Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey 3.0
#1
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey 3.0
2 inch tires with 700c wheels, mounts up the wazoo, threaded bottom bracket...
The more I look at this thing the more I like it.
https://www.rodeo-labs.com/td3/
The more I look at this thing the more I like it.
https://www.rodeo-labs.com/td3/
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 4,848
Bikes: Schwinn Varsity
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1931 Post(s)
Liked 742 Times
in
422 Posts
That looks good, but I have to ask myself..... why not get MTB... XC mountain bike and run 2 inch tires
It seems more people want to take their gravel grinders on ruff singletrack now.
Only thing left would be to put flat bars on it.... no?
It seems more people want to take their gravel grinders on ruff singletrack now.
Only thing left would be to put flat bars on it.... no?
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,604
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,473 Times
in
4,181 Posts
Rodeo Labs makes some fun looking frames. The TD and Flannimal have well thought out versatility.
what they lack is wide frame sizes.
what they lack is wide frame sizes.
#6
Senior Member
My gravel bike has 700x50 tires and a 80mm dropper. It's fun as hell on mixed singletrack/gravel rides but I'm sure an XC 29er hardtail would work just as well, if not better. Still, I like the aesthetics of my bike and that counts. For smooth gravel, I'd want something like a road bike with 38s, personally.
#7
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
The bottom bracket on Traildonkey is slightly higher than some other bikes in the gravel segment because we prioritize function across wheelsets. A bike with a low bottom bracket may perform well on 700c wheels, but will drop to become excessively low on 650b wheels. This would result in more pedal strikes or chainring dings when riding aggressively. Clearance matters off-road and TD3 prioritizes off-road performance.
-Tim-
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,235
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 353 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 92 Times
in
67 Posts
Looks good but I have an issue with tiny companies like these charging thousands for a frame made in China for a couple hundred bucks. You pay a premium to the big guys because 5 years from now it's pretty much guaranteed they will be around and you get warranty. With small shops like these it's never a guarantee. If anything nowadays you are more likely to succeed selling a great affordable frame vs an expensive one.
#11
Senior Member
Looks good but I have an issue with tiny companies like these charging thousands for a frame made in China for a couple hundred bucks. You pay a premium to the big guys because 5 years from now it's pretty much guaranteed they will be around and you get warranty. With small shops like these it's never a guarantee. If anything nowadays you are more likely to succeed selling a great affordable frame vs an expensive one.
#12
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
So who has actually ridden one?
I'd like to hear feedback from someone who has laid hands on it.
I'm afraid to test ride one as I might wind up buying it.
-Tim-
I'd like to hear feedback from someone who has laid hands on it.
I'm afraid to test ride one as I might wind up buying it.
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 03-13-19 at 12:24 PM.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
I do not know how many prototypes they made and how they tested the carbon laying compositions but making a bike in a single type of carbon (T800 in this case) would result in a poor ride quality. A good carbon bike requires stiff high modulus carbon in the BB and softer low modulus carbon in headtube and seat stays. Also laying thickness, epoxy composition, require large amount of R&D investment to perfect. There is a considerable ride quality difference from a $500 Chinese open mold to a $4000 S-Work, I have a feeling this frame will be closer to the $500 open mold
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#14
Senior Member
bring the bike to a few gravel races is not really R&D, what actual scientific test did they do? A proper composite testing facility would be very expensive. Which factory in Taiwan are the bike produced? There are state of the art factories like Quest composite that make Trek and Canyon frames, there are also no name factories that makes $500 open mold with questionable QC. Every time I hear T700 or T800 carbon it gives a indication of the latter.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,857
Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Liked 298 Times
in
214 Posts
your (anyone) body can lie for a little bit, but it can't lie forever.
I bet it rides like a log wagon and needs every bit of that 700x50 tire volume to make up for it. But hey we all ride different and for a different purpose. If it fits your purpose, go for it.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,235
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 353 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 92 Times
in
67 Posts
When you are pretty unknown brand selling a Taiwanese carbon frame for more than an Open UP Classic there might be a problem with your choices.
