rodeo-europe

19/12/2025

Flaanimal 3.0, 4.X, and 5.0 owners, we need your input. Flaanimal imal has been compatible with UDH for years now, but the optional large brake caliper slider that we make doesn’t have the proper vertical axle alignment for UDH, so you can “only” use traditional hydro calipers with our UDH slider system conversion. That means people with larger brake calipers like Klampers, Yokozuna, Hy-RD, Growtac, Hope RX4 etc can’t run UDH on Flaanimal.

So here’s the thing. We’ve drawn up the UDH compatible large caliper non drive side slider to pair with the already available UDH drive side slider, and we could put it into production, but it’s quite the expensive part to make. If we were to offer it at retail we would have to charge in th $80–$90 range for it. At that price, would you buy it?

Careful how you respond, because the next step would be to open a pre order to make sure we sell enough to cover base production costs. So you’d have to put your 💸 where your mouth is!

Flaanimal is an insanely versatile frame, and it is possible to update it to newer standards, which is rad, but we can only do it if the numbers allow. We very much want to keep these frames relevant indefinitely if owner demand is there.

Sound off! 🗣️🗣️🗣️

20/11/2025

We’ve named this 58cm ready-to-roll Flaanimal 5.0 “Infinite Vice”, which is a literary nod to the kind of open-ended journeys where the road dissolves into possibility, and a fascinating new story unfolds with each pedal stroke.

The graphic layout of the bike, rendered in vinyl decals over the naked black 5.0 frame, is a one-off design by Andy, the newest memeber of the Rodeo team, and build pairs retro-futurist visuals with the crisp mechanical honesty of a Campagnolo Ekar groupset. Rodeo-Labs 2.0 carbon rims, laced to 3.0 hubs are shod in fast, efficient, and reliable 38mm Panaracer GravelKing SK - keeping things fast and sure-footed.

If you hunger for less smooth roads, the 5.0 frameset has Tour Divide winning pedigree, and can fit rubber as large as 700 x 2.1” or 650b x 2.35” - when conditions require and allow.

This is a bike built for narrative arcs—for detours, impulse rides, and terrain that challenges both your legs and perspective.

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A Flaanimal 5.0 in 58cm best fits riders from 6’0” to 6’2”, on average, or 183cm to 188cm.

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All ready-to-roll Rodeo Labs bikes ship immediately, and worldwide.

Ready-to-roll bikes are offered at advantageous pricing because we pick the build spec, parts, and build design.

www.rodeo-labs.com / ready to roll bikes. Link in Instagram bio.

18/11/2025

It’s rare to meet someone crazier than we are. Enter, Tyler.

Tyler has been a very active owner of a TD4 for long enough to take it to its functional limits, whether that be gravel racing, bikepacking, high mountain exploring, or commuting to work. Few Donkeys see more use or live a better life than his.

Tyler is one of those rare people that’s even more curious about functional spectrum than we are. Perhaps that’s because he’s a mechanical engineer. Tyler would switch out to his Canyon Aeroad for crit racing and road riding duties, and that bike performed quite well as one would expect. But, to quote Tyler, the bike felt “soulless”. (His words, not ours!). He knew his Donkey felt quick and agile when out gravel racing, and he wondered if those qualities would translate into a dedicated road build using the same platform.

When we were first approached about the idea of a road build, we thought the idea was fun, but should anyone really sell their road bike and do something like this? Tyler had the vision, so we were happy to collaborate and oblige. After all, this is important lab work!

As the parts started rolling in, we knew this build would be bonkers. Tyler pretty much went with aero Enve everything, down to the tires themselves. He combined that with a 50T 1x13 Force XPLR groupset with a Wolf Tooth aero ring. As subtle as Tyler’s black Donkey is, this new one would be exactly the opposite, resplendent in pink Cerakote and red decals.

A true bike nerd, Tyler built the bike himself in our service course, and when we rolled in the morning after he wrapped up the build, we were absolutely stunned by the result. TD4.2 had become TD4.2R, a thoroughbread of a racehorse. What a beaut!

We’re less than a week into initial rides but Tyler reports that its FAST. The sensations are good, as they say. We look forward to seeing what he’s able to accomplish on it in the 2026 road racing season.

Bonus fact, the bike comes in lighter than the Aeroad that it replaced.

Chapeau, Tyler!

15/11/2025

“I like turtles”. An anthem of an entire generation, or at least that of a kid who went viral a decade ago, or at least also Peter in Indiana. Peter has a soft spot for box turtles, which he often encounters on his rides. Turtles in any road are in danger, so Peter helps them safely to the other side before continuing on his way. We salute you, Peter.

It should come as no surprise then, that Peter’s TD4 is inspired by said Terrapene ornata: the Ornate Box Turtle.

Even after more than a decade of creating custom bikes for our customers, we never cease to be amazed by the themes they inspire our paintwork with.

Enjoy your TurtleDonkey 4.2, Peter, and keep up the good work!

29/10/2025

Ok ok, here’s the story. Chapter 1: Our hero, , was one of first owners of a Flaanimal when we went live with 3.0, back in 2017. She had it for years. Cut to montage the two of them of laughing, riding through tall grasses, and adventuring freely.

Big, soaring soundtrack.
Shots of expansive gravel vistas.
Outside coffee.
Slow motion.

Chapter 2: Katherine’s life changed. She rode her 3.0 less and less. It wasn’t her. It wasn’t the bike. It’s just… life gets that way sometimes. Katherine sold her 3.0. Cut to scene of sad Flaanimal being led away by its new owner.

Sad music. Rain on window. Dip to black.

Scene 3: Katherine remembers her steed fondly. Cut to montage of good memories. Cut to the bike out making memories with its new rider.

