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All-City Big Block workhorse, RIP

Goodnight sweet prince.

Frame:
2011 All-City Big Block 55cm

Fork/Headset:
All-City Big Block (5th anniversary) / Cane Creek SP2 3x sealed

Crankset/Bottom Bracket:
Shimano Dura-Ace 7700, 175mm / Shimano Octalink

Pedals:
Time ATAC OG

Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain:
All-City 16T cog, Dura-Ace lockring / Surly 42T stainless chainring / KMC 1/8

Handlebars/Stem:
Velo-Orange Milan / Thomson Elite 120mm x 5-degree x 25.4

Saddle/Seatpost:
Selle Italia / Thomson Elite 27.2

Brakes:
Shimano / Shimano lever

Front Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Alex R500 / Formula / Gatorskin 32c

Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire:
Sun CR18 / Formula / Gatorskin 32c

Accessories:
CETMA 5-Rail cargo rack / SKS Raceblades

More Info:
Seatpost and stem are theft-proofed with some candlewax; Homemade light mount on rack made out of a bit of seatpost and a stem cap; Fork ends filed down a bit to accommodate the rack struts; Bars trimmed about an inch on each side.

Bike History

Click a link below to see past stages of this bike.

  1. Initial
  2. Stage 2
  3. Flatbed
  4. Spring 2015
  5. Summer 2015, repaired chainstay

Current Stage Info:

Found a crack in the drive-side chainstay. Had a friend lay down a bead or two in the crack and resprayed it with shitty grey primer. Plan on riding it as usual until it fails for good, which hopefully won't happen too soon. Fuck it, it's a work bike, it adds character.

edit -- Cracked again and finally retired a few months later.

Added by Sebastian. Last updated over 8 years ago.

As of over 8 years ago, Sebastian has indicated that they no longer own this bike.

44 Comments

johnnyrye

johnnyrye says:

Love the bike, the only big block with a front rack. I'm about to order this frame and was thinking of doing the same. Have you ridden it in snow?

Posted over 6 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Oh yes, more times than I can count. The extra tire clearance is nice.

Posted over 6 years ago

ejsmith109

ejsmith109 says:

Did you use zip ties for TT brake cable? can barley see it!

Posted over 7 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

3M and Jagwire both make these pretty sweet adhesive cable guides, which I used here when I still had dual brakes. They're similar to what you might see on a disc-ready frame, where you attach the cable to the guide with a small zip-tie.

Posted over 7 years ago

jobsingovernment

jobsingovernment says:

RIP! Cracked again around the repaired section?

Posted over 8 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Ha, you guessed it.

Posted over 8 years ago

Motorcity

Motorcity says:

This bike is soo nice!

Posted about 9 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Thanks man. Love your collection too.

Posted about 9 years ago

j-Galland

j-Galland says:

Nice!

Posted about 9 years ago

SpoonRules

SpoonRules says:

Looks better each time!

Posted over 9 years ago

Deluxe

Deluxe says:

that is a SERIOUS rack/whatever you want to call it. Nice!

Posted over 9 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Haha, thanks. It's just a crate strapped onto a regular CETMA 5-Rail. It's good for the variety of work I do (including a bunch of food delivery that doesn't always transport well in a bag).

Posted over 9 years ago

yakov_rothko

yakov_rothko says:

This is geat dude. I want to build a porteur with big block or steamroller. Not sure yet.

Posted almost 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

You definitely should. I can't recommend this frame enough, it's one of the best production steel track frames out there (or at least in this price range).

Posted almost 10 years ago

mattpelaggi

mattpelaggi says:

How's the handling with the CETMA? I'm fighting the urge to order one for my Steamroller.

Posted almost 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Edit: so, I made it a point to pay attention to how it felt at work today... it's minimal. Sharp steering at slower speeds feels a tiny bit ''looser'' because the front end has a little bit of momentum on it when you're swinging the bars around. But really, it's one of the lightest and least obtrusive options out there (especially considering the strength and durability).

Posted almost 10 years ago

GoldToothRat

GoldToothRat says:

Rad.

Posted about 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

killin it with that cargo capacity! also good nab on some new brake levers and a nice touch with that roadrunner sticker. company rules!

Posted about 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Thanks dude. Yeah, I ordered a size L Everything Pack from them earlier this year and it rules so far.

Posted about 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

shit yeah! I have one of their roll tops and its dope. I mainly use my xl seagull backpack for work but on smaller trips the roadrunner slays.

Posted about 10 years ago

dennis_fixed

dennis_fixed says:

awesome bike.

Posted about 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Thanks man.

Posted about 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

Did you shave the bars down at all or keep em the stock width? finally building my all city and looking at a pair of these suckas.

Posted about 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

I cut them down about an inch and a half on each side. In retrospect I kinda wish I wouldn't have because I have to run my levers at a weird, low angle to keep them out of the way of cargo.

Posted about 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

makes sense. I was just worried about cutting traffic with these bring so wide. My current bars are 50cm and i run them lower with my rack.

Posted about 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

what did you to do with the rear brake cable? just copped a lavender big block and not sure what to do with what will be the cable running to the rear.

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Ahh nice, jealous you managed to get a lavender one. I used some 3M self-adhesive cable guides:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-JAGWIRE-3M-...

...one of which fell off after about a month and was quickly replaced by a regular ziptie. The other two are holding strong, though.

Posted over 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

oh shit all right. looks like it'll work well

Posted over 10 years ago

TimmyTurner

TimmyTurner says:

All city claims on their web page that they only have clearance for 32c tires. Is that the correct tire width on this frame, thinking about building a winter bike on the new big block.

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

I was worried about the same thing when I put it together. The Kenda ''40c'' I have in front is really more like a 35c, and the Small Block Eight comes in at around 33-34c or so. I've got a few mm's of clearance on either side. I wouldn't go much larger than a true 35c, though.

Posted over 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

Way into this build. definitely buying a rack for my delivery bike.

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

You definitely should. The CETMA has been great, really versatile and practically indestructible. I carried just over 60 pounds on it once, no joke (it was scary as hell, though).

Posted over 10 years ago

destroypedal

destroypedal says:

I plan to now. I was worried its wouldn't work out since I'm getting a long ass 120 stem but it works fine for you so I'm into it

Posted over 10 years ago

Fricksquad

Fricksquad says:

YEPPPP.

Posted over 10 years ago

Rushing

Rushing says:

Into this beater!

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Haa, in the context of what I'm used to riding it's not so much a beater. But thanks!

Posted over 10 years ago

Rushing

Rushing says:

True. It is a workhorse, but it is something you use on the daily. I sort of consider that as a beater "all around" fixed gear.

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Good point. I can dig it.

Posted over 10 years ago

sublime

sublime says:

How'd you theft-proof it with candlewax?

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Just poured some hot wax into the bolt heads. It's certainly not theft-PROOF, per se, but it'll discourage a casual thief long enough for me to get back to my bike from a delivery. You can do the same thing with super glue and loose-ball bearings, but it also makes your bike a pain in the ass to work on....

Posted over 10 years ago

sublime

sublime says:

Damn that's actually pretty smart!

Posted over 10 years ago

sublime

sublime says:

Could you do some close-up of the waxed areas?

Posted over 10 years ago

Sebastian

Sebastian says:

Sorry, I was using a borrowed camera. But, you can kind of see it in the front-end/cockpit picture. It's the little red bit on the headset top cap bolt.

Posted over 10 years ago

sublime

sublime says:

Very cool.

Posted over 10 years ago