Cosmic Stallion: Mermaid Fade

This paint is even more stunning in person. Everything you love about our all-star gravel race frameset is back in a stunning, shimmery three-color fade we’re calling Mermaid. Mer-people of all genders will feel extra special on this limited-edition beauty.

Don’t sleep on this one.

Gorilla Monsoon: Slimer Lime

Who ya gonna call? Your local All-City dealer. And tell them you want this fresh neon lime splattered frameset before it’s sold out! Our classic Gorilla Monsoon features a beautiful bi-plane fork crown and goes pretty much anywhere you want to go. Hustle.

Gorilla Monsoon: Lavender Haze

So dreamy Tay Tay wrote a song about it, this limited lavender with black splatter will make you fall in love over and over again. Bikepack with it or just cruise around, our do-it-all dirt solution just got hotter. Get one before they’re gone!

Our classic, all-road Cosmic Stallion GRX platform is designed for all-day gravel epics, busted-up pavement, and dirt-fueled detours. Now featuring the Whisky No.9 CXLR fork for riders who keep the cargo party up front, an upgraded 2-For-1 sliding dropout system, and a cozy Toasted Marshmallow colorway, this steel steed is primed for excellence.

COSMIC STALLION FRAMESET

If you're looking to build a multihued machine capable of turning heads, we'd suggest our Cosmic Stallion frameset in Rainbow Trout!

NEW COSMIC TI PAINT

Our Cosmic Stallion Ti frame now comes in a hypnotizing Laser Prism, featuring the forever-durable Oberon Titanium tubing for premium riding quality and decades of fun.

We hope y’all dig these new geo and color updates for the Cosmic Stallion. If you need a closer look at these fine machines, just hit up your local AC dealer!

For rolls in the mud, overnight trips, and gnarly trail rides, Gorilla Monsoon is ready to party. With generous tire clearance for tires up to 700c x 42mm and seven frame sizes, anyone can throw a leg over and have a rad time.

Double-up on all the outdoor excursions with this do-it-all dirt solution, and you’ll find yourself enjoying day-long comfort, snappy performance, and sophisticated style.

GORILLA MONSOON GRX – HOTBERRY RHUBARB

Hearty and down to party, the Gorilla Monsoon GRX in Hotberry Rhubarb is officially here. Bring the heat and serve up some style for your off-road tours, weekend gravel rides, and off-the-grid camp nights.

GORILLA MONSOON APEX – TANGERINE EVERGREEN

A treat for the senses, Gorilla Monsoon APEX now comes in a tasty Tangerine Evergreen colorway. Combined with Gorilla’s off-road tendencies, this vibrant ride is for those of ya craving bikepacking adventures and sub-24 outings with Mother Nature.

Designed to power all-day rides and golden-hour sprints, the Zig Zag is our take on what a modern steel road bike should be: buttery smooth on winding roads and descents, comfortable for hours on end, and fast as all get-out. Elegant in both looks and performance, the Zig Zag dares you to escape the familiar. Are you up for the chase?

Zig Zag 105

Available in a Honeydew Bling and now in a Golden Leopard colorway, the Zig Zag 105 is your go-to endurance ride that’s both fast and flashy.

Zig Zag Ultegra

Take a big gulp of the Zig Zag Ultegra in Sour Cherry Seltzer on your weekend centuries.

SPRINTS AND SNACKS

Peep our most recent blog, A Sweet and Savory Century Abroad the All-City Zig Zag, where Bennett Shane chronicles a day-long affair on the Zig Zag in search of Portland’s best roadside delicacies.

As always, get ahold of your local AC dealer to get a closer look at these fine machines.

XOXO,

The AC Team

We’re stoked to share this piece by Bennett Shane on his experience with Zig Zag – our modern endurance steel road bike. In search of roadside delicacies that’ll fuel his fun, Bennett tours the streets of Portland, OR on our ripping-fast road machine designed to take you far and fill your cup.

SOME PRE-RIDE PASTRIES

I swore off gels and bars recently. Racing and training require lab-generated fuel, but the way I see it, recreational riding should only involve real food that tastes good. If you point your bike in any direction across Portland, OR, you will always be close to a quick and delicious snack or a decadent feast, but could I ride a metric century around this beautiful city without any fake food stuffed in my pockets? A bit risky, perhaps, but a fun challenge.