Scene 4: They say you can’t go home, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get close. Katherine reaches out to Rodeo and asks that they make a special Flaanimal 5.0 to commemorate the 3.0, and good times had. Cut to pump-up montage of the team hard at work digging out the original graphics and matching with original paint. Cut to shots of team carefully building the new bike, and also recalling those good times when 3.0s ran wild and free across not just the country, but the entire world.

Scene 5: This part has yet to be written; but we’re pretty sure that Katherine has plans to make many more memory montages on this one.

End credits here.

Oscar speech here.

23/10/2025

It’s been at least a few months since we’ve had a Ready To Roll Rodeo Labs on offer. Time simply hasn’t allowed for us to play around with fun builds. A funny thing happened recently though. While in Italy at our Summer Camp, we happened upon a bike shop in the Dolomites selling a beautifully custom painted 52cm Flaanimal 5.0 frameset. Nobody in the area really knew what Rodeo was, or what to make of the fame, so it sat unsold for a good spell. Meanwhile, back in the USA, we sold out 52cm Flaanimal 5.0 framesets months ago, and desperately wish we had more to offer.

Inspiration hit: Why not adopt this Italian Flaanimal frameset and bring it home to the USA?
Not content to stop there, we decided to build it up with an awesome parts spec and offer it as a Ready To Roll build.

The result is a truly one of a kind Flaanimal, and you’ll never see another like it out in the wild. The beautiful marble effect wet paint was done by hand in Italy by the legendary frame painter Tony Spray. The luscious high gloss wet coat pops in a way that our typical satin coated Flaanimals do not.

The build kit is exactly perfect for the modern gravel rider, using the newest Sram Rival XPLOR 1×13 speed gravel groupset, with generous 10-46 gearing in the rear. The crankset is the pro-level carbon Praxis Doon. The wheels are hand built Rodeo carbon wheels on robust and reliable 3.0 hubs. The saddle is also Italian made, coming from our friends at Selle Repente.

Again, there are no more 52cm steel Flaanimals left in Rodeo USA inventory, and there won’t be any more arriving before Febrary or March, so if you’re in the market for a 52cm Flaanimal 5.0, this beauty might just be the ticket.

Ready To Roll bikes always have reduced pricing because we select the paint and the parts that we want to build with. The bike is available for immediate shipping. Worldwide shipping available – but if it goes back to Italy we’re going to have a laugh!

Rodeo-labs.com / Ready To Roll bikes
Link in Insta Bio

A 52cm Rodeo typically fits a rider 5’6″ to 5’8″, or 167cm to 173cm.

19/10/2025

08/10/2025

Northern Lights is the most ephemeral color that we use at Rodeo. It has blue-green darker tones combined with tan colored highlights. It’s a nightmare to to photograph and capture, but in real life the effect is sublime, and worth the effort.

Judy’s design didn’t stop with the color. She added a few more personalized design touches which recall her background in mid century design, as well as themes from life at large in the form of icons and the verse on the seat tube.

Love is the power.

Happy New Bike Day, Judy!

02/10/2025

Black coat, gold hat
But I don’t worry ‘cause my tire’s fat
Black rims, bars wrapped
Lookin’ sharp, lookin’ for grav
They come runnin’ just as fast as they can
‘Cause every rider’s crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed Flaan

Happy New Bike Day, Donald

30/09/2025

Reminder: the brake mounts on Spork Series 3 are CNC-faced right here at Rodeo Labs HQ in Denver, so that you never have to fuss or struggle when setting up those ultra precise disc brakes. On our rear brakes no facing is needed, as all of our frames feature CNC machined sliding dropouts right from the box. Disc brake joy, courtesy of Rodeo Labs

Rodeo Spork is made in three different steer tube and offset specs to match out bikes and a wide range of other bikes, including maybe that one that you’re already riding.

22/09/2025

PSA: Route It Your Way. Integrated (fully hidden) routing is super trendy these days, and TD4 supports it, but if you’re planning on traveling with your bike, or you want to be able to more easily service your headset, integrated routing will make your life miserable. When we talked through Doug’s build, we didn’t just talk about his beautiful pistachio and bronze custom paint, or wide range GRX / XT Di2 drivetrain, we also asked how he would ride his bike and where he might take it. Because of that, Doug decided against integrated routing and went with tried and true downtube routing. That was a smart choice by a smart guy for a very smart looking TD4 build.

Happy New Bike day, Doug!

What about you? Sleek, stealth integration, or practical, serviceable traditional downtube routing?

02/08/2025

It’s DealTime™️ time!

We took a four month break from offering any Ready To Roll builds, and the last sold months ago.

This Flaanimal 6 Titanium build is one heck of a way to make a comeback!

Let’s start with the frame. We created this one-off design as a display frame for Sea Otter in April, where it turned heads. The custom gold anodized logos pop brightly against the one-off hand painted ocean blue Cerakote, all against a backdrop of both brushed and media blasted titanium. The Flaanimal 6 Ti is our newest Rodeo Labs frameset, and is set apart from the competition thanks to its beautiful tube shaping, 3d printed and seamlessly blended details, sculpted headtube, oversized T47 Keg bottom bracket, phenomenal tire clearance, and of course the incredibly versatile LockJaw 2 sliding dropout system.

The frame is elegant enough for high speed gravel racing duties, but also capable enough to be loaded up and ridden from Banff to New Mexico.

We have never before offered a 6.0 Ti as a Ready To Roll bike, but this frame’s unique purpose allowed us a special opportunity.

This 54cm build will best fit a rider from 5’8” to 5’10”.

All Ready To Roll builds ship within a few days, and are offered well below their retail price because we pick the frame, we pick the paint, we pick the parts, and we only build them when the mood strikes.

Find it at rodeo-labs.com in the Ready To Roll section, or at the link in our bio.