I picked up an IRO direct through their shop in Penn. For me, I didn't need anything crazy expensive/nice, just a functional ride to get to work and do some long fixed gear training rides to improve my cadence for road racing. The bike rides super smooth and has been amazing.

Great price, Reynolds steel, and every aspect of the build is customizable. If I had a question, I could get the owner on the phone in no time to chat. Amazing service. Fully built, custom spec Mark V Pro delivered for < $700 (no tax).

 

That's a nice looking bike. I checked out the website and the company seems pretty cool too - also prices are lower now and shipping is free for a time. Thank you for providing an actual reason to ride a fixie - improving cadence for road racing. I have asked many people and the best I have been given so far is a shrug and "it's cool" or something.

How do you like those bars? I have been thinking about trying some like that to get a better position for longer rides w/out stops and hills and such.

 

****ing hipsters

 

+1

A meniscus doesn't heal itself. Ever. Hills > fixed gear.

 

www.bikesdirect.com

i think somebody else posted it too. i got my first FG off there and it suited me very well for a year. I have also heard bad things about bikes direct, as far as quality goes however.



if you're weak. if you aren't, a fixed gear is a great training tool. i ride mine on decent hills for the purpose of training, so when i get on my road bike i can dominate them even harder.

 

I can see it as a training tool. That makes sense. But as a lifestyle/commute/fun bike? Nah, sorry. Makes no sense.

 

i think they have a good use for around town. i ride a conversion with a relatively easy gear around to school and the store and such. but it is also relatively flat where i am and my biggest trip is 10 miles round trip.
to me it makes sense because they are so simple, low/easy maintenance is a huge plus for a commuter bike.

 

I actually thought about my knee issue and will be getting a freewheel and fixed gear hub with a front brake. No brakes in the city is suicide

 

get ready to get shunned by the hipsters. Oh, and a wool stubbie is not a helmet. YWIA

 

I dunno, I mean, I can pedal around in 1 gear if I want, bash my foot with a hammer, push my car around instead of driving it if I needed to. I don't think that my choice to use a bike with gears is a sign of weakness - but maybe it is. I am not a r4cer and do not need to fit in with any groups, so maybe it just doesn't apply to me. As far as I know, the Nexus rear hub does not need any maintenance. Been riding my black bike for over a year now, sometimes every day, and had to tighten a few bolts here and there, adjust my chain and air up my tires but have not had to do ANYTHING to it other than that. The idea of riding around where I ride w/ a single speed fixie would keep me away from biking. There are some times whilst riding in traffic where you need to get out of the way or take off NOW and no matter how superman you are, there are times when that just is not possible w/ one gear. I regularly ride from SF Caltrain to the panhandle and if I had to do it on a single speed fixie I would be pretty worried for my safety. Plus, I do not own any really tight jeans that I could roll up to just below my knees nor do I have a furry messenger bag.

 

haha...i wasnt accusing anybody of being a hipster i dont wear tight jeans either, i like brakes, and i wear a helmet.

i ride a geared bike as well as my track bike, both have their pluses. for me, an around town fixed gear works very well. where i live there arent many hills, unless i go looking for them, and riding with a gear ratio of 46/15 is perfect for speeding up and slowing down quickly if necessary and cruising around. ive never had any close calls in traffic or anything either.

i also havent ever experienced an internally geared rear hub like it sounds like youre using- so i cant comment on it too much. but it seems like it would be low maintenance too since there is no derailleur or anything... so its probably great!

i wasnt trying to force my opinion on anybody or step on anyones toes... im just glad to see people enjoying bikes, whatever kind it is!

 

oh gawd that reminds me of the hipster living in my complex.

It's freakin 95 degrees homie!

 

I don't care if they give me crap for freewheel hubs and a front brake. I'm building a bike that I want and that is pratical to just ride around in, not to fit into their "scene". Maybe they just might be uptight because I'm sure wearing size 0 pants can stress a man out..

 

Then you might as well put brakes on both ends of that *****.

 

Here's my beater in the process of building another just thinking about what frame i'd like to use.

I'll be honest, I was always against riding fixed since I rode gear'd and coaster. Once I got on one I fell in love. So I guess the moral here is don't knock it till you try it. I guess the hipster crowd turns off a lot of people but just get over it. Look what the "hipster" crowd did to Subarus =o

I like physical challenges and the fixed gear brings that. =)