The tradition of starting bike rides at coffee shops is a bit fraught. Even in a bike-crazy town like Portland, it can feel like a take-over by a posse of lycra-clad weekend warriors who waddle around on noisy cleats before trying to squeeze out the door at once. Nevertheless, I am not immune to the charms of a pre-ride espresso, especially when that ride is aboard such a seductive metal machine as the All-City Zig Zag.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Push Pull, located in the central east side, shuns the "coffee shop" label, and instead aims to be a "feel good, do good place for people to eat, drink, and be." The espresso is divine, and I select a tasty pastry to get me over the first climb of the day. I sip, chew, and think. I breathe and relax. I enjoy being still, as the rest of the day promises plenty of speed.

The first climb on the Zig Zag goes up NW Thurman Street to a gate that cuts off car traffic and marks the end of the pavement. Even with relatively small 30c tires, the Zig Zag floats across the bumpy gravel of Leif Eriksen Road and glides confidently through its sweeping turns. Leif Eriksen intersects another lovely gravel road called Saltzman, where I turn left and continue climbing toward the summit of the west hills. The Zig Zag climbs like a champ. The geometry is what makes this bike efficient going uphill. The headtube is tall enough and the seat tube is slack enough to put me in a balanced position where I can breathe easily and use my glutes to power the drivetrain. When I hop out of the saddle, the bike responds eagerly, but the rear wheel stays planted.

I reach Skyline Blvd and turn north, back on pavement. Yes, the Zig Zag can handle some gravel, but it feels more spirited on the road. Cruising a series of rollers as I traverse the crest of the west hills, The Zig Zag’s ride is buttery smooth, carrying speed well across rougher sections of pavement. The ACE tubeset is legit. It reminds me of the classic Italian-made frames of the 90s but with more stiffness in the front end and chainstays.

Descending Germantown Road to the west, the bike stays true to its name, zigging and zagging through twisty and bumpy corners with confidence and precision. Toward the bottom of the descent, the speed is high and the wind is gusty, but even with deep rims, the Zig Zag’s handling is resolute.

After another steep and exposed climb, I preempt my fatigue by stopping at McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, which resides in a well-preserved log cabin at the base of the west hills. Here you’ll find a broad selection of McMenamins own beers, and considering the somewhat remote location, decently tasty pub food. I enjoy a small glass of pilsner and a basket of crispy fries. Not fancy, but it hits the spot on a warm day. There’s plenty of space and shade here to relax and reset, so I sit outside and take off my shoes for a bit, and just listen to the birds.

Since my son was born, my endurance fitness has faded considerably, so I take any opportunity to stop and recharge during longer riders. I also tend to stay closer to home now, so being this deep in the west hills feels like an adventure, even though all the roads are familiar. It’s a nice feeling to rediscover your favorite routes from years gone by.

Next up is Rock Creek Road, which is an absolute gem. It’s a great stretch to ride because it’s a loop that doesn’t connect to anything useful to commuter traffic. While it cuts through a narrow canyon, Rock Creek Road is consistently cooler than everywhere else in the area, so it’s a nice way to ease back into the ride. Eventually the road swings to the east and begins to climb, a series of steep steps through a tunnel of trees.

Toward the top of the climb, I begin to feel the inevitable sting of fatigue in my legs. Not surprising, since it’s the third climb up to Skyline in just 30 miles of riding. The Zig Zag could keep going all day. It’s the kind of bike that becomes an extension of your body as the miles add up. When you’re tired and begin to slow down, the Zig Zag adapts, taking on a more mellow personality.

It’s time to head back toward Portland, and I decide to stay up in the hills, where it’s cooler, for as long as possible. After a few miles of gradual climbing south on Skyline, I come to Skyline Restaurant, a humble diner that is known for serving a broad array of milkshake flavors that cost only $6. Knowing it will be all downhill from here, I indulge in a raspberry shake and reflect on the Zig Zag’s performance.

A SPECIAL KIND OF BIKE

After racing road bikes, it’s hard to ever imagine not using a dedicated road bike for road riding. Sure, gravel bikes can get it done on the pavement, but they’re designed for the roughest gravel out there, verging on endurance mountain bikes with drop handlebars. 10 years ago, if you’d told me about a drop bar bike that cleared a 35c tire and used disc brakes, I’d have called it a gravel bike. But the Zig Zag manages to adopt bigger tires and disc brakes without losing the feel of a classic road bike. How does it achieve this? Simply put, the geometry and ride quality are dialed.

