All-City’s New Nature Cross Single Speed

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All-City’s New Nature Cross Single Speed

Built from All-City’s proprietary A.C.E. steel tubing, the Nature Cross Single Speed is an option for a light, fast, and to be honest, good lookin’ SSCX bike for this season. These complete bikes ($2,299) and framesets ($1,499) come with an eccentric bottom bracket for easy gear swaps and for 2022 the Nature Cross comes in an ombré fade “Pink Lemonade” paint scheme. Check out all the details at All-City.

All-City Renames Two ‘Cross Staples: Nature Cross Geared and Singlespeed

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All-City Renames Two ‘Cross Staples: Nature Cross Geared and Singlespeed

In an effort to make their lineup feel more inclusive, All-City has made the move to rename their “Nature Boy” racing frames to “Nature Cross”. These two models will replace the Macho King A.C.E. and Nature Boy bikes. Both of these “new” models feature All-City’s proprietary air-hardened, custom-extruded A.C.E. steel tubing that we developed specifically for riding and racing.

With new paint designs, these stylish machines are rolling on one of the lightest steel production frames in the world and can be used for more than just racing laps. The Nature Cross Singlespeed comes in a blue fade, while the Nature Cross Geared comes in a red, white, and blue splatter fade.

Fulton Brewery Racing Team All City Nature Boy Cross

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Fulton Brewery Racing Team All City Nature Boy Cross

The Fulton Brewery Racing Team is a Minneapolis-based cross team that All-City sponsors and this year, Jeff decided to do something extra special for them. He took a batch of Nature Boy Zonas (before they all sold out) and painted them in the Fulton Brewery livery. That means they fly under the green, black and white colors (and get discounted beer). Win / win.

Then, Jeff did something very un-Jeff. He put a carbon fork on a bike that wasn’t engineered for one. Oh noes! Joking aside, Jeff and I always get into this debate. Personally, I think it looks rad! The Whisky Parts No7 forks are something to desire, especially when painted to match the rest of the bike.

I love what All-City is doing with the Fulton Brewery Racing Team and it makes me want to drink a Lonely Blonde right now. Check out more photos in the Gallery, including a shot of the new All-City Crossing Guard and rings.

Review: All-City Nature Boy Cross Bike

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Review: All-City Nature Boy Cross Bike

When I first saw the All-City Nature Boy last year, I got all kindsa excited. For a while now, I’ve been looking for a good single-speed cross bike. All I want are canti brakes, fender mounts and clearance for big tires. Sure, there are other options out there but small and simple details make the bike.

Check out more photos and more of my review below.

All-City Nature Boy Cyclocross Bike

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All-City Nature Boy Cyclocross Bike

Wooo!

All-City just posted some more photos (which we saw earlier on their Flickr) of their new SS / Fixed Cyclocross bike called the Nature Boy (If I have to explain the reference, you get smacked). Looks bad ass! Internal cable routing, big-tire clearance and the All-City signature track ends. Just one question for ya Jeff, when are the All-City mudguards, aka “the Bushwackers” coming out?

Check out more photos of the Nature Boy here, at the All-City blog.

Glad We Crossed Paths: PAL X Smith Art Show Recap

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Glad We Crossed Paths: PAL X Smith Art Show Recap

This past Saturday, the PAL x Smith “Crossing Paths” art show brought a diverse crowd to downtown LA, uniting cyclists and individuals from all walks of life. With over 400 attendees showing their support, the event showcased a fresh perspective on cycling that resonated with the community. Glen Repol’s vision for PAL to serve as a bridge between art, street fashion, music, and more was clearly evident in the vibrant atmosphere of the event. PAL embodies its name, symbolizing the convergence of parallels and longitudes where diverse lines intersect.

Those who attended the art show witnessed firsthand the brand’s innovative approach to cycling, offering a refreshing and exciting glimpse into the future of cycling brands. The day was a testament to PAL’s commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining the cycling experience for the new generation. Continue reading below for Glen’s recap accompanied by an extensive image gallery from the show!

Road to Desolation: Gravel Racing Across the Karoo

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Road to Desolation: Gravel Racing Across the Karoo

The Karoo is not flat, both in personality and profile. The Road to Desolation gravel race seeks to capture the essence of the Karoo—the idiosyncratic small towns, the solitude of its expanse, and the way the bicycle represents the ideal vehicle for navigating the internal and external challenges of the terrain. Simon Pocock photographed the inaugural edition of the event in 2023 and writes about the Karoo’s imposing appeal.

