Last night I had to stop off at Ace Wheelworks in Somerville, MA for work. One of the employees there, Adam, beckoned me into the basement. I was hesitant to follow him, mostly because the last time I followed someone down to the basement of Ace, I ended up being part of a human centipede for six months. Turns out he just wanted to show me his one-of-a-kind Independent Fabrication Ti-Deluxe 29er with Bruins “away jersey” paint, which was way less traumatic and humiliating than the whole human centipede thing (I still look weird when I smile). This is going to be one of the last of the Somerville IF’s. Those guys are set to pick up shop and move to New Hampshire in May, so the Somerville castle logo gives it some cache.
I apologize in advance for the utter craptasticness of the photos. All I had on me was my Olympus Stylus-not-so-tough (not a product I am extremely pleased with) and the lighting was not ideal, but what these shots lack in quality, they make up for in quantity. As we shall see…after the break.
That is actually the seat tube measurement. This bike is HUGE dude. Zdeno Chara couldn’t even throw a leg over this thing…with skates on.
Sorry, made up. It’s probably about a 19″ with a very sloping top tube.
The bike weighs about 24 lbs as it is.
The bike was designed by BMX master Brian Kelly formerly of, and now of IF again. Therefore the chainstays are as short as possible for maximum snappiness. I was going to say “snapability” but that makes it sound like the chainstays are designed to break.
Engraved seat collar.
If you look through the main triangle, you can almost see the spot where I spent six months as part of a human centipede.
IF logo on the fork leg. Details.
“No shot of the headtube? how silly!” – BR reader Shane
This logo is soon to be retired. A tear just rolled down my cheek and hit my keyboard. I’m going to stop before I get electrocuted.
