“I want a periwinkle base with vibrant green accents, including peekaboo stays and fork, and also a quote on the inside of the fork, oh and also did I mention cat paw prints and fish bones throughout? Also I want a Trail Cat logo”.
We’re not saying that’s a direct quote from Howard, but you get the idea. Howard, as far as we are concerned, you’re a design visionary, and we wish you the very happiest New Rodeo Day. 🙌🫶🏻
#rideexplorecreate
#rodeospork
#gravelbike
#traildonkey
A flat bar Flaanimal Ti with a fully analog build. We deliberately chose to avoid a battery anywhere in the system and also skipped hydraulic brake fluid in the brakes. But as always, we were still able to rely on the highest-quality components throughout the build.
Thanks for the build and the trust, Markus — enjoy the ride!
#velomario #rodeolabs
Some bikes shout, some whisper. Ryan’s TD4.2 starts with a dark grey base coat and adds a purple metallic pop with its subtle graphics. Turn the volume up, turn the volume down, the choice is yours.
Happy New Bike Day, Ryan!
#traildonkey
#gravelbike
When our product lead @vankrampen builds up a Rodeo for himself, we always know that it’s going to be full of juicy morsels. Drew is nothing if not obsessed with the details. Drew is also living that dad lyfe these days, which means that when it comes to this build, he says the theme is Wabi Sabi: The Japanese philosophy centering on the acceptance of, among other things, imperfection. Where are the imperfections? Your guess is as good as ours. All we see is that beautiful paint, the @ridegemini chainring, @vision_tech_usa bars, titanium hubs, @favero_electronics power pedals, Wove saddle, @vittoriatires Mezcal 2.1” rubber, @praxisworks Doin cranks, XTR Di2 rear mech, and Ultegra Di2 shifter which Drew says gave a better hood shape than GRX.
If this bike is Drew’s version of imperfection, we can’t imagine what perfect looks like!
#traildonkey
#rodeospork
#rodeowheels
#newbikeday
#gravelbike
There’s nothing slower than the Rodeo Labs website. If you’ve ever used it, you know how it is. Well, after 12 years of that, we’re weeks away from launching a top to bottom brand new site. It’ll be lightning fast, easy to navigate, easy to find the info you need, easy to configure bikes, easier to find other Rodeo riders, easier to find good stories, and more. In the meantime, here’s the new 404 page, which we’re very proud of. 🤍
The Laid Back Lockjaw 2 slider is now available for TD4.2 owners. What does it do? The longer slider moves your rear wheel back 1cm, which matches the Flaanimal 6 chainstay length and opens up more tire and mud clearance in your frame. Max clearance goes up to 2.4”, which not many people need, but PLENTY OF YOU are running 2.25” tires, and the is slider will give you more mud safety margin at that size (or any size, really).
Not every TD4.2 rider needs this hardware, but those pushing the limits will benefit from it.
TD4.0 can’t be upgraded with this slider because of the totally different dropout design. If it were possible to adapt, you know we’d do it!
Flaanimal 6 Ti or steel don’t need this slider as they already have this tire / mud clearance capability with the standard slider.
Find it in our store at rodeo-labs.com
#traildonkey
Spork 4: Questions Answered!
1. Retail (stand alone) sales? June.
2. Builder / wholesale sales? June.
3. Weight: Approx 470g
4. Offset / rake: 50mm
5. Routing: Standard through the leg or fully hidden through steer tube.
6. Integrated routing possible without propriety (bulkier) headsets. Keep your metal frame looking looking svelte.
7. Clearance: Up to 700x2.6”, if you are silly, but c’mon. Plenty of mud and fender clearance.
8. Son Self Connecting dynamo hub dropout compatible. (Optional)
9. Standard dynamo hub compatibility as well
10. Dynamo wires can pass internally through the crown, out the steer tube, and into the frame from the head tube. Wiring can also exit (and re enter) fork crown for front and rear dynamo configurations. Wire can also pass into stem for handlebar dynamo lights.
11. 160mm or 180mm rotor compatible.
12. Flush mount low profile mounting eyelets. 3 per leg.
13. We will neither confirm or deny if it’s aero.
14. Now optional of Flaanimal Steel, Flaanimal Ti, and TD4. (June arrival)
15. Retail price $565. Spork 3 remains at $465.
16. Oh… and one more thing we will talk about later.
17. Tested to ISO 4210 MTB standards.
18. Axle to crown: 407 - backwards compatible with any Rodeo Labs bike, and a billion other bikes, with minimal effect on geometry.
More questions? Answer below.
Bulk builder inquiries, inquire via email.
#rodeospork
#rideexplorecreate
Green apple. Green bean. Green Lantern. Green Goblin. Jolly Green Giant. Green revolution. Green grass. Green with envy. Green light. Emerald green. Chris Tucker in The Fifth Element: “Are you green?”
It’s anyone’s guess what Chris name his new Flaanimal 5, We’re sure it’ll never be mistaken for any other! Happy New Bike Day, Chris!
#newbikeda
#rodeospork
#rodeowheels
#gravelbike
The third (and final) Pack Rabbit MTB prototype was floating around Sea Otter this year, if you knew where to look. Built up and ridden by @iridebikes_tomeetdoggos , the build and aesthetic have a vintage MTB vibe with the aluminum wheels and components playing off of the USA made frame that we co-created with @wearespooky . The blue @cerakote FX fade was just enough to add some flair without taking away from the frame itself.
Plenty of people have asked what’s up with the MTB project. The shortest answer is that the three aluminum prototypes were created to really hone in on geometry that we think will be appropriate for a trail / bikepacking bike, but they aren’t production intent.
We have every intention of releasing a MTB, but years back we committed to making it a USA frame if we do it. That’s the part that creates the biggest hurdle, because we also want to keep the price in check. It’s “easy” to make a mountain bike overseas, it isn’t easy to make one domestically and keep the price within reach. We’re not in a rush with the project because the market is FLOODED with good hardtail options. We only want to enter the MTB market if we have something to add, be that features, design, or the fabrication story of the bike - or all 3!
“But what about 32”? We will build some test bikes to evaluate 32, but aren’t rushing headlong into it. The rest of the industry will be there way before we are, and we can see if 32” sticks or fades based on what customers and riders decide, not the industry hype cycle.
In the meantime, Adam says that this Rabbit rips, and we’re scheming heavily behind the scenes about where to go next with the project.
Thanks for the photos @everett_dohh !
#packrabbit
#rideexplorecreate
It’s a heavy feeling to say I am zipping up the Blue Raider jersey for the last time while simultaneously rolling out on the bike that represents my next chapter. This race is the bridge between a legacy that started with my parents in ’96 and the creative future I’m building with Rodeo Labs.
Ending this era on the Trail Donkey feels right—one final ride for the school that shaped who I am, and the first official race as part of the Rodeo crew.
Full circle. From a "Frankenbike" built in a garage to a Trail Donkey built for the future. Every mile on these roads was a lesson, and I’m glad this bike is the one to carry me across the finish. With graduation just about a week away, I’m really excited to trade the classroom for the home trails. But before then we're under-biking the hardest mountain bike race in Kentucky— War Daddy this weekend! 🎓🏔️🚲