The Zig Zag is stiff enough, but not too stiff, and only stiff where it makes sense to be stiff. The handling is neutral and quick, but not frenetic or twitchy. The chainstays are short enough to get your power to the rear axle immediately. The headtube is stout and allows the fork to maneuver with precision. The bottom bracket sits low enough beneath the axles that you don’t feel jacked up off the ground when running bigger tires. The top tube length is reasonable, meaning you can have a comfortable reach to the handlebars and still feel like you are sitting between the wheels. In an age where every bike is claiming to be the fastest ever made and a miracle of technology, many of these fundamental design elements are overlooked or forsaken. Yet, these are the things that make a bike fun. Also, that paint. Looking at a bike should make you pine to ride it, and riding it should turn people’s heads.

After ripping down Cornell Road through the west hills, I text my wife and make plans to meet her and my son at Earthlab Libations on SE Belmont St. My good buddy Dan started Earthlab in 2022, converting a decommissioned box truck into a beer garden destination that hosts live music, movie nights, as well as chess and trivia.

Happily reunited with the family, and served a delicious Belgian poured by a friend, I enjoy feeling tired and satisfied from a great day on the All-City Zig Zag.

Tampa, Florida has a thriving year-round bike scene and City Bike serves a unique segment of riders.  Located on East Cass Street in Downtown, they focus primarily on steel, with offerings that range from cruisers, to commuters to mountain bikes. Why steel? Owner, Kevin Craft says, “Aluminum and carbon bikes lack personality. There’s no story or emotion there. Steel frames have different and unique personalities. Sure, steel is comfortable, durable, and versatile… but the details in the frame construction are what make it special. It generates an emotional connection between the rider and the bike.” All-City shares these values, which is why we became fast friends.

The best part of cycling in Tampa is the weather! From Ybor city to downtown and along the Hilsborough river, you can ride year-round. Kevin has seen the infrastructure grow immensely over the years, following the routes that local cyclists made popular. The road in front of the shop, once a three-lane expressway, now has a lane dedicated to bikes.

Justin Ramirez, mechanic at City Bike Tampa

When it comes to building community, City Bike is the hub. Kevin cites, “Bikes are the tool, but it’s really about the people and the personalities. We are here to make friends and take care of people, and we are lucky to make a living doing it.” The shop was built on the philosophy of being welcoming and inclusive to all. As more small bike shops close their doors, City Bike hopes to continue to evolve to fit the needs of the diverse community they’ve helped to foster.

Kevin Craft, Owner City Bike Tampa

Thank you for your partnership, City Bike!

Photos by Mario Melgar

Check out the Big Block


 

We’re all sorts of amped to introduce our latest creations — drumroll please — meet the Beatbox Front Rack Bag and the Turntable Sling Bag.

We designed them for keeping your keys, cards, concert tickets and snacks close by and organized. Whether you’re on the bike or off, both bags offer up smart features, crisp style, and adjustable straps for dialing your fit.

For commuting to work, crashing the after-party, or just boppin’ around with your buds, comfort and convenience are stitched right into the post-consumer recycled ripstop polyester fabric.

They’re also both made with bluesign® approved materials and hardware, meaning they were produced to be sustainable and have the lowest possible impact on people and the environment. This is something we’re all proud of at All-City!

Now, even though they share a full measure of the same great features, we packed the Beatbox and Turntable Bags with details and nuance to set them apart from the crowd. Here’s the lowdown.

Carry a Tune and Loads More with the Beatbox Front Rack Bag

• Ready to sync up with most front racks, the Beatbox Bag has a generous main compartment packed with pockets
• An assortment of zippers and magnets ensure the pockets remain secure
• We’ve also included a removable shoulder strap and an expandable roll-top closure for when you jam too many books and records into your busy day
• We think you’ll dig the bag’s U-Lock storage and generous 17L volume. That’s 4.5 gallons of space you can fill however you like!

