New toys: bikes
2007-11-04 / 09:03 / dave
Casey’s bike & Iris II
Casey needed a beater winter commuter frame, so I ordered her an IRO group buy frame. 
For those that missed it, it was $150 + S&H for something like the Mark V Pro (though I think it had special tubing). At that price, I might as well order two, right? So I picked up the blue & green and let her pick the color she wanted.
She went with the blue. Put on some mountain flat bars, her old orange brake levers, cheapie Nashbar brakes, Concor saddle (now changed), cages & green straps, and my old wheels. 
The wheels will soon be orange Velocity mid-V’s. Oh, and I almost forgot her green bell that matches her straps. A nice accessory, though I have to say I’ve never seen her use it.
I took the green one and built up the 2nd version of Iris. 
The first Iris was an IRO Jamie Roy. She’s now hanging on my wall and destined to be stripped and re-painted. It’s basically all of my old components but with the change to the pimped Thomas Masterpiece seatpost that had been in fallow.
Go roadie, go!
Josh hooked me up with a Cannondale 
over the summer and I rode it… well, hardly at all. In fact the most use it got was when B. Funk borrowed it for the MS-150. Anyway, I finally decided to get it polished. Ultegra 9/10 speed rear derailleur & front double. Ultegra 12-25 rear cassette. Ted’s old right hand STI. The front shifter is still downtube, mostly because I didn’t have a left lever. Also swapped the bars & stem. So far I’ve just taken it for a test ride but it’s pretty fun. It tracks really well. I don’t feel comfortable on it yet, mostly becaues I’m stuck between the instinct that I’m on a fixed gear (so coasting weirds me out) or that I’m on my old road bike (so I forget how to shift the front). I guess I’ll learn.
hey, i’m checking out the IRO frames. how you making out with them? also, how you making out with that cannondale? i don’t think i’ve ever seen you ride it…?
I love the IRO’s. The Soma’s also get good reviews. The cannondale hasn’t seen much action since I got it together, I’m hoping to get more playtime in a few weeks… springtime!
yeah, the somas are pretty. IRO might be more of my budgetary speed for now. but we’ll see.
yay spring! and yay new bike for me, though i haven’t quite figured out what i want. i’m deliberating over fixed, like i’m mulling over presidential hopefuls!
You can always check the Ebay or the bike swap (Trexlertown in april or may, I think). Smaller frames can be hard to come by, but sometimes they’re cheap.
Fixie, not fixie… just straddle the divide: put on two brakes and a flip-flop hub with the same gear on both sides. Piece of cake!
Call me if you want any help with the shopping or part buying, we can hit up some locals to see if they have cheap spare bike stuff laying around. Though I’ll be out of town til Wednesday. Casey and I are going to Toronto and Michigan. Want any souvenirs?
you straddle the divide, mister.
thanks for the offer. when you return and i have some time i’ll surely be in touch.
i’ve never been to detroit, are you going there?
We might stop in Detroit, but mostly Casey’s going to check out Cranbrook. I’ll call you when we’re back.