‘Cross is Coming, is Here, and Always Has Been: CX Practice in New York City

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‘Cross is Coming, is Here, and Always Has Been: CX Practice in New York City

In the heart of New York City, where towering skyscrapers cast their imposing shadows, a hidden haven of summer grass, plastic cones, makeshift barriers, and camaraderie emerges every Wednesday evening from late August to early November. Randall’s Island, a patch of green in the midst of New York City’s concrete jungle, becomes an unlikely sanctuary for cyclists of all kinds seeking the ever-so-special and thankfully still alive-and-well discipline called cyclocross.

Continue reading Angelo Calilap‘s account of NYC’s longstanding ‘cross practice hosted by King Kog accompanied by a wonderful image gallery from Andres Cevallos…

Can a Sub-$2k Wireless Shifting Bike be Any Good? State Bicycle Co. 4130 All-Road Rival XPLR eTap AXS Review

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Can a Sub-$2k Wireless Shifting Bike be Any Good? State Bicycle Co. 4130 All-Road Rival XPLR eTap AXS Review

Founded in the college town of Tempe, AZ, State Bicycle Company started out selling affordable fixed-gear bikes and geared townies for college students and commuters. In their ten years of mostly direct-to-consumer bike business since, State has grown exponentially and now occupies a large warehouse/office in downtown Phoenix where they store and ship hundreds of bikes each month. While the brand still focuses on affordability and accessibility, its product offerings have expanded to include: lightweight road bikes, steel gravel bikes, coaster brake cruisers, electric bikes, apparel, and accessories. One bike in their lineup caught my attention a while back, the 4130 All-Road. Positioned as a versatile and well-equipped steel adventure bike, the 4130 fits 700c or 650b wheels with ample tire clearance, accepts drop or flat bars, boasts plenty of accessory mounts, and is designed around a comfortable geometry—for only $899!

In early 2022, State launched the 4130 All-Road with a SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS build kit for $1,999 and, if you were a prospective customer watching State’s website, you’d have noticed they sold out fast and have seen limited restocks. During that fleeting window of availability, I got my hands on one for this review and, over the past six months, have been logging long gravel rides, some singletrack shreds, and daily commutes. Continue reading for my thoughts on this capable machine…

Not a Race, More Than a Ride: The 2023 Rapha Yomp Rally

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Not a Race, More Than a Ride: The 2023 Rapha Yomp Rally

The inaugural Rapha Yomp Rally took place in early May and saw nearly 100 riders embark on a 390-mile mixed-surface route, from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica, through the remote Los Padres region. Hailey Moore rode the route and provides a from-the-saddle recap alongside photos from Rugile Kaladyte, Sean Greene, Anton Krupicka, and a few of her own. Read on for reflections on the Yomp and non-competitive bikepacking rallies.

Bikes, Products, and People from Sea Otter Classic 2023: Part Three and Mega Photo Gallery

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Bikes, Products, and People from Sea Otter Classic 2023: Part Three and Mega Photo Gallery

Travis and Josh are back today with their third and final report from the 2023 Sea Otter Classic. Continue reading below for another installment of interesting bikes, products, and people from the show, in addition to a mega gallery of images from the three days of sun, fog, rides, and wild times at Laguna Seca Raceway. Did they save the best for last? Read on to find out!

The Sunburnt Desert: A Solo Bikepacking Journey Across Australia

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The Sunburnt Desert: A Solo Bikepacking Journey Across Australia

Crossing any foreign country alone is a daunting quest. In shaky moments I turn to my heroes, the women who boil their fears until they evaporate into courage. Legends like Robyn Davidson, who famously walked her camels across the empty Australian outback to the Indian Ocean and wrote about it in her book “Tracks,” whose pages revealed the mayhem and mystique of solo desert expeditions. Upon reading her account, I envisioned my own voyage across the country. Where Davidson chose camels, I chose a bicycle.

Heatwave induced mirages are nothing outside of the norm in one of Earth’s harshest desert environments. Many times while cycling Australia I caught my thoughts drifting back to Africa, on my first monumental bike voyage from Cairo to Cape Town. The similarities of the two lands were palpable: Australia’s outback terrain akin to sand dunes of the Saharan Desert, and Down Under roadhouses seemed close cousins of remote Sudanese cafeterias. In both places the feeling of complete surrender to mother nature’s extreme weather arsenal was nearly identical, and total. Nevertheless, an unmistakable boundary separated how I approached the two journeys: a traditional touring outfit in Africa versus a lighter bikepacking setup in Australia.