NAHBS Limited Edition ALLROAD
When you ride with Bryan Szykowny, expect to climb hills near your limit followed by a gripping descent of speed and fear and desperation to stay in close proximity to his rear wheel. Bryan only rides fast, and his brain seems to work in similar parallel. A step into his design studio in Sausalito, California, punches your eye sockets with explosive design concepts (literally), and a space only fitting of a creative whose mind is constantly on the move.
We have known and admired the Swiz for 7 years, and have always followed his genius work inside, and outside, the bike industry. His designs have captured the hearts and minds of many, from bikes being ridden and raced around the globe, to art installations scattered in Northern California. So it was a no-brainer for us to commission him to cast the design for our limited edition ALFA for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show.
Swiz is the consummate professional at discovering concepts in-process and stumbling upon happy surprises. The reactions materials have in real life give an infinite amount of possibilities to human creation, and his mind pieces them together like a Rubik’s Cube. While working on the NAHBS design Swiz was messing around with Montana Gold spray cans when the nozzle dried and clogged up, leaving a fade-to-splatter on the frame. This look tickled his fancy, and he conjured the wild idea to use it within the 2019 inline graphics he had already produced for the ALLIED brand. The result is a nice balance of a clean graphic garnished with a messy splatter. Edgy but constrained, using splatter and fade as another way to color block. The colors hint at a split complimentary harmony adding to its buzzy feel and unique look.
This bike brought to life the famous “spice” of Swiznooski, while at the same time allowed us at the ALLIED factory to work within the parameters of the traditional manufacturing and paint processes. Highlights include the all new SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset, custom painted Black Inc bar/stem and seatpost, Enve G23 hoops laced to Chris King R45D Matte Jet hubs, Schwalbe G-One AllRound rubber, Fizik Antares saddle, and Arundel bar tape.
We are thrilled to display this machine all weekend long at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, and will immediately follow up with a limited run of production frames for purchase.