Master the Mix with the Turntable Sling Bag

• Attractive and versatile, our Turntable Bag is ready to hit the dance floor while worn as a sling bag or across your lower back
• Adjust the straps and you can use it as a handlebar bag on just about any bike. It’s great for keeping cash, keys, and quick snacks close at hand
• We gave it a padded back for added structure and a comfortable place to carry a U-Lock
• The exterior bungee is a great spot to stuff an extra layer, and we can confirm the bag’s 1.75L capacity provides just enough space for three LaCroix brand 12-oz. sparkling beverages

Let’s Boogie

Whether you’re packing for a day date at the skate park or taking just a couple essentials to a concert downtown, we’re stoked about the possibilities these bags offer up. With different looks and different fits for whatever you want to get into, our Beatbox and Turntable Bags hit all the right notes. Check them out at your local All-City dealer when you’re ready to rock n’ roll, y’all!

The AC Team

We want to extend an enormous thank you to all the shops and bike folks who helped make the second-annual All-City Steeplechase even bigger and radder than the first. From Buffalo to British Columbia, 30+ bike shops put together awesome routes and challenges for their communities, creating good times for one and all. We’re so stoked to see it.

Choosing winners is never easy but we had a blast trying!

Let’s all give it up for our grand-prize winner @goldenhotpants from New Orleans, LA! India completed Bicycle Michael’s challenges and is now the proud owner of a Space Horse microSHIFT, MET Helmet, and Five Ten kicks, plus loads more swag from All-City.

We chose five more runners-up at random for a prize pack of All-City goodies with MET Helmets and Five Ten shoes of their own! Congrats to all our new BFFs on Instagram —  @arigda, @lizardbikes, @zactwitte, @slowride13, and @baker.bklyn. Last but not least, Elliot at Bountiful Bikes is our Email Sign-up Winner, taking home a new All-City cycling cap and water bottle.

High fives to all the winners and participants, and thanks again to everyone who got out and did the thing! You’re all diamonds.

Till next time…

- The AC Team

We built the Cosmic Stallion to be the ultimate gravel bike for chasing PRs and podiums on race day, and all the training rides that get you there. Quick and efficient, this is the tool for riding farther, pushing harder, and surpassing your own expectations.

Our proprietary A.C.E. Steel tubes are heat-treated, air-hardened, and custom-extruded for optimal strength and performance. We show the same love to our forever-quality Oberon Titanium tubes as well, ensuring they’re ultra-light and built for aggressive speed. For unbeatable fun and undeniable elegance in two frame materials, Cosmic Stallion is the one.

Loaded with beautiful custom details like Signature dropouts, reinforced bottle bosses, mounts for racks and fenders, and Di2 routing options, both Cosmic Stallions are equipped with Whisky No.9 CX Disc 12 Tapered forks for sleek aesthetics and a comfortable ride quality on mixed surfaces. We’ve also spec’d the A.C.E. Steel complete bike with an electronic drivetrain for the first time, and we’ve updated its tire clearance to accommodate 700c x 42mm or 650b x 47mm — bringing it in line with the needs and expectations of modern gravel racers.

Whether ya need a high-performance gravel bike for competitive racing or you’re chasing improvement during weekend rides, Cosmic Stallion offers unmatched elegance and excellence across two frame materials. Visit your local AC dealer when you’re ready to roll — we can’t wait to see how ya build it up and get it dirty.

The AC Team

THE #ALLCITYSTEEPLECHASE RETURNS
August 5–7, 2022
One Weekend. A Bunch of Cities. All the Fun.

Part scavenger hunt and part photo/video contest, the All-City Steeplechase dares solo explorers and teams of 2–4 to search out their city’s hot spots by bike. This year’s shindig kicks off August 5 — details are live now!

Just like last time, we’ve teamed up with a bunch of bitchin’ bike shops across the U.S. and Canada to spread the stoke. We also shook up the List of Challenges and stuffed the goodie bag with new prizes, including one grand-prize All-City Space Horse microSHIFT. We might even have some mystery prizes somewhere. Folks who complete at least five party-pace challenges and post the photo or video proof to Instagram will be officially entered to win.

Joining the party is a piece of cake: Check out the participating shops and get yourself signed up at AllCityCycles.com/Steeplechase! If you dig legalese, have a look at the Official Rules.

See y’all next month!

- The AC Team

All-City Steeplechase
August 5–7, 2022
One Weekend. A Bunch of Cities. All the Fun.