is probably also its downside, I understand you get what you pay for... but how terrible are 4130 Chromoly frames?

Nagrom_

search function

WiseEvilEmu

the key is to not put the space inbetween big and shot when you search =p, i guess that strikes that off my list though

Nagrom_

I'm glad.

WiseEvilEmu

IRO Mark V Pro - Decently cheap, seems to have a pretty good reputation for the most part, decent bit of customizing available
Surly Steamroller - This seems to have the same components as bigshot bikes... 4130 chromoly steel, which is one of the only things staying stock...
Schwinn Madison - I donno how i feel about that two-tone paint its got... not to be a fashionista, but i gotta like how it looks somewhat... right?
Kilo TT Pro - Seems to be sold out everywhere, not very excited about it at all though... Roomate has one, disliked riding it, but would like to test one in my size before i strike this one off the list
Bianchi Pista - Complete bike out of price range, even the frames are going for close to 800 on ebay... unless i found a deal this is something i cant really afford
Leader Pista - https://velospace.org/forums/discussi...der-bike-hate/ this is off putting, although im not riding a Velo
Fuji Track - this one was hard to find any information on, it seems it got replaced by the feather? correct me if im wrong, but the feather seems okay
All City Big Block - $800 complete, I would have to find used, but i defiantly like this bike the most from what i have read
EAI Bareknuckle - $800 for the frame alone is way above my current budget, i do like the frame though.

[EDIT] Found a bunch of information just a minute ago on the Fuji Track, a buddy pointed me in the right direction... but he also said he "wouldnt ever support fuji, they make garbage that doesnt hold up in the city." thoughts?