From Marco in Switzerland comes this undercover Big Block


Here’s what he had to say about it:  (the ugly look (tapes, false ‘broken’ cable there etc) not only
protects the ‘paint’ but it’s rather a protection against
stealers)

Going to so far as to put a false broken cable on the bike.  That’s crazy.  Easily the most effort I’ve ever seen into putting a hot bike on the down low.  The only indication that beneath all of this beats a heart of pure class are the exposed fork tips and rear dropouts.

Thanks for sharing Marco!  glad you like the bike

This weekend at Frostbike our German distributors Cosmic gave me a copy of their latest catalog

flipping to the AC section I was greated by this

First of all the Germans think we’re sexy.  It’s true, it’s true.
Second of all was the photo of Carney I shot last spring.  That dude’s popping up everywhere

And while we’re on the subject of catalogs and photos
there’s this little dumpling from the 2010 QBP catalog

who’s that guy?

that’s a sick rear-wheel bunny hop, bro!

From his trip to MPLS last summer

As you may or may not have heard, this weekend we dropped the curtain on our newest creation, a single speed steel cyclocross race bike. 

My big plan was to post a nebulous photo of the cable routing on Friday to whet your appetites (sp?) for the whole bike photos to come after the show.  Obviously that didn’t happen but here is what it would have looked like:

pretty intriguing huh? 

Good.

Now, let’s get on with the introductions, shall we?

Officially known as the Nature Boy (in homage of Minnesota wrestling legend Ric Flair), it is a single speed cross race bike. 
(and before you start in with all the jokes, yes I’ve seen that video, and yes you can ride it while wearing  “tight jeans”)

the Nature Boy

internal cable routing

signature headbadge

signature dropouts

Things you want to know:

*Price for frameset:  MSRP $540
*Availability: Late July for frameset, August for complete bike (shooting for $850 MSRP but not finalized yet)
*Color: awesome lime green color, which we have yet to name for the frameset (not finalized for the complete)
*Tubing: 4130 Double Butted Chromoly steel main triangle, 4130 tapered stays and fork blades, externally butted seat tube.  The same steel as on the Big Block, and if you’ve ridden one of those, you know that this thing is gonna rip
*ED coated tubes, inside and out.  More on this later, but basically this beauty is rust proofed inside and out
*Removable canti bosses. if you’re not using them, lose them
*Internal cable routing
*Fast as hell
*Aggressive race geometry
*Hidden fender mounts on the inside of the stays
*Reinforced water bottle bosses, two of ‘em
*Tire clearance 38c’s 

Overall philosophy

This bike continues the styling cues and aesthetics of the Big Block.  What we’ve tried to do is create modern classics, frames that draw on the best elements of modern and traditional bicycle construction and put them into a package that is within reach of most riders.  This is why we’ve chosen to do lugged crowns, brazed on fork ends, our own custom dropouts and headbadge, brazed on seat collars, reinforced bosses etc.  For the Nature Boy we’ve added internal cable routing, hidden fender mounts, and removable canti studs to the mix.

The internal routing is not only beautiful, but also provides the added benefit of being easier to shoulder over barriers and provides a cleaner look if you’re riding fixed gear and not using the rear brake. The canti studs are removable in a nod to our fixie crowd.  If you’re not using them, take them off for weight savings and a nicer profile. 

The geometry is a mix of traditional cross and track.  You’ll find aggressive headtube angles and slightly steeper than traditional cross seattubes.  Coming from a track bike background we like a fast handling bike (fast, but not twitchy) and are accustomed to sitting over the cranks a little more, so we designed the Nature Boy to be a little steeper than some of the other cross bikes you’ll see out there.  We feel like we’ve found an optimal blend of comfort and handling, and plan on using this thing for commuting, day trips out of the city, 100 mile gravel races, singletrack riding, and of course racing cross.  It’s a hoot to ride, and we’re really excited about the Nature Boy’s possibilities and hope you are too.

I’ll post up more info as it comes in

that’s all you get for now

Here are some scenes from around the AC booth at Frostbike

stickers, hubs, and propaganda

The AC Nature Boy….more on that in the next post.  That woman in the background is the boss lady Lisa (she does exist, and you thought I made her up)

Nature Boy sample in Purple

Big Block

The Dropout Limited

Double Twist Lace from Handspun

don’t know about functionality, but they sure are pretty and they really show off what the Handspun boys can do

The New Sherrif’s

We’ve got a tradeshow coming up this weekend here on our home turf and along with a tradeshow comes show bikes.  This one is the Limited Edition Dropout in brakeless black.

First the frameset:

The complete build:

no brake mounts!

the new stainless hardware for the New Sheriff’s along with our new stainless cog’s and lockring

I’m super stoked on the build, and because I’m sure you’re all wondering, those are 38c Vittoria Rando’s on there

We’ve got one more bomb that drops this weekend, I’ll try to post a little teaser for you tomorrow! 

If you’re a dealer and you’re coming to Frostbike, make sure you stop by the booth and introduce yourself

 a huge reason why I’m so behind the fixed gear freestyle thing (in addtion to the fact that it’s fun as shit) is because of the bikes. 

Riding a fixed gear is fun  (it’s true, you can look it up)

Riding a fixed gear wrecking ball that destroys everything in it’s path is even better

Because of this my Dropout has become the bike I most ride in winter when not doing the long 16 mile commute to work.  here’s how she’s looking currently

iced over crankarms

rusty chain and hardware (don’t worry the production New Sheriff’s will come with stainless bolts)

I applied decals over my decals and it’s not holding up to winter that well

The same day I took the above shots, I busted my chain

big shout out to our homies in France

We helped out Independent Fabrication with a deal on some cranks and these are the bikes that they made it onto. 

This one’s my favorite. modern but with a clear sense of history.

All the bikes are so good, and we’re honored that our little 612 cranks adorn these beauties.

This Saturday I won the Stupor Bowl Speed race by over 18 minutes!!!

A huge goal of mine, now accomplished

Jeff from Philly won the drunk race

Close to 400 people showed up

It was an amazing weekend!!

big thanks for all the support and a shout out to all the sponsors and those who made it happen

Here’s the rundown on all of the stuff that just got here:

Black Standard Track Cogs  MSRP $20
They’re chromoly, available in 15, 16, 17, and 18 tooth sizes.  1/8th inch size, no frills, just a good looking affordable cog that will get it done


Matching black lockring  MSRP $12

Stainless Hi Polish Cogs   MSRP $34

freaking beautiful stainless steel track cogs in a near mirror finish


matching Stainless Lockring MSRP $14

And the long awaited Silver Hi Polish 612 Track Cranks MSRP $125

And the matching aftemarket silver rings MSRP $50
Available in 46t and 47t

Coming soon to your local shop, get some!

For those of you from out of town, the Stupor Bowl is the largest alleycat in the world with over 400 riders, it takes place every year the day before the Super Bowl.  When you realize how stupid it is for dudes from California to come to Minneapolis in the dead of winter to race, the prestige, draw, and love of the Stupor starts to come into some kind of hazy focus.  This thing is nuts, it’s the longest, meanest race, there is, and I’m out to improve upon last years second place.

Wish me luck, I’ll let you know how it goes.

from MPLS resident Mr. Do

7th Midwest Bike Polo Champeenships from Mr.Do on Vimeo.

Daniel The Dragon King Vs. Slaylor from Taylor Dwight on Vimeo.