Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike
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Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike
Expanding on Iron Horse's popular Triumph flat-bar bike, the Transit line combines the fast feel of the company's sleek road bikes with the versatility of a flat handlebar model. The bike is perfect for commuters who want an alternative to expensive gas, or for riders who need an ultra-reliable city bike for getting around town. Specific features include a semi-compact road frame with a 1.12-inch integrated head tube to increase acceleration and minimize vibrations in the seat, a Selle Italia X2 saddle with an adjustable seatpost, Shimano front and rear derailleurs, Tektro road brakes, and a Shimano R-225 EZ-Fire shifting system. Specifications
- Frame: Semi-compact road frame with 1.12-inch integrated head tube
- Fork: Carbon with alloy steerer
- Handlebar: Flat alloy, 31.8 mm
- Stem: Alloy, 31.8 mm clamp
- Headset: Integrated alloy
- BB: Sealed cartridge
- Crank: FSA CK-400TTT
- Rings: 52/39/30T steel
- Pedals: Wellgo alloy with toe clip and strap
- Chain: KMC Z-72
- Saddle: Selle Italia X2
- Seatpost: Alloy micro adjust
- Front hub: Alloy QR, 32H
- Rear hub: Alloy QR, 32H
- Front derailleur: Shimano R-443-A, 31.8 mm clamp
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Tiagra
- Shifter: Shimano R-225 EZ-Fire
- Cassette: SRAM PG850, 12/26T 8 speed
- Brakes: Tektro road, R356
- Rim: WTB Freedom FR-01
- Spoke: 14G stainless
- Tires: Vittoria Zaffiro, 700 x 28c
- Size: 47 cm, 50 cm, 52 cm, 54 cm, 56 cm, 58 cm, 61 cm
- Color: Tan satin
- Weight: 23.5 pounds
Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:
The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:
- Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels, and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
- Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing, and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
- Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.
The Right Price
A bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.
- Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
- Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
- High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultralightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.
The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:
- Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
- Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half, and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
- Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.
The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:
- Helmet (this is a must!)
- Seat pack
- Lock
- Hydration pack, or water bottle and bottle cage
- Spare tubes
- Portable bike pump
- Gloves
Sports reviews of Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike
Customer Review: Great Bang for the Buck!
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I bought the 54cm Iron Horse Transit 3.0 just several days ago for commute, around town errands, and fitness purposes to ride along the lake shore here in Chicago. I was really unsure about sizing and was debating the 52cm or 54cm, but from reading all the entries about Iron Horse road bikes, I decided on the 54 and it fits me great. I'm about 5'9.5" with a 30 inch pant inseam.
Amazon free shipping was great and the bike arrived in 2 days, however the box it came in was a little beat up. Putting the bike together took me about 1.5 hours, but most of that time was taken trying to figure out how to assemble the front brake. I haven't taken the bike out for a spin yet, but from visual inspection the rear wheel is out of tru, the brakes need more adjustment and the front derailleur could use a little adjustment. Also as mentioned above, the bike comes with Crank Brothers Smarty Clipless pedals and not the Wellgo pedals. I just emailed Amazon regarding this and hopefully they can get me some new pedals. I don't have riding shoes.
This bike is a great bang for the buck. I was shopping other flat bar commute road bikes like the Trek FX 5.5 or 5.6, Fuji Absolute 1.0 or 2.0, Cannondale Road Warrior 2, and Giant FCR all ranging from 750 to 900 dollars. At a little over 300 bucks for the Iron Horse, it can't be beat. Now I have almost enough money left over to pick up the 54 cm Iron Horse Victory 3.0!
Also, the frame color (matte tan) and branding is very non-descrip, so hopefully this bike won't be a target to thieves like other more well known brands. I like the matte finish, but would have preferred a matte black or matte white, which would look very sharp!
Hope this was helpful to people debating this bike. I will update with more information after several rides.
Customer Review: very good value
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Very good bike for the money, even though the price just went up from $399. Light weight, good components. It is easy to assemble and requires just a little adjustment - there are great videos on youtube explaining all this. I am almost 6 feet with 34 inseam and the 56 cm version fits me OK, but I wish I had a way to test the 58 cm. If you are taller than 6 feet I think you need at least the 58 cm frame.
I still need to work on the brakes, maybe I need to get new pads for them, they dont have enough braking power. All over - very nice bike, I am very happy with it.
Customer Review: Great Commuter!
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Have been riding this bike for about 2 months now - for the price, it's a great, speedy, sturdy, light bike for tackling the streets. Very good components (esp the rear derailleur, seat, wheels/tires) for the price. Comes mostly assembled (need to install pedals, stem, handlebar, front brake cable), very clean (but a bit bland) color scheme & profile. Compared to other flat bar road bikes in the same price range, this bike is one of the best - very satisfied with my purchase!Customer Review: Fantastic bargain
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
Can't beat the combination of components and frame for the price. Super light and responsive bike for around 400 bucks. Comes pretty well assembled--if you have any doubts about assembly call a bike shop, but most people should have no trouble putting it together. All in all a fantastic bike at an unbeatable price.Customer Review: good, but not a commuter bike; description has wrong pedals
Sport shop rating: 4 Stars
This bike is very light, and looks nice so far, though I haven't ridden it much yet. One of the main reasons I haven't is that it comes with clipless pedals (that you need bike shoes for). The description, as of this review, still incorrectly states "Pedals: Wellgo alloy with toe clip and strap".
Amazon didn't reply to an email inquiry about this (waited 3 days), so I called them. The customer service representative couldn't help me (he could offer me 20% off new pedals - are you kidding?), but his supervisor was able to take care of it. I bought new pedals at my local bike store, and Amazon refunded me for the purchase. It's bizarre that they haven't changed the product description, because it would save money and hassle for everyone involved.
It's easy to assemble, even for a novice like me. You just need metric allen wrenches and an adjustable wrench (for the pedals). My inseam is 32.5", and the 54cm bike is a bit too small. I wish I'd gone for the 56cm, but it is still rideable. The box it came in was a bit banged up, but the bike was fine as it's pretty well packaged to handle minor bumps and scrapes.
As noted in another review, the brakes are weak. The brake pads are very hard compared to others I've used, so this is probably the reason. Easily fixed, but I won't get a refund for that purchase.
Update: after a few days of commuting, I have to say: this is not a commuter bike. It certainly works for commuting, but so does a full-suspension mountain bike. The Transit 3.0 just isn't a commuter bike; it's a road bike. It's light, and fast, and has narrow, high-pressure tires. One thing I noticed that is bad is that the handlebar tube (the horizontal part) is variable width, and very fat in the middle. This makes it impossible to install a standard headlight, which is a major problem. But apart from the headlight issue, this bike is exactly what I thought it would be.
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