Rodeo Labs just released the Traildonkey 3.0, a “bicycle without a category.” The latest incarnation of their premier do-all platform gets clearance for 27.5 x 2.25″ tires, added frame strength, and loads of bikepacking-friendly mounts for carrying gear…

  • Quick Highlights
  • Angles (LG): 72° Head tube, 72.5° Seat tube
  • Chainstay: 435mm
  • Bottom Bracket: T47 Threaded
  • Dropouts (F/R): 15 x 100 / 12 x 142mm
  • Seatpost Diameter: 27.2mm
  • Max tire size: 27.5 x 2.25″ / 29 x 2.0″

Originally conceived in 2014, Traildonkey is Rodeo Labs’ bicycle without a category—based on the idea that “a bike should be neither good nor bad at anything, instead, it should be a capable tool for testing yourself and proving your own mettle.” In a nutshell, Colorado-based Rodeo Labs claims Traildonkey 3.0’s abilities range from pavement to singletrack to gravel, and from epic races to weekend bikepacking trips.

Now in its third major iteration, Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0 has more tire clearance, additional mounts, and a stronger frame to match Rodeo Labs’ ambitions. “While we wanted to create a more capable bike, we did not however want to turn Traildonkey into an overbuilt, drop bar mountain bike. We wanted to stay true to the original principles of the bike which required that it feel at home in the intensity of a competitive road group ride, a 200-mile gravel race, a winding ribbon of singletrack, or a multi-day bikepacking trip,” states Stephen Fitzgerald, founder of Rodeo Labs.

Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0
  • Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0
  • Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0
  • Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0
Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0

The biggest changes to the Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0 are at its rear triangle. From the seat tube rearward, its been completely redesigned to simplify the dropout design, tweak brake and derailleur housing routing, add flat brake mounts, and last but not least, increase tire clearance. Rodeo Labs claims that Traildonkey 3.0 fits 2.25″ (57mm) tires with 650b rims that have a ~25mm internal width (IW). And with 700c rims with a ~24mm IW, it can clear 2.0″ (50mm) tires.

Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0

Traildonkey 3.0 also features extensive mounting options suited for bikepacking. The upper seat stays have rack mount eyelets just above the rear dropouts and the main triangle features three pairs of bottle mounts; two inside and one beneath the down tube. The top tube also gets a pair to attach a bolt-on top tube bag or a standard water bottle cage. In addition, the Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0 also gets the new Spork 2.0 carbon fork, which you may have seen in our Utility Forks Gear Index earlier this week. The Spork 2.0 was built in tandem with the TD3 and matches its tire clearances exactly. The 2.0 version of the Spork also has integrated dynamo hub wiring, a headlight mount, USB stem cap integration, mid-blade bottle cage mounts, two axle eyelets for fenders, and an optional offset eyelet hardware kit (available in February). All this makes it capable of running a rando rack, low rider racks, fenders, or any combination thereof. And the Spork 2.0 allows for 12.5kg of gear.

  • Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0
  • Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0
Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0

Here are the full specs for the Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0:

  • Frame Material Toray T800 carbon fiber
  • Place of manufacture Taiwan
  • Frameset rider weight limit 250lbs, 113kg
  • Frame weight (raw) 58cm 1350g, 56cm 1300g, 54cm 1250g, 52cm 1200g; Hardware 70g
  • Routing options Mechanical, Di2, eTap; Convertible or cappable endcaps
  • Brake Standard Flat Mount disc brakes; Post mount adapter compatible
  • Bottom Bracket T47 threaded 68mm bottom bracket shell
  • Seat Post 27.2mm
  • Seat Clamp 31.8mm (6066 aluminum clamp included)
  • Through Axles 12 x 142mm rear; 15 x 100 front; optional front 12mm conversion kit
  • Headset 1-1/8″ to 1.5″ tapered integrated cups (FSA Orbit ITA included)
  • Fork Rodeo Spork 2.0 carbon fork
  • Fork offset/rake 45mm
  • Fork length 396mm
  • Fork eyelets 2 mid-blade eyelets; 2 eyelets near axle; optional offset eyelet kit
  • Fork crown bolt Not included; 85mm length recommended for lights/racks
  • Fork max load 12.5kg total loaded fork weight (independent of rider weight)
  • Fork weight Average 600g
  • Dynamo routing Internal; frame and fork; front and rear light, USB stem cap
  • Dropper post Full internal routing
  • Drivetrain 2x or 1x drivetrain compatible; removable front derailleur mount
  • Crankset Max 50t/34t 2x chainring; max 53t 1x chainring
  • Tire clearance 650b Min tire 40mm; Max tire 57mm / 2.25″
  • Tire clearance 700c Min tire 25mm; Max tire 50mm / 2.0″
  • Derailleur hanger Aluminum, replaceable
  • Di2 battery position Downtube, custom mount (supplied)
  • Fender / Mudguard mounts Frame and fork; max 65mm at 700c; removable seat stay bridge
  • Bottle mounts 2 inside main triangle; 1 under down tube; 1 on top tube; 2 on fork
  • Rack mounts Frame and fork
Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0

Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0 Geometry

There were no geometry changes between Traildonkey 2.0 and Traildonkey 3.0. Note that the bottom bracket on Traildonkey is slightly higher than the standard 70mm BB drop common other bikes in the gravel segment; this trait will be welcome to riders who favor more rugged, off-road terrain. Here’s the full geometry sheet:

Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0 Geometry Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0

The Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 3.0 frameset is available in four color combinations for $2,650 and will start shipping in February. We’re definitely interested in testing one, so keep your eyes out for a full review later this spring. In the meantime, find full details at their website. Also, be sure to check out our complete Gear index of 650B Gravel Plus bikes, including the TD3, as well as our Gear Index of bikepacking-friendly Utility Forks, which includes the Spork 2.0 and others like it.

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