This is now the velofinds' Nature Boy thread. That bike is daaaamn.

I don't know if disc brakes have ever looked better, on any bike.

If I decide to buy the new All-City Big Block next year, should I buy is as a complete bike and make minor changes, or buy just the frameset and build it up myself ? The last time I bought a complete high quality fixed gear bike was the Wabi lightning 5+ years ago, and now the only original parts other than the wheelset are the stem and front brake caliper. The stock parts on the Big Block appear to be the same quality as those that came on the Wabi. The only parts that I would change initially would be the tires and rear cog size.

Bump ^

Anybody wanna help an old man make up his mind ?

Frameset. You'd be better off spending the money saved on pack in parts for those you actually want in the first place.

Seconded on frameset. Looks too pretty to go with a stock build and swap out as you go.

Damnit that thing is perfect. How do you like it overall?

I like it a lot! With the fenders and discs, it has been the perfect bad weather bike for me and rides so nicely (it is steel, after all, so no surprises there) that I actually wish it rained more often so I have an excuse to take it out.

Get the frame and build it up according to your tastes. Here's my reasoning:

1) You have plenty of other bikes you can ride while you take the time to put your Big Block together. If you needed it done so you could start riding, that would be one good reason to buy a complete bike, but this is not the case for you.

2) If your Lightning is any indication, you like everything "just so." You'll probably end up replacing many/most of the parts to get the bike all sorted out. So why not skip buying all those parts that come on the complete bike? Buy the stuff once, piece by piece, and build to your liking.

I'd recommend for a beginner to buy the complete bike, because it costs less, it will be built correctly, and he doesn't really know exactly what he wants anyway. None of these factors apply to you. You have enough money to get a frame and components a la carte, you have the expertise to assemble it yourself, and you know down to every detail what to get. Again, there's no reason for you to buy a complete, factory-built bike.