Gallery: Flaanimal 5.0 original Tribute

Flaanimal 1.0 was first created in 2015. 17 development framesets were made with various tubing specs, and then distributed to Rodeo team members who opted in to the project. We took what we learned on 1.0, eventually made only a couple of follow-up 2.0 frames, and ultimately launched the bike publicly with the 3.0 frameset. Our tribute 5.0 is based on this exact first 1.0 build below. This bike is now sold, but we’re posting this gallery so that it’s story is recorded here on our website.

Our much loved Flaanimal steel bike platform began development in 2015 with the 1.0 frameset. Never sold publicly, the 1.0 was offered to Rodeo team members on a testing basis. We collected feedback on ride and function from those initial bikes and iterated non-stop from that first version to where we are today with 5.0. In the early days of Rodeo we were already deep into our love affair with color. The 1.0 prototype paint design was not only distinctive and unique, but also challenged our idealism about how important color was, because as it turns out, painting a frame with four colors is expensive! With those early frames, the paint cost half as much as the bare frames themselves did. As such, this iconic color scheme didn’t make it into wide production because it would have increased the cost of the bike significantly.

Cut to 2025, 10 years later. We recently added a 1.0 frame to our our archives thanks to a generous owner who donated it. While reviewing it, someone suggested that we create a tribute 5.0 frame with the exact 1.0 livery. We got to work on it immediately, and we’re so glad we did! As soon as the paint had cured, we were reminded afresh just how good this bike looks. The result is this one of a king 5.0 frameset that is on offer now as a Ready To Roll Rodeo. One rider out there can scoop up this beautiful re-creation, faithful down to the original red seatpost and original Rodeo rim decals. We kitted this bike out with a time-proven Sram Apex groupset, which features excellent braking, ergonomics, and versatile 1×11 gear system. The rest of the build is a premium mix of Rodeo 3.0X carbon wheels, Ritchey components, an ssSilk custom painted suspension seatpost, 45mm Vittoria Mezcal tires, and a handmade Italian Selle Repente ultralight saddle.