When All-City was first established in 2009, it was a brand dedicated exclusively to track bikes. While they now offer many geared models, when you consider their origins, it perhaps makes perfect sense that the first mountain bike the brand ever brought to the world was a single-speed.
As introduced on our blog previously, an All-City Log Lady mountain bike was recently sent off to its new home with someone who is just starting out with mountain biking.
I believe the Log Lady is an incredibly versatile bike that can be enjoyed by everyone from those just starting to refine their skills to those who have been riding for years.
It features a single-speed drivetrain with no gears—in other words, just shut up and pedal. When riding mountain bike trails in the Japanese countryside, there are often steep sections where you have to push or carry your bike anyway, so you can have plenty of fun even without gears.
To descend a mountain on a fully rigid bike with no suspension, you need to use every skill you have. Because you are forced to rely on your own technique to get down, you can enjoy the ride even at lower speeds while minimizing the risk of serious injury.
Mastering the Log Lady—a bike that offers the best of both worlds—with the high-level skills he honed in BMX is All-City support rider Masahiro "Kosshi" Koshiyama.
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Thanks to his initiative, we have decided to hold a ride event next weekend on Sunday, October 2nd.
This will be a picnic ride that doubles as a test-ride event for the 2017 All-City lineup.
We will meet at 10:00 AM at Pine Fields Market (PFM) and head out once everyone is ready.
You might want to come a bit early to relax with a coffee at PFM; the shop opens at 9:00 AM on Sundays. Once we're ready, we'll pack our sandwich rolls into baskets, panniers, backpacks, or messenger bags and head 10km to Shonai Ryokuchi Park.
The test-ride venue will be the route to our destination. Our staff will be riding four different 2017 models, so you can hop on any bike that interests you along the way. Test-ride courses are usually short and closed-off, so this is a rare opportunity to try out a bike in the environment where you would actually use it.
Note that this will be a bike-swap style test ride, so please make sure to bring your own bike if you participate.
For those who cannot join the ride but are interested in the 2017 All-City models, we will also have an exhibition and test-ride event at Circles, our final destination. You will be able to try the bikes starting from 16:00, when the ride concludes, so please be sure to stop by the shop.
Once we arrive at the park, we'll enjoy a picnic in our own style. After we’ve filled our stomachs and hearts, look forward to a cyclocross technique clinic by Kosshi and a coffee brewing workshop using PFM beans. As you likely already know, his captivating performance in cyclocross is something to behold, and his coffee brewing skills are equally impressive!
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"To make a meaningful contribution to the culture of urban cycling and the evolution of its tools."
All-City has championed this slogan since its founding and hosts similar ride events for city dwellers in its home country.
Founder Jeff Frane has said:
"As long as we are alive, we want to share our passion for our machines, the people who ride them, and the positive change the two can bring to the world."
If you resonate with that sentiment, if you love bikes, if you are considering buying an All-City, if you enjoy meeting people, or if you just want to go on a picnic—if you've thought about going even a little bit, please don't hesitate to join us.
Any type of bike is welcome, and everyone is invited.
PFM may be crowded, so we ask for your cooperation in arriving early if you plan to purchase a sandwich roll.