heard bad things about the rear stays on the all city big block, heard people are constantly breaking / bending or cracking them. Is this true? or any other opinions on the big block? Looking for a high quality steel frame for around the same price (900-1000 complete or 600 for the frame) any suggestions on a high quality steel track frame for around that price?

Soma Rush

That's the first I've heard of that type of problem with the Big Block - not saying it's not true, but if it were, I have a feeling it would be well known and talked about ad nauseam on this forum.

As for your choices at that price... there are tons. EAI Bareknuckle, any of Leader's steel frames, Cinelli Gazetta, etc. Honestly, do a google search for $600 steel track frame, or just go to various bike shops' sites (Retrogression and Ben's Cycle are a two I like) and see what they carry.

You're gonna have better luck getting advice here if you have an idea of what your final build should be like and can ask about a few logical choices for achieving that goal as opposed to asking for all the possible options in a given price range. BFSSFG helps those who help themselves

that was the first time i had heard it too, but it was from a friend who has been a bike messenger for a few years now and he told me he had heard it around from people at work. but i wanted to know more about it because i was looking into purchasing the big block. and yes i have come to understand that. but as i am not 100% familiar with the details of the bike or how geometry works when one angle changes etc. i have been riding for a little while now but i am fairly knew to the technical side of it so it is rather difficult to express it completely. i currently ride a flite 100 and love that geometry. looking to stay around the same but as i am giving the frame to my brother i am in need of another. do not want to get another bike exactly the same as there would be no point. and i liked the all city very much. but heard about the problems with the rear stays.

[QUOTE=Camh876;16875527]I searched both "all city big block frame failure" and all city big block frame cracking" and got links to this thread and the following:

Busted AC Big Block

So it's a documented issue, at least for a handful of frames out of the presumably thousands out there. I have to assume any frame sold in large numbers is going to have a similar percentage of duds. And frankly, no offense to your friend, but things you've heard third or fourth hand always seem to be a bigger deal/problem/issue than they really are - people love to embellish stories, especially negative ones. To me, it doesn't seem like it's anywhere close to common enough to rule out the Big Block.

ya i totally agree, i was thinking the same thing about stories being embellished and im also pretty slim. wont be putting 200 pounds on it which has to make it easier on the bike and not stress it as much. thanks

FWIW, the Big Block's dropouts no longer have that little cutout (as pictured in the thread about the broken one) near where they join to the chain stay.

so in other words they should not or have not been breaking antmore? because if you read the pages in the other thread many people seem to be complaining about it.

From what I can determine, the design change Scrod points out was made for the 2013 Lavender edition of the Big Block. If the posts complaining about breakage predate that or the owners mention that they had a pre-2013 Big Block, I'd say it's safe to assume the problem was addressed and the new design is more durable.

Keep in mind too, that while there may be a lot of complaints about frame breakage in that thread, it's still a small percentage of the total number of Big Blocks out there. People who feel they've been wronged or ripped off tend to be louder than the satisfied customers, and can make themselves seem like they're part of a larger group than they really are. Folks are quick to ***** about faulty products, but they don't always make much effort to speak up when they're happy.

Bottom line - I don't think there's any reason to fear the Big Block as a poorly made death trap in waiting. It's not a Viscount with a death fork, thankfully

the big block does seem to have that little cutout still. the only model where i found it not was the fifth anniversary white frame (same frame as in the picture scrod uploaded) but the gold frame for this year that comes with the complete bike still has the cut out. as the bike shop that represents all city for toronto does not have the white frame. Not sure what to think. dont think it is a bad frame that if purchased is an accident waiting to happen, but still i am hesitant towards it because to be honest i cant afford to buy a bike and have it break like that. need a good quality bike that i can work on and depend on. are those really just a few faulty ones that broke and most people are actually happy with them. Or is it something i am going to always have to worry about?

I know eight people currently riding older versions of the Big Block (with the cutouts on the dropout) who have zero issues - one of them being 6'4", 220 lbs.

Why don't you try contacting All-City directly and ask them what was up with their old frames breaking, how they improved the dropouts and whether or not it's a problem now? They're very nice people and I'm sure they will disclose the information you're looking for.

thanks very much.

You can pretty much contact anyone about anything and if you are nice enough (and don't bug 'em), you will have a decent chance of getting a response. Plus since they are looking to make money, they will probably want to answer your questions so you might be more inclined to buy their products.

Looks like some of your information is not accurate. Best to take Scrod's advice and ask directly.

btw All-City makes other frames with these dropouts so if the problem were out of control, you would be hearing about it with the other frames as well.

oh sorry, i did email them, but i also checked the site and on the site its looks as if the gold has the cutout, my mistake.

For the record, the gold frame available on the complete bike version has been around for nearly three years. Early ones have the cutout, current ones do not.

The pics on AC's site are of the older version.

thanks again for clearing that up.

anyone know if they plan to offer the frame in any other colors besides the 5th anniv scheme this year?

I know the answer to that but I'm not going to tell you.

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