My Nature Boy has arrived

 I went to Smart Bike Parts on Monday, hoping to test ride an All-City Nature Boy. They didn't have any regular NB's, just one NB Zona Ltd frame, that just happened to be my size. These aren't that easy to come by, particularly in a 49. The advantages of the Zona over a regular NB: better tubing, non-removable canti studs, 1/2 lb lighter (whatever, I'll soon make up for that), PF30 bottom bracket, a couple other minor differences, and last but not least... the color is actually nice, black and gold flake paint. 

     The other NB would have blended in with this couch... I wasn't overly excited about the prospect of a lime green frame. If you only want a NB frameset, you have to get the lime green one. The blackish- blue/white one only comes as a complete bike. I hadn't considered the Zona, until I came across this one. The photo doesn't do it justice, it's a beautiful frame. If it rides as good as it looks, we're going to get along great. The NB owners on the online cyclocross forums, all seem to love them. 

I will have to take some glamour shots, but until then...