Anyone riding an IH roadie?
- Thread starter Fool
- Start date
I'm Pretty Sure Douglas rides an Iron Horse roadie , Give him a PM
you could go to one of the site offering fit/measurement calculators, but even then, it's not just numbers, it's an art. I really think people underestimate the value of an experienced pro who knows his stuff. And $750+ is just a little too much to spend without being sure.
Disclaimer said:
http://www.wrenchscience.com
http://www.competitivecyclist.com
Other than that, I can't comment as I'm not familiar with IH roadies, but IH does make good stuff.
Disclaimer said:
http://www.wrenchscience.com
http://www.competitivecyclist.com
Other than that, I can't comment as I'm not familiar with IH roadies, but IH does make good stuff.
I agree with LO on this one....it is worth the money IMHO to get a professional fit. I have ridden mtb's that were a not exactly a perfect fit and survived. Road cycling is so different that a few milimeters here or there can make a huge difference. Alot of shope will throw in a fit with a bike purchase if they have some one certified to do it.
I'm glad you're not still mad at me from our beer discussion
So I went and looked at the bikes. I haven't really looked at bikes for a few years since I got my custom roadie, so... has aluminum improved? Cuz I'd think that a bike for $1200 should have carbon seat-stays as well as the fork, yeah?
Granted, if you ride smooth roads, I doubt noise will be much of a factor.
Someone bring me up to speed, does AL still suck?
My first road bike was an all aluminum specialized and the ride sucked. I busted the frame and the new warrantied one rode much much better just being a newer version of the same model. Specialized obviously learned a few things.I'm glad you're not still mad at me from our beer discussion
So I went and looked at the bikes. I haven't really looked at bikes for a few years since I got my custom roadie, so... has aluminum improved? Cuz I'd think that a bike for $1200 should have carbon seat-stays as well as the fork, yeah?
Granted, if you ride smooth roads, I doubt noise will be much of a factor.
Someone bring me up to speed, does AL still suck?
Both bikes come with a carbon fork and seat stays, the difference between the two is more about the parts spec, which I know IH does a great job with on their MTBs.
Heck, I'd like to get an steel frame like my fixed, but NOBODY is spec'ing a built steel frame anymore, and I don't want to (er, can't) drop the coin on a custom build.
This is the best deal I've run into for the money and spec and I'm in pretty well with my local shop (not an IH dealer) so fine tuning the fit could be done with them.
Heck, I'd like to get an steel frame like my fixed, but NOBODY is spec'ing a built steel frame anymore, and I don't want to (er, can't) drop the coin on a custom build.
This is the best deal I've run into for the money and spec and I'm in pretty well with my local shop (not an IH dealer) so fine tuning the fit could be done with them.
We sell a bike that is 631 steel for under a grand with Ultegra/105. It was a closeout, so I only have two and don't recall if they are 58 or 61 cm frames. I don't want to pimp bikes on this site, but PM me if you want to know more.
edit - the 58 would most likely work, but I know the 61 would not, if that's what they are.
I have a triumph, I like it. The only problem I have had is I destroyed the rear wheel.
I'm guessing you ride a 55cm cuz you need a shorter top-tube and you've got your saddle jacked way up?
If so, do you find that your handlebars are relatively way too low?
No - it's because I've got short legs compared to my height (30 inch inseam) Because I'm tall, most shops will try to sell me a 58 cm - when I got professionally fitted, 55cm turned out to be right for me.
my handlebars are about two inches lower than my seat - I find it pretty comfortable.
Speaking of handlebars, I switched to carbon - I got the Bontrager Race X Lite for Christmas. It's got a shallow-er drop with a better angle for my hands - I can ride in the drops now!
If you're riding a smaller bike cuz of your legs, how are you adjusting for having a longer torso/short top-tube? Are you running, like, 140mm stem? Or are you sitting more upright?
I'm just wondering how you compensated for a standard geometry bike?
I had to go custom cuz I have longer legs for my height.
I'm just wondering how you compensated for a standard geometry bike?
I had to go custom cuz I have longer legs for my height.
I'm running a 100 mm stem now. It's comfortable, is all I know. I really don't know all that much about fitting - I ask the fitter what to do, and do it.
Haven't visited this forum for awhile now, but I have an IH roadie, the Triumph. Picked it up from an NYC bike shop for a song. Despite its sora drivetrain, it's been solid and hasn't disassembled during my mountain bike-like road riding practices (it doesn't mind a good bunnyhop). If you don't care about racing or sporting roadie bling, it's an awesome first road bike and a great way to train.
