After the phosphorus bath, the components are dipped in paint. Firstly, all frames and forks produced by All-City are dipped in phosphorus to ensure the steel is clean. finish work? It’s a highly technical process. In time, the line has expanded to include geared and single-speed cyclocross, road, and touring bikes, all fabricated from high-quality steel and treated with an electrophoretic disposition (E.D) finish protecting the steel from rust. When Bike Jerks jokingly introduced their “Save the Track Bike” campaign, QBP listened, giving Jeff the opportunity to design the bikes and gear Jeff and his cohorts wanted.Īlthough All-City’s first offerings were track and fixie specific, the high quality and understated design of their bicycles soon attracted attention from all kinds of riders. Meanwhile, Jeff’s promotion company Bike Jerks had established a relationship with track and fixie enthusiasts by organizing alleycat race events. Although QBP had long been a major distributor of bikes and gear in North America, they did not carry many track-specific products, such as double clips and straps.
In 2007/2008, Jeff was bitten by the track-cycling bug. Although Jeff was hired as a warehouse worker, his passion for bicycles was soon recognized by QBP, who promoted him to bike builder. Over the years, he mastered the art of building and repairing bicycles, which led to a job with distributor Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP to those in the industry). After spending a few years living out of his van, doing little beside hiking and snowboarding, Jeff moved to Minneapolis where he got a job as a mechanic in a local bike shop. Check out that spiffy pink & gold helmet–we’re taking steps to ensure all our models wear their helmets when posing for the blog (and encouraging them to wear their helmet at all other times).Īll-City is the brainchild of Jeff Frane, a self-described “a-hole, skeptic, true believer, wastoid, best friend, nitpicker and derelict”. Our editor testing the All-City Nature Boy. We’re happy to announce both the Nature Boy and Space Horse have arrived both are available now at Bicycle Roots! From the single-speed cyclocross bike Nature Boy to the geared road bike Space Horse, All-City bicycles are characterized by their high-quality steel construction, heavy-duty components, and overall great craftsmanship and attention to detail. These bikes were introduced in 2007, but All-City has since expanded their line to include several different models. The first bikes produced by All-City were track bikes, characterized by their short, flat handlebars and brakeless fixed-gear build. As much fun as they might have naming their bicycles (all of which bear very colorful monikers) or sponsoring beer-soaked events such as their Bandit Cross cyclocross events, they take designing and manufacturing bicycles, components, and gear for urban riders very seriously.
However, in this short time, they have established themselves as an often irreverent manufacturer of high-quality steel bikes. We’ll fill you in on their background and tell you all about what makes a bicycle from All-City so special.įounded just four years ago in Minneapolis, Minnesota, All-City Cycles is a relative newcomer to the industry. This small manufacturer of high-performance city bicycles is only four years old, but their commitment to excellence and concentration on serving the needs of urban riders makes them stand out among other small bicycle-manufacturing concerns. Bicycle Roots is proud to announce that we’re a dealer of All-City Cycles.