Champion Gravel Bike Beefs Up: Allied Cycle Works Goes Big on ABLE Upgrades

One of gravel biking’s most sought-after rides just got a bit chunkier. Today, Allied Cycle Works releases a redesign of its ABLE Gravel bike, which quickly became a hit after two Allied-sponsored athletes rode it to victory in Kansas’ Unbound Gravel event in 2019.

That was the bike’s debut, and it’s only become more popular since, with pros like Colin Strickland also riding the carbon-fiber bike to podium wins.

The latest version of the gravel bike accommodates wider tires than ever before. It accepts up to 57mm tires (that’s a whopping 2.25 inches), further advancing the bike’s ability to traverse rough terrain. (The previous iteration accepted tires up to 47mm.)

Other changes include a redesign of the frame geometry, which now dispenses with the elevated drive-side chain stay that made previous iterations instantly recognizable. It’s also significantly lighter, and comes with a pretty neat storage compartment on the down tube.

And while the ABLE Gravel is still an investment, Allied Cycle Works makes and assembles its bikes right here in the USA at its Arkansas headquarters. So, it’s not a bad choice for anyone looking to avoid some of the chaos surrounding President Trump’s tariffs, which are already causing prices to skyrocket throughout the industry.

ABLE Gravel: The Details

It’s rare to find carbon-fiber bikes made in the USA, especially bespoke gravel designs like the ABLE Gravel.

The latest version of the bike comes with a fully integrated internal cabling setup. Combined with ALLIED’s ST03 adjustable stem, the new rig allows riders to swap between two rise options — without needing to recable the bike.

There’s also a magnetic-latching internal storage compartment. Separated from the bottle cage mounting area, this new compartment saves weight versus under-the-bottle designs, according to Allied.

The ABLE will be available as a frameset or in three premium builds: SRAM RED XPLR AXS, SRAM FORCE AXS MULLET, and SRAM RIVAL AXS MULLET. Details include:

• SRAM RED XPLR AXS ($11,500): This top-shelf build has wireless electronic shifting, Industry Nine SOLIX SL AR40c carbon wheels, and featherweight components. This race-day bike weighs a claimed 16.25 pounds.
• SRAM FORCE AXS MULLET ($8,400): Riders can also opt for a 1x drivetrain, wide-range mountain cassette, and Industry Nine 1/1 Ultralite Carbon Gravel wheels. This one aims for high performance on both flatland speed and steep climbs.
• SRAM RIVAL AXS MULLET ($6,775): This model comes with SRAM’s Rival AXS drivetrain and Industry Nine’s 1/1 Ultralite Carbon wheels.
• ABLE FRAMESET ($4,500): Finally, the ABLE Frameset includes a carbon-fiber build, ST03 stem/headset, and all-new SP02 seat post with independent fore and aft saddle adjustments. 

The bike’s new design also benefited from the input of Allied-sponsored athlete Payson McElveen.

“Being a part of the development of the new ABLE has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” McElveen said in a press release. “I knew this bike would redefine gravel racing from my first test ride a year ago. It delivers a smoother, more confident, and faster ride. The new ABLE makes gravel riding better in every way.”

Allied ABLE Availability

Each ABLE frame is made in Bentonville, Ark., where Allied Cycle Works builds all its “race-proven” carbon bikes.

A truly made-in-America bike usually costs more than the competition. But that could be changing fast in the current economic climate. Trump’s tariffs mean that many bikes — most of which are made overseas — will see steep tax increases passed onto consumers, according to nonprofit PeopleForBikes.

In a context where formerly cheaper options may soon cost twice as much, the $4,500 price tag of the ABLE Gravel may seem more reasonable. It’s available now on the Allied Cycle Works website.