My girlfriend just picked up an Excelcior Comp. It's a great bike for the money. The Shimano 105 10spd is really very nice stuff. The frame is OK too (it's not going to match a frame that costs as much as the whole Ironhorse bike).
However, I wouldn't trust Performance to do a good job putting it together. They overlooked the fact that the right hand shifter on my girlfriend's bike didn't downshift reliably becaue the housing had poked about 2cm of wires through the plastic ferrule and into the shifter. There was even a noticeable bump in the plastic coating where it bunched up. They shouldn't let a bike go out the door like that.
As for sizing, get in the ballpark by going to a good shop and asking them. Write down the size and geometry numbers of a bike or two you fit reasonably well on, and see if any of the Ironhorses work out (go here: http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/bikes/index.asp?ID=40 and click on the box that says "Geometries"). At $750 you can afford to change the stem and seatpost if you need to tweak your position on the bike a little bit. It's a lot of bike for the money.
Do you go into shops, try on shoes and helmets, and then get them from mail order? I can't stop people from doing this, but I strongly discourage it.
As for trying out bikes at another shop and buying them elsewhere, you are wasting the time of salepeople who are glad to help you and will most likely make the extra cost of buying a bike from them worth it.
I will give you a perfect example: most shops will switch stems for free so you can get the right length and rise. These shops often have bike fit tools that will get it right the first time.
A guy tried to put me on a 54 Cannondale today and Im 5'11.
lthumbsdown:
A guy tried to put me on a 54 Cannondale today and Im 5'11.
What size did you get?
A 56, which is what he sized me at, and then said "well this is just a bit smaller, but should be fine, really"
1. No. I don't.
2. As for trying out bikes at a shop and buying them elsewhere, I certainly don't recommend it as a general policy. I also believe strongly in buying from a competent shop that you can develop a relationship with. However, there are circumstances under which it seems reasonable to try to get sized up at a shop for sizing purposes, and the original poster seemed to be in one such circumstance.
I don't recommend going into a shop and getting a full on bike fit, measurements and all, and then walking out and buying elsewhere if you're not going to pay for the fit. I've never heard of a shop doing something like that though, so I didn't consider it as a real possibility. Most shops will have someone who is pretty good at sizing people up (looking at them) and placing them on a bike, or at the very least narrowing it down to a couple of sizes, and then having the person sit on the bikes. This takes very little time. Seeing a helpful and competent shop will also generally attract future business.
One can't get much bike for $750, and if that's your budget, sucks for you. The Ironhorse is/was a real deal (especially with a 20% off coupon), and if someone wants to get into road biking, and stay with it, having a bike with something other than Shimano Sora crap is going to help. As a shop employee I would have been happy to spend fifteen minutes helping someone who just wanted to know what size road bikes they should be looking at. I'm psyched about bikes, and I want more people in the sport, so to me it's worth it.
I hesitated too long and failed to score a Comp in my size. There are still a few of the Races left around the internets. Nothing else out there comes close to matching the parts spec for that price. Shop employees, advocates of proper fitting: thank you for your time. I am gleefully going against your better judgement. See you at the chiropractor.
Other than parts, what do you have? A frame. Whoo-hoo. Most road frames aren't very exciting, especially when you're looking at lower end bikes. Most lower-end road frames are pretty comparable. Here I'd like to quote a former collegiate teammate and very smart engineer:
Thus, I'm of the opinion that parts are important, to a point.
For the same reason I don't buy generic toilet paper.
So you sit on a cassette?
I'm done here.
You're strictly talking about points of contact, which I agree with. But when people talk parts, they're talking about the sillyness of grouppos
And since pretty much no stock bike comes with decent pedals or saddle, then you're buying them seperately.
As such, buying a bike based on parts is retarded.
I ordered my IH from a bike shop in the city. It arrived and the rear brake was a bum one. I called, and they happily sent me a new one. No questions asked.
As much as we want to support our LBS, I think both the customer and the retailer have to realize that a strong online presence and competetive prices are a must today. I hardly did any Christmas shopping in stores this year. It was all online. This one particular shop in NYC had an awesome online presence and, because of this (coupled with great customer service, as if they were my LBS just down the street), I looked no further and bought the bike from them.
As much as we want to support our LBS, I think both the customer and the retailer have to realize that a strong online presence and competetive prices are a must today. I hardly did any Christmas shopping in stores this year. It was all online. This one particular shop in NYC had an awesome online presence and, because of this (coupled with great customer service, as if they were my LBS just down the street), I looked no further and bought the bike from them.