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.

Lynskey Cooper Review

A very nice review on the Lynskey Cooper. An XL frame built up for Mike with SRAM Rival and a Quarq. Mike was excited for a new bike, like any real cyclist, but was nervous about the stiffness. Debating between a Felt F4 and Cooper, Mike wasn't sure the Cooper would have the performance he was looking for.

I've added a few shots during the build and of the initial fit. Mike has since lowered the stem 2+cm as well as flipped the stem down and even added 10mm to it. The fit has gotten much lower and longer with the added riding, flexibility, and comfort this bike has given Mike.


Read on for his impressions:

I wouldn’t call myself a bike expert, but I have ridden a variety of bikes, from aluminum, carbon fiber and steel frames, with varying degrees of enjoyment. I have never ridden a titanium bike and was a bit skeptical when Brandon and others on the team suggested that I would love riding the Lynskey Cooper. I was planning to get another carbon bike but didn’t want a bike that beat the hell out of me on longer rides (I’m not a crit racer), so I took the leap and got the Lynskey Cooper. I have had a chance to ride it long (75+ miles), during crazy group rides (yes, Judson can be crazy), during crits and one muddy road/gravel road race and I’m surprised how happy I am about the bike.


I have not been on a ride yet that I want to get off the bike. The ride feel is amazing. I have had other properly fitted bikes that I want to get off because I felt beat up, not because my legs are tired. It’s great to feel like I could ride my bike forever… or at least longer than I would ever consider riding it.

The other piece to the ride quality is the responsiveness; it's awesome. I’m not sure if it’s the stiffness, tube construction or geometry or some combination (like I said, I’m not an expert) but when I want to stand up and sprint, the bike is ready. I feel like I have another gear when I’m pushing it or sprinting. I’m a tall guy, but I don’t feel any flex in the frame. I doubt the bike is the stiffest bike in the world, but I couldn't care less because I feel confident with it when I’m sprinting. Related to being confident, I also feel like I have a lot of control. The bike takes corners nicely and handles great, a huge positive when you are riding with others.

I have also taken this bike through hell. I rode the bike during the Leland road race that was a total mud/gravel-fest. And the bike was awesome. It handled the gravel and mud perfectly. I didn’t worry about taking it through any line, no matter how rough or muddy. The other great benefit to the bike is that titanium is super easy to clean. The industrial mill finish cleans up nice… and quick. This has come in handy in the early spring and especially after Leland.

The other great thing about the bike is that it’s unique. Brandon did awesome job of building a one of a kind ride, great orange accents that look great with titanium. I like owning it.

The bike is outfitted with SRAM Rival components, which feel very similar to my SRAM Red on my cross bike. There is a small difference, but I think the biggest difference is in weight not shifting feel or quality.

I have also put on a Quarq, which I love so far and think that it’s better than my Powertap because I can put any wheels on the bike. I look forward to using the Quarq during cross season.

Now, the Cooper isn’t the lightest bike in the world (I don’t have the lightest wheels currently either, Brandon when are you getting me those Firecrest Zipp wheels?) but I could lose 1-2 pounds (or work harder) to make up the difference, plus we don’t have hills in Chicago were it matters most.

I’d recommend the bike to almost anyone. Since I have gotten the Cooper, I haven’t ridden my ‘cross bike or my TT bike. I don’t want too, I like riding the Cooper too much. My experience with the Cooper has me considering getting the cyclocross version for cross season.

This is what happens when someone puts their trust in us to help. It's a huge leap to spend thousands of dollars without riding a bike first, but there's a reason we ride everything we can get our hands on. Yes, it's a "tough" job, but we really do ride all of these bikes to help you.

Mike, we're as happy about your bike as you are, enjoy logging the miles!

What was old is new again

Received this from a good friend of the shop. It's a great point, where some people look for a new bike, with a little TLC your current bike can really bring back memories and last a long time.

This rider's tune-up would be about $290 which includes new cables and housing and good cleaning, new brakes, and a new bottom bracket. Much less than the cost of a new carbon road bike, like his current ride is.

The bike industry is a well oiled marketing machine, with new innovations always being introduced that trigger our urge to consume. This write-up isn’t about a new super product, but rather the performance improvement and satisfaction I received through an overhaul of my well used older bike.

I purchased my first road bike with minimal maintenance knowledge. Over the years I’ve learned quite a bit about service, but there are still several jobs that require a mechanic’s knowledge and a shop’s tools. My bike’s shifting had become sluggish, the wheels were slightly out of true and it just wasn’t the same machine I excitedly purchased 5 years ago.

I took her in for re-cabling and any other service needed that Iron Cycles found when looking it over. Brandon and Ben went the whole nine yards inspecting and fixing what was wrong. New cables, re-greasing the hubs, new bottom bracket (an inexpensive replacement for big performance benefit), wheel truing, and replacing the badly rusting brakes. They even did some maintenance on the shifter when they noticed that the rear shifter wasn’t quite as “snappy” as it should be. Something I hadn’t noticed and would not know how to fix at my home “shop”/dining room.

The result? The performance of a brand new bike at a fraction of the cost. I took her out the following morning for a group ride. The crisp shifting, smooth and silent crank and true wheels brought a smile to my face. It brought back memories of when I first bought it and the countless hours and experiences over the years. I’m looking forward to many more years and miles to come thanks to the help of the guys at Iron Cycles.

A little love goes a long way on your bike.