Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike

by Iron Horse

Product Features

• Flat-bar commuter bike with semi-compact road frame and carbon fork
• Shimano R-225 EZ-Fire gear system for precise shifting
• Tektro road brakes, flat alloy handlebars, and Shimano brake lever
• Selle Italia X2 saddle with adjustable seatpost; Vittoria Zaffiro tires
• Weighs 23.5 pounds; Shimano front and rear derailleurs

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

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

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000W8NITA
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #140,146 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Value in a Road Bike; Not an Upright-riding Hybrid, August 30, 2008

By	Curtis Woodcock (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike (Sports)

This is a bike shop quality bike with good components and a great value in the $300 to $400 range. I took it out for a 25-mile ride and here are my conclusions: 1) It's a nimble, fast, nicely-balanced road bike with a great high gear of about 120 gear ratio (a good, fast downhill bike) and a low gear of about 32 gear ratio (adequate for moderate climbs or even steeper for a strong biker). It does not have the super-low gears of a hybrid bike with a 28T or smaller front sprocket and a 32T large rear sprocket; 2) It's perfect if you like a "medium" riding position. The stem is not upward-adjustable without having to insert a spacer or replacing the stem with one that is more upward-sloping. IE, it offers the same riding position as holding the upper horizontal part of drop bars; 3) The flat handlebar is oversized and you CAN find lights and other accessories that will fit it -- they just have to say on the packaging that they will fit an OVERSIZED bar, which is 31.8 mm; 4) I e-mailed Iron Horse and asked them would it void the manufacturer's warranty (5 years frame, 1 year components) if I did the final assembly myself and they said yes -- so have a certified bike shop do it (costs about $65 to $100 depending on the shop) and provide a receipt IF you want to preserve the manufacturer's warranty; 5) the brakes are adequate if properly installed but you probably want a better brake pad if you plan on doing the higher speeds that the bike is capable of; 6) I am 5'8" barefoot and 5'9" with running shoes and a 29" inseam and the 52 CM bike is a perfect fit for me; 7) mine was shipped with the clipless pedals and Amazon.com compensated me for buying a decent-quality pair of alloy/steel road petals. Because of the semi-compact (shorter lengthwise) frame and fairly long cranks on this bike, clipless pedals are a real bad idea on this bike anyway since the toe of your shoe will hit the tire when you turn the handlebar sharply, especially if you wear a large shoe size. It's ok with my new pedals and running shoes.

If you want a nice road bike with a medium riding position then go for it! If you want a hybrid type of commuter with a more upright riding position then this isn't your bike. For my purposes -- a decent quality road bike for fun and fitness -- it's an awesome buy. The bike is on a par with most $700 to $850 road bikes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic bargain, June 1, 2008

By	Ithaca is Gorges - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike (Sports)

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.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, but not a commuter bike; description has wrong pedals, June 14, 2008

By	astrophysicist - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike (Sports)

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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