“For the Club’s latest collaboration, we combined with Dirty Kanza winner Colin Strickland and all-American bike manufacturer Allied to create the ultimate gravel bike, complete with a customised paint scheme designed with the man himself.” – Rapha Cycling Club
Note from JOM – Unfortunately, this sweet collaboration is only available to members of Rapha’s Cycling Club.
“Membership of the Rapha Cycling Club comes with access to our most exclusive collaborations. With more and more members heading off-road, we are proud to present two hugely exciting projects. Later in the year, members will have exclusive access to a capsule collection designed for Colin Strickland, but not before we’ve unveiled a special edition of his Kanza-conquering bike.”
“Founded in 2016, Allied’s aim to make the finest bicycles is underpinned by an all-American approach. Every bike is designed and built from the ground up in the United States using only the highest-grade components. Fittingly, Colin’s landmark win at America’s definitive gravel grinder – as well as Amity Rockwell’s in the women’s race at Kanza – was the brand’s greatest success so far.”
“We are delighted to collaborate with Allied to bring RCC members a special edition of the gravel-specific Able frame. A titan among gravel bikes, the Able has a proven track record in races and a unique silhouette with a raised chainstay to allow for extra tyre clearance while keeping the bike light and nimble.”
On top of the Able’s proven performance credentials is a unique, hand-finished paint scheme created with Colin. Fresh off the back of the 100-mile solo breakaway that landed him the win last May, Strickland had a clear vision for the design: “Being from Texas, I had imagined dry, earthy colours that would remind me of the roads I train on at home,” he told us. “The colour striping takes inspiration from geological patterns in rock formations.”
While Colin provided the initial direction, the graphic was brought to life by Rapha designer Jess Money whose Texan connection helped her join the dots on the design. “That link definitely helped on this one,” Jess said. “Working on it took me back to the long road trips and visits to my grandparents in Texas, with big skies and the dry heat.. It was a dream brief for me so the design direction was really intuitive.”
The rock-solid paint scheme features most heavily on the forks of Colin’s bike but his kit customisation doesn’t end there. In defence of his Kanza title, he’ll ride in a special edition Rapha Custom kit with the same geologically-inspired pattern. The full collection will be available exclusively to members, on the eve of the race in May.
By that time, our limited-run Allied Able frames will be long gone. Available only to members, this is the ultimate collaboration between two brands striving to produce the best for gravel riders around the world. Just 100 bikes will be built to be pre-ordered by members on a first-come, first-served basis.
Technical Specifications
- Frame: Allied Able Colin Strickland Special Edition
- Groupset: SRAM Force AXS
- Bar: Easton EC70 AX
- Stem: Easton EC90
- Seatpost: Easton EC70
- Brakes: SRAM Force HRD
- Rotors: Centerline XR
- Wheels: Reynolds ATR 700
- Tyres: Panaracer Gravel King 700c x 43mm
- Bar tape: Arundel
- Cranks: SRAM Force 1 AXS 42t
- Bottom bracket: DUB BSA
- Rear derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle AXS
- Shifters: SRAM Force AXS
- Chain: SRAM X01 Eagle
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1295 Eagle
- Headset: FSA
- Weight: 8.4kg / 18.52lbs
Blah blah blah marketing bs, it’s just a paint job. What is far more interesting …. What did it weigh AFTER the MidSouth race, and what was Colins tire choices on race day as well as race day air pressure? I saw where he had two different tires on a couple days before, but what were they and did he race them or swap again as the rains poured down!
If it were me, I would have run the Panaracer Gravelking Mud – that was my tyre of choice in 2017 at the former Land Run 100. I had no issues with clearance or the mud, just the f’n cold rain, which saw my Castelli Jacket completely fail. Good question on the weight!
He had specialized pathfinder
Blah blah blah it’s just a paint job. What is far more interesting …. What did it weigh AFTER the MidSouth race, and what was Colins tire choices on race day as well as race day air pressure? I saw where he had two different tires on a couple days before, but what were they and did he race them or swap again as the rains poured down!