2011 Cielo Sportif with Shimano Ultegra

When building this bike, we knew we had a unique opportunity to create a completely modern yet retro bike. Starting with a hand-made steel frame and fork, we knew we were going for a thoroughly classic look. Yet, I knew before we started we wanted to include all of the great modern technology that has forever changed cycling.


STI shifting, clincher tires, and shallow-drop bars have changed cycling, and while we knew we wanted to incorporate all of these, we had to remain true to the classic lines of quality steel.

Ultegra 6700 seemed like a great choice to us based on it's flawless performance and satin-gray finish. It "hides" pretty well on the Cielo's Transit Gray finish.


Silver Thomson stem and post were simple choices because of their classic look and perfect performance. A bit more difficult to decide on were the Ritchey Classic bars, the finish was perfect though there was a debate on the reach and drop.

A Brooks saddle seemed like a choice that was perfect and had to be made to fit the motif we were working toward. The bar tape was up for debate for quite some time before we settled on Deda in an off-white color that matched the outline of the Cielo font perfectly.


Last on the list are the rolling stock, which took some time. But, once we found H+Son TB14 rims we knew we had a winner. With the classic look of an Ambrosio but the ability to use clincher tires we feel we found a perfect balance. Laced 3-cross to Shimano hubs with Challenge Parigi-Roubaix 700x27c tires we feel we have created a very modern yet classic bike.


Chris King has been in the bike game for a long time. Everyone knows about his headsets, and now their bottom brackets, but not everyone knows that Chris started way back in the day making frames. Now that Cielo and Chris King are back in the frame business, Iron Cycles is lucky enough to be one of only a few select dealers throughout the country.

Very few small manufacturers can get you a hand-made steel frame in as little as a few weeks, but Cielo can do just that. And at just $1900 for frame and fork, it's tough to beat. Custom touches like stainless steel fork ends and rear dropouts, engraves seat stays and machined headtube collars.

Available in 6 colors, it's also possible to customize the color of the logos as well if you fancy something a bit different. All "paint" is done in powdercoat, including the logos, no decals to be found here.

Looking to go a bit further? Cielo has a stainless steel version coming as well as a Sportif Racer version with a, surprise, racier gemoetry. Cyclocross as well as a Cyclocross Racer, and a 29er version are also available.

As built:

Cielo Sportif Frameset
Cielo Steel Fork
Shimano Ultegra 6700 Shifters
Shimano Ultegra 6700 Derailleurs
H+Son TB14 rims laced 3-cross to Shimano 105 hubs
Challenge Parigi-Roubaix Tires, 700x27c
Thomson Stem and Post
Ritchey Classic bars
Deda Tape
Brooks Swift Saddle

Total price as built: $3900

2011 Felt FA with SRAM Force and HED Wheels

Another quick update with a very interesting build. When working with a set budget, how does one allocate the funds?

Felt has done a great job of designing their new FA frame, and at roughly half the price of the FC, a great argument can be made for it. A tapered steerer tube/head tube (1-1/8" to 1-1/2"), BB30 bottom bracket, and full carbon fork for $850 goes a long way to giving you an excellent base for a race bike.


Going to the FA frame afforded this build some excellent component choices. This particular build went with SRAM Force which has almost all of the same feel and performance of Red, with only a very slight weight penalty. That slight weight penalty leaves a ton of extra cash in your pocket versus Red.
Another excellent choice this customer made was HED wheels. The C2 rim shape has become a favorite of everyone at the shop. We have a set of demo 2010 Bastogne wheels that have 6+ months of CX training and racing and 12+ months of road miles that includes tons of city streets, snow, mud, rain, and sand. The wheels still spin true and free while that wide rim shape makes them handle like they are on rails.


This build is something we're really proud of because it is yet another of those builds we would consider "signature". SRAM, HED, and Felt make for a great combination and one that many guys from our shop are currently riding on.

As built:

Felt FA Frame
Felt full-carbon 1-1/8" to 1-1/2" Taper Control Fork
SRAM Force Shifters
SRAM Force Derailleurs
HED Kermesse Wheels
Michelin Pro3Race Tires
FSA Stem and Post
FSA Omega Compact Bars
Fizik Tape
Fizik Antares Saddle

Total price as built: $3400

Lynskey Sportive with SRAM Red

Time to unveil what we've been up to over at Iron Cycles!

If you're anything like us, you like bikes. Riding bikes. Working on bikes. And looking at bikes. Sometimes we enjoy looking at bikes so much we spend hours scouring for the next build, something new, something hot.

Nothing works quite as well to quench our thirst for hot bikes like some true professional-quality studio shots. Lucky for us at Iron Cycles, we have two photographers at the shop who can take some amazing photos, much better than any amateur will come up with. Add in a dose of studio lighting and some photo editing and we end up with true bike porn.

With that, let's get on to the bikes!

First up is an XL Lynskey Sportive that Steven was gracious enough to demo for us (and you). Built with a Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork, a mix of SRAM Red and Force, and HED Kermesse wheels. Toss in some Thomson bits, a Zipp bar, and Fizik saddle, and I would dare say this is a signature build from Iron Cycles, something you'll see a lot of.


These photos are of course a bit self-serving as well. While we enjoy building them and riding them, we do sell them. So the series won't just have sick shots, no, it'll also have a true build-kit price. Of course, with all custom builds everything can be changed, so these are just examples of what we can do.


As built:

Lynskey Sportive Frame
Reynolds Ouzo Fork (discontinued, to be replaced with Easton EC70, EC90, or ENVE 2.0)
SRAM Red Shifters
SRAM Force Derailleurs
HED Kermesse Wheels
Continental GP4000s tires
Thomson Stem and Post
Zipp Service Course SL handlebars
Deda Tape
Fizik Antares Saddle

Total price as built: $4950

Ti teasers....

Just a couple of shots to cap off the day. I'm guessing many of you are on your first day back from the holiday, catching up with days worth of work, and may need a quick shot of bike pjorn for a pick-me-up this afternoon....

ENJOY!

WIG Street Straps IN STOCK!

These things are not easy to come by, but we have them IN STOCK!


Let me back up, though. WIG is a small company based here in Chicago, and when I say small, I mean one dude. Isaac is our go-to when it comes to all of our custom bag needs. Personally, I own two. The first backpack was a gift, the second came along when I felt the need for something to class it up a bit.

Isaac is a crazy dude, with a ton of layers. Great guy to chat with. Better guy to get some custom stuff made. We'd heard about Street Straps and even seen them on Isaac's own bikes (we've hooked him up with a Brooklyn Machine Works Gangsta Track and a Surly Steamroller) and were impressed.

We like to support local businesses, but when that business is making some of the best stuff out there it becomes a no-brainer.


It wasn't until lately that calls have been coming in on a steady basis for WIG Street Straps, so we were able to coax Isaac into hooking us up with a few pairs.

$45 gets you set up with some hand-made-in-Chicago Street Straps, but you'd best hurry, we're down to just a few pairs!

* Huge thanks goes out to Gavin for the photos.