US brand All-City has this week launched the brand new Zig Zag, a steel road bike designed to, in their worlds, mix classic style with modern performance. It’s also the company’s first disc-equipped road bike.
The new Zig Zag is described as an evolution of the company’s Mr. Pink. Where that bike was a retro-themed steel road bike (you can read our review here), the new Zig Zag is thoroughly modern.
That bike was first introduced in 2012 and we reviewed it in 2017. It was a classic looking road bike with a retro feel. You can read that review here.
What do we mean by modern? Well, it has disc brakes for a start, using 12mm thru-axles and flat mount callipers. There’s also a tapered head tube for extra front-end stiffness and three bottle cage bosses.
But then there are classic details like the brazed seat collar, pump peg, custom head badge, external cable routing and signature dropouts.
Tyre clearance is a key talking point with modern road bikes. The Zig Zag has space for up to 32mm without mudguards, 35mm without. That opens the bike up for some light gravel and dirt use with a few good tyres in that size range that will cope with some rough stuffing.
The use of the company’s own A.C.E. steel tubing, TIG welded, is intended to provide a smooth ride for long-distance routes over all sorts of road surfaces. The geometry has been chosen to offer performance-focused handling.
“We built it to be a ripping fast and efficient machine that shields the rider from road chatter and unnecessary fatigue, allowing them to go further, faster, and have more fun. The addition of disc brakes provides confidence in all weather conditions and allows ultimate control on descents,” says the company.
Practical concerns, as a storm rips across the UK at the time of writing, including mounts for full-length mudguards. The frame has also been ED (Electrophoretic Deposition) coated to protect the frame from the elements.
A Zig Zag frame with Whisky carbon fork will cost £1,300 with a choice of sizes from 46 to 61cm and a red/orange fade colour scheme. According to UK importer Ison Distribution, the frames will be available 15th August. More info here.
Years ago, friends and I drove in two cars to a church for a wedding rehearsal. As we drove down the drive, we passed a "CHILDREN - DRIVE SLOWLY"...
FTFY
I can only speak about my frame.
It's 30 years since I rang the police to say the (then rare and costly) suspension forks had been stolen from my MTB. I said I knew where they were...
That's a terrible outcome. RIP for the victim. The length of driving ban plus the need for a retest at least is something.
*thinking of overinflated shark-fin fairing and a pin and following cartoon-style consequences* Could be good for a short speed burst?
I was wondering why the prosecutor used the word ordinary rather than competent. The two seem completely different to me.
Which league do they play in?
The bus should have been bigger and brighter coloured. How are drivers expected to spot a bright yellow double decker bus on our roads?...
BBC news article on this implies anyone cycling on the road, rather than using the cycle area, is riding incorrectly! ...