Every cyclist wants to own a unique one-of-a-kind racing bike, the kind that even the most seasoned of pros would drool over. Thanks to Allied Cycle Works that dream can be realised, the US manufacturer building some of the most drop-dead gorgeous bikes we’ve ever seen
Made in the USA
Over the last two decades a trend has been seen across almost all bicycle manufacturers, with industry bigwigs choosing to close down their domestic factories and outsource production overseas. While the decision may have allowed them to cut costs and increase production, it hasn’t allowed them to keep their souls.
This is something that Tony Karklins, the founder of Allied Cycle Works, wanted to change when he set up his own bike manufacturing company. These bikes weren’t only going to be assembled in the US, they were going to be designed, engineered and manufactured in the US.
They started small, building a tight-knit team of the best designers, engineers and product developers that they could find. The small team has been based in Arkansas since the company’s inception in 2016 and it’s from here that they have designed, manufactured and assembled their unique all-carbon road bikes. In Allied’s own words, their mission is to:
“…build a bicycle company that encourages contribution from all corners of our business with the goal of creating beautiful objects of lasting value in an environment that operates responsibly and openly, and reflects the classic American values of ingenuity and effort.â€
The Allied ethos
Allied Cycle Works pride themselves on individuality, not only with regards to the products they produce, but also in their own production process. You won’t find many similarities with the other big bike brands here, they do it their own way, forging and spearheading their own unique ‘breakaway’ brand. Their deviation from the mainstream ‘sea of sameness’ is something that we can all buy into as bicycle lovers. Karklins perfectly sums this up in one clear quote:
“Why manufacture bicycles yourselves? Why not just make them in Asia like everyone else? My official answer is: it is the right thing to do!â€
Behind the bikes
Since their inception in 2016, Allied Cycle Works have rooted themselves within the trendy, style-conscious cycling community. But it’s not just the mouth-watering aesthetics and customisability that draws people to these bikes, it’s also the premium build quality and unparalleled ride feel.
This is something that Allied pride themselves on, their fundamental aim according to Sam Pickman, their CEO:
“Ultimately a bike that’s fun to ride, totally rips, corners well, sprints well – has overall performance. The bike you immediately feel comfortable on but still feels like a race bike. It needs to be stiff, it needs to track; but when you get up close, it has the look and feel of something higher quality than ever before – a bike that stands the test of time.â€
Standing the test of time is certainly something that they have encapsulated in their bikes, the timeless aesthetics and high-quality components making these bikes the kind that you won’t want to replace in a hurry, if ever.
As a UK partner of Allied Cycle Works, we offer a wide range of their bespoke bike builds, both on our website and in store. From the original Alfa, Allied’s first ever bike project, to the new Alfa Allroad, their most ambitious project yet, you’ll find them all here at Bicycle Chain.
Be sure to keep up with the blog over the next few weeks to read all about each one of these fantastic models.
If you’re struggling to wait until then and want to see more drop-dead gorgeous bikes right now, then why not head over to Allied’s page on our website or, better yet, come down to one of our stores and try one of these beauties out for yourself. We guarantee you’ll fall in love.