#18
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
bring the bike to a few gravel races is not really R&D, what actual scientific test did they do? A proper composite testing facility would be very expensive. Which factory in Taiwan are the bike produced? There are state of the art factories like Quest composite that make Trek and Canyon frames, there are also no name factories that makes $500 open mold with questionable QC. Every time I hear T700 or T800 carbon it gives a indication of the latter.
If you're in the Denver area, give Steve a ring. They're more open about how they do things than basically any other frame maker I've ever heard of, and are happy to talk about it.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
It would be excellent...if you actually followed Rodeo Adventure Labs and how they do things...before typing.
If you're in the Denver area, give Steve a ring. They're more open about how they do things than basically any other frame maker I've ever heard of, and are happy to talk about it.
If you're in the Denver area, give Steve a ring. They're more open about how they do things than basically any other frame maker I've ever heard of, and are happy to talk about it.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#20
Senior Member
at $2600 for the frameset, it cost more than Trek checkpoint, Specialized Diverge, Canyon Grail, Giant Revolt, I simply trust the QC and R&D of these big brands more than someone came from nowhere with limited composite engineering experience. But hey if you want to spend $2600 for a generic T800 frame with cool paintjob, go for it.
#21
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
at $2600 for the frameset, it cost more than Trek checkpoint, Specialized Diverge, Canyon Grail, Giant Revolt, I simply trust the QC and R&D of these big brands more than someone came from nowhere with limited composite engineering experience. But hey if you want to spend $2600 for a generic T800 frame with cool paintjob, go for it.
Small firm frames cost more than big firm frames. This is basic economics.
#23
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
WGH, I'm planning to attend the Rodeo Rally in Helen, Georgia on March 30.
https://www.rodeo-labs.com/georgia-r...-das-boot-cup/
Should be a good time riding gravel and there will be three or maybe four Trail Donkey 3.0 bikes present to eyeball and touch. One person has already offered a test ride on actual gravel roads but his bike is a bit big for me.
Back to the bike itself, I like how they provide the Di2 wiring diagram and actual Shimano part numbers. https://www.rodeo-labs.com/td3-di2-wiring-diagrams/
I'm going to be experimenting with Absolute Black subcompact 46-30 chainrings and an XT 11-42 cassette with Ultegra RX-805 GS derailleur. At least one person says it works "Like a champ" on his Lynskey. If it works on my Niner then everything could be swapped to a TD3.0 frame pretty easily from a mechanical perspective.
Not so easy to swap from a financial perspective. Damn, that thing is expensive.
-Tim-
https://www.rodeo-labs.com/georgia-r...-das-boot-cup/
Should be a good time riding gravel and there will be three or maybe four Trail Donkey 3.0 bikes present to eyeball and touch. One person has already offered a test ride on actual gravel roads but his bike is a bit big for me.
Back to the bike itself, I like how they provide the Di2 wiring diagram and actual Shimano part numbers. https://www.rodeo-labs.com/td3-di2-wiring-diagrams/
I'm going to be experimenting with Absolute Black subcompact 46-30 chainrings and an XT 11-42 cassette with Ultegra RX-805 GS derailleur. At least one person says it works "Like a champ" on his Lynskey. If it works on my Niner then everything could be swapped to a TD3.0 frame pretty easily from a mechanical perspective.
Not so easy to swap from a financial perspective. Damn, that thing is expensive.
-Tim-
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
at $2600 for the frameset, it cost more than Trek checkpoint, Specialized Diverge, Canyon Grail, Giant Revolt, I simply trust the QC and R&D of these big brands more than someone came from nowhere with limited composite engineering experience. But hey if you want to spend $2600 for a generic T800 frame with cool paintjob, go for it.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#25
Senior Member
Looks good but I have an issue with tiny companies like these charging thousands for a frame made in China for a couple hundred bucks. You pay a premium to the big guys because 5 years from now it's pretty much guaranteed they will be around and you get warranty. With small shops like these it's never a guarantee. If anything nowadays you are more likely to succeed selling a great affordable frame vs an expensive one.