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Rodeo Labs Launches New Flaanimal 6 Ti, a Stand Alone Do-Everything Bicycle

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti hero(Photos / Rodeo Labs)
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Colorado bicycle adventure specialists, Rodeo Labs, just released a new addition to their super-versatile Flaanimal line. Today we meet the new Flaanimal 6 Ti, and it’s ready for whatever you want to throw at it. Don’t forget, the Flaanimal won the 2021 Tour Divide, so yeah, the platform is a goer.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti Tour Divide winner
(Photos / Rodeo Labs)

I’m kinda excited about this one, so let’s get right to it.

Flaanimal 6 Ti Frame Features

Headtube

Rodeo Labs loves its new headtube on this frame, saying that it “sets the tone for the overall design philosophy”. It uses 44mm press-in headset cups, is machined out of titanium into an hourglass shape, and supports integrated routing. Rodeo Labs won’t promise that it’s aero, but the fact that it looks more aero is a-ok with them.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti seat cluster

Distinctive Silhouette

The 6 Ti has some frame features that help it stand out on its own. It uses a custom-profiled, full-length top tube, that has an elegant taper as it gets to the seat tube. It then “hugs” the seat tube for a clean blended seat tube cluster, with nicely sculpted seat stays.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti KEG BB

Keg Bottom Bracket

Rodeo Labs calls the 6 Ti’s improved T47 bottom bracket shell, The Keg. It kinda looks like a keg, with its increased diameter compared to the standard-size bearing seat. This CNC-machined titanium BB shell is designed to create space for internal routing while not interfering with the crankset spindle. Plus it uses a “bowtie-shaped passthrough” to aid in dropper routing.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti bottom braket

No Yoke

Unlike the Flaanimal 5 Ti, the 6 Ti doesn’t feature a CNC-machined dropped yoke design. Rodeo Labs decided to keep a more “classicly-shaped chainstay cluster”. They incorporated a 3d printed “no-yoke” design, with seamless tube shaping, expert hand finishing, and fully internal shift/brake routing.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti rear dropouts

Lock Jaw 2

Moving on from the Flaanimal 5 slider dropout system, Rodeo Labs created a new slider for the 6 Ti. With the invention of the UDH, it was time to design an updated and improved slider. The 6 Ti slider removes unwanted mass as well as makes it ready for new rear derailleur tech. The Lock-Jaw 2 pulls inspiration from the pioneering slider concepts of the TD4. Some of the features of the new Lock-Jaw 2 are:

  • Native UDH Compatibility
  • Standard hanger Compatibility
  • Singlespeed Compatibility
  • 30mm of slider range
  • Future Proof

Routing Choices

If you read some of the comments on Bikerumor, you’ll see that integrated routing is not for everyone. So, with that in mind, Rodeo Labs made sure that the new 6 Ti had three choices for cable/hose routing. They are fully integrated, semi-integrated, and traditional routing.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti curved stays

Tire Clearance

The Flaanimal 5 Ti could just fit a 29 x 2.1″ which is commendable in the tire clearance dept. With the 6 Ti’s removal of the dropped yoke, the redesigned sliders, and the re-shaped stays, it can comfortably match the 5 Ti’s tire clearance. The new 6 Ti frame, with the sliders in the very rear position, can fit a 29 x 2.1″, and a 650b x 2.4″ with no need for a “wide” crankset. Depending on your tire casing choice and rim selection, you may be able to push that a bit.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti dynamo routing
Dynamo port for rear light on the top left seat stay

Dynamo Ports for the Win

This feature is for all of you commuters, ultra-racers, or anyone who enjoys the worry-free lighting experience that a dynamo system offers. The new 6 Ti frame includes two non-drive side seat stay ports with the upper port near the set tube cluster The lower port is down by the rear drop out. There is a similar port up under the top tube.

The Flaanimal 6 Ti Geometry

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti frameset

The 6 Ti has two geometry options for riders with different fit priorities. Rodeo Labs are calling them Standard Geometry and Extended Geometry. They said, “We will allow people to order either version of the geometry, and we will keep an eye on what is popular ongoing”.

Standard Geo

Our standard geometry is the Flaanimal geometry that everyone who owns one knows and loves. The geometry is largely shared across every bike we make and has proven itself versatile and predictable across genres. This is true quiver-killer geometry, ideal for using the bike from road to gravel, to fast-paced ultra riding.

