The final build delivering before the long holiday weekend at HQ goes to Patrick. At 6’7” he’s the shortest rider to ever be fit on a Rodeo Labs, and that’s why we custom made this 45cm Flaanimal 5 for him rolling on a one-off set of 20” wheels. It’s crazy how the proportions make it look like a 61cm frame and 700c wheels, but TRUST, it’s definitely not. Definitely.

When Patrick isn’t wearing earth toned shots, shirt, and Birks, he fights crime in a Batman suit on the weekends, which is why his Flaanimal is a naked black frame with gloss black decals rolling on gloss black rims with satin laser etched graphics. So dark, much knight. Wow.

Happy New Bike Day, Patrick! Thanks for letting us build you this Rodeo!

#flaanimal
#rodeospork
#rodeowheels
#newbikeday

At $150, our Explorts bibshorts aren’t inexpensive, but with the most trendy global brands now hitting $350 and above, it’s enough to make you wonder if the trendy ones really are that much better. Are they? Well, no, they aren’t, but we as consumers have been trained to assume value and quality based on price. If something is expensive, it HAS TO BE BETTER, right? Right? When it comes to shorts it isn’t that simple. For sure there are higher quality fabrics, superior chamois, and better cuts. But 300% the cost does not mean the short is 300% better made, better fitting, or better performing. There is a point where more money may buy you more prestige, but it will not get you a measurably better short - beyond feeling cool or exclusive.

It’s been five years since we began work on our own shorts. Just like with our bikes, we were simply curious about what we would make if nothing about design or materials was off limits. We went deep down the rabbit hole of materials, construction, sublimation, sewing, cutting, and pattern design. Did we make the best shorts we could on our first try? Not at all, but they were decent, and a great foundation to build off. Even those first prototypes went straight to work in international ultra racing before they were ever sold. We tweaked non stop and step by step made them better. 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 2.0, Expedition. Each iteration takes what we’ve learned out riding and brings it back to be crafted into the next version. If you had a 1.0 set they were good, but not nearly as good as a 2.0. So much has improved over time.

We skimp on nothing on our shorts except for the packaging, because we aren’t going to put time and money into pretty wrappers that are instantly thrown away. Everything else in the garment is world class: Italian chamois, Italian recycled fabrics, dyed fabrics that last longer, thoughtful details and features, and a fit that disappears when you’re riding. After all this, we do some math and price the shorts at $150 to hit a sustainable sales margin and have money in the tank to keep evolving and improving.

Adventure proven. High quality. Great value. Supremely comfortable. That’s RDO LAB.

#rodeoexplorts