Any other IF riders out there?

[IFjane]

We seem to be so few and far between - I'd love to hook up with some other IF riders if you are out there!

What do you have?

How long have you had it?

What made you decide on IF over other manufacturers?

[Haudlady]

DH wanted an IF, but this was the best we could afford at the time. Does it count?

[jenxxs]

see my avatar?

It's a steel Crown Jewel SE, just got it at the end of this summer, and I'm really enjoying it.

I actually did not pick IF, this bike found me on eBay. I'm very small, and so since I did not have the resources to go full custom, I had to look around for months for used/demo bikes that would fit me. And then here she was, a cute little store demo bike that was calling my name.

After I found it, then I learned about how cool IF is as a company. I'm also in Massachusetts, and so I'm happy to support a great local builder.

[7rider]

DH wanted an IF, but this was the best we could afford at the time. Does it count?

I rode a steel Crown Jewel once. If I didn't already have a Seven, I'd be able to say "I have one." But I figured....one fancy Massachusetts boutique bike is enough.

[IFjane]

Haud - of course it counts! I want to order a set of those glasses - and the bike bottles and other stuff - but I have to pay off the bike first!

Jen - I love the bike. She is very cute! If I had thought I would find one that fit me on ebay, I might have tried. I used to ride a steel LeMond but the top tube was too long and causing all sorts of aches and pains. I broke down last summer and ordered mine - a Ti Crown Jewel. I love her! The wife of the owner of my LBS said I must name my bike - but I can't get past "indy". Does yours have a name?? And yes, IF is a really really cool company. Attached is the card that came with the bike - everyone who helped build the bike signed it.

Regina - just the fact that you rode one once counts, too! Welcome!

[stacie]

My Steel crown Jewel is named Zen. First for the color a friend surprised me and had her painted. She's the color of a rich California Zinfandel. My drink of choice to share with friends. Second for the feeling I have when riding her. I received her early October. She has just over 600 miles on her and I've loved every one. I hit a piece of metal when coming down a bridge and chipped her beautiful paint job within a week or so of owning her. IF was so nice. They had me email a picture so the painter could identify how deep the chip was. Fortunately her wounds were superficial and I was able to touch up with a little auto paint. My only regret is that I waited so long to buy her.

[IFjane]

I need help naming my bike - "Indy" just isn't clever enough. She has no paint (why paint titanium?) so a name referencing the color is out. I will take any and all suggestions into consideration - help me please!


Stacie - great name! You sound like you are having a great time on her. I feel the same. The weather is beginning to deteriorate here so my time on the road will be more and more limited. I, too, got mine in October - just in time for my birthday on the 28th. I have almost 400 miles on her & plan to get out each time the weather allows.

[mimitabby]

Jane
you can take T and make a million cute sounding names TEEBEE
TIBI, Teetee, teespeed, etc etc.

[IFjane]

Thanks Mimi! I will have to play around with that....tumtum....tubtub (oh, that's ME, not the bike!)......

[7rider]

How about "Tiffen" for "Ti IF"??

Or....literary types - help me out.... Who wrote that poem "If you can keep you head while all about you are losing theirs ...." There's a repeating of "If" in that...so there's gotta be inspiration there. Well....I guess if it ever inspired you!

[KayTee]

Howdy, IFJane -- IndyFab person from Richmond VA here! Is your steed a girl or a boy? Do you run Shimano or Campy? If the latter and you lean toward the exotic, how 'bout Fabiana or Fabio?

Mine's an '06 steel CJ SE with S&S couplers so I can fly with him. Yes, him. A friend admired "that cool little peewee bike" (bike and I are smallish), and so PeeWee he became. I've wanted an IF ever since I started road-riding seriously and hope to have many Big Adventures with him. The quality of this ride lives up to my every expectation. I know you'll thoroughly enjoy yours! KayTee

[IFjane]

Hi KayTee - so your IF is a boy, huh? What kind of paint job does he have? What decals?

I can't help but think of mine as a girl, and she is awesome! She's pretty much a peewee as well, and the first time I rode her I couldn't believe the difference between her and my old trusty Lemond. She's sooooo responsive and loves to climb (if she could only get her rider to love climbing as much!). I run Shimano & she is totally naked - no paint. Maybe I should name her Lady Godiva?

Give me a yell if you ever want to venture north to the mountains for a ride!

Decals below

[jenxxs]

OK, since many of us here are proudly riding little peewee IF bikes, who's got the smallest? My serial number starts with 37, though when I measure the seat tube it looks like 38. Effective top tube is 47.

KayTee, I totally envy your S&S couplers. That's the one thing that I wish came with my bike. I know it can be retrofitted, but it pains me to think about ever cutting up my bike. Instead, I think I'm going to be on the lookout for something like an older Terry steel bike, to do the S&S thing someday.

[IFjane]

Jenxxs - great idea! I think mine starts with 38, too - but I'll have to look when I get home. I can't really remember. I thought about the S&S couplers because I fly with mine at least once a year - but decided against them. Haven't packed this one yet, but hopefully it will be a little easier to pack because it is somewhat smaller.

Have any of you registered yours at the IF website? I have not - again, because I can't remember to bring the serial number with me (no internet at home - so far out in the boonies that we only have dialup and it's not worth it, so all my personal stuff has to be done at the office...shhhhhh!

[mimitabby]

I went to their website. They make a nice bike!
hmmmmmm