Frame size49 cm52 cm54 cm56 cm58 cm61 cm
Seat tube (C-T)445488508528548578
Top tube length (effective)515528540563580605
Chain stay length435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)
Seat tube angle74.5°74°74°73°73°73°
Bottom bracket drop656565656565
Head tube length95112142157172202
Head tube angle69.5°70°71°72°72°72°
Reach372375378384396413
Stack516534566586600629
Fork length395395395395395395
Fork rake505050454545
Front center597602607604621647
Wheelbase1024 (variable)1029 (variable)1033 (variable)1031 (variable)1048 (variable)1073 (variable)
Standover height at center of top tube, 700 x 40mm740769795814831859
Dimensions listed in millimeters and degrees unless otherwise indicated.

Extended Geo

Our extended geometry is a new option and increases the stack on each frame size for a more upright riding position. We also slackened the head tube angle slightly for more relaxed handling. The handling changes will be very subtle on this version but are more suited for a rider who is touring or riding ultra-distance events with their bike.

Frame size49 cm52 cm54 cm56 cm58 cm61 cm
Seat tube (C-T)445488508528548578
Top tube length (effective)515528540563580605
Chain stay length435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)435 (variable)
Seat tube angle74.5°74°74°73°73°73°
Bottom bracket drop656565656565
Head tube length115132162177192222
Head tube angle69°69°70°71°71°71°
Reach367371373379392408
Stack532548581601615644
Fork length395395395395395395
Fork rake505050454545
Front center604613618614632658
Wheelbase1030 (variable)1040 (variable)1044 (variable)1042 (variable)1059 (variable)1085 (variable)
Standover height at center of top tube, 700 x 40mm748777803821838867
Dimensions listed in millimeters and degrees unless otherwise indicated.

I Built my Own 6 Ti For a Price

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 6 Ti green full bike
Not my virtual build

Being that the new Flaanimal 6 Ti has so many choices to choose from there is no basic retail price for the frameset (that I could see on their site). So, I thought it would be fun to “build my own” and see what I would spend.

You can build yours here.

I kept it simple and tried to keep from choosing all of the options in an attempt to keep the price reasonable. Here’s what I picked…

  • Frame size: 58cm
  • Geometry choice: Extended
  • Build choice: Shimano GRX 820 1x
  • Add-ons: Dynamo Hub and headlight
  • Price: $8,185.20

To get all the details and to get your own Flaanimal 6 Ti, go to the link below!

Rodeo-Labs.com

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9 Comments
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SomeGuy
SomeGuy
20 days ago

Why is the bottom bracket so damn high?

Mr Pink
Mr Pink
20 days ago
Reply to  SomeGuy

Exactly. And the steep HTA on the bigger sizes is a very dated concept. This is like a cyclocross bike that fits 2.1s.

It started off promising but again a lot of marketing and not much innovation. Just a me too bike with a custom paint option.

DOdontDREAM
DOdontDREAM
20 days ago
Reply to  SomeGuy

We sometimes have an *idea* of what an ideal geometry is, but then there are the people who get out there and weld together different geometries and ride them, and test them, and validate what works and what doesn’t. I trust the interns that get out there and do that work versus those who dream up *ideal* geometries.

Last edited 20 days ago by DOdontDREAM
Ben
Ben
20 days ago

The top tube looks like what T-lab has been doing for awhile on their gravel frame.

Rick Flair
Rick Flair
20 days ago
Reply to  Ben

Looks like what was on British steel bikes in the late 20s onwards, it’s not a new idea

rodegeek
rodegeek
20 days ago

I gotta offer an occasional nitpick of wording/grammar. The phrase “Stand Alone” is part of the headline for this story. What is that supposed to mean? It does nothing to add to my understanding of this bike.

Tom
Tom
20 days ago

looks like a nicely configured bike generally, but have to ask, are people really adjusting the rear drop outs? Just seems like a LOT of added complication/weight/expense instead of just committing to one length and dealing with very small compromises.

Ehm Ess
Ehm Ess
19 days ago

Nothing here to make me want to change from my Nordest Kutxo

Kay
Kay
17 days ago

The price for the frameset is actually quite well hidden. I found it in the options list: 3500$

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