Tony Karklins: Creating Something That Would Turn Heads

How do you build a bicycle manufacturing company that attempts to breakaway from the current state of brand integrity and authenticity in the industry? Take decades of experience from world-class designers, engineers and product development minds entrenched in the bike business and turn it upside down.

After spending three decades working in the bicycle industry from fixing flats at a local shop to serving as the North American Manager of Orbea, Tony Karklins wanted to create something that would turn heads. The industry that Tony grew up in used to be about creativity and truly unique products produced by each and every brand, but that’s no longer true, and he saw an opportunity to re-ignite this passion in his associates. Not just a brand, but a revolutionary bicycle manufacturing process that will change the game forever.

Forging a new path is never easy or the simplest solution, but fueled by three incredible minds with a deep history in the cycling industry, HIA Velo and Allied Cycle Works have landed. Formed as a partnership between Tony Karklins, Sam Pickman (11-year veteran of Specialized’s engineering department) and Douglas Zell (founder of Intelligentsia Coff-ee and longtime cyclist), the talent is unequivocally evident.

When the Montreal based Guru Cycles shut down their production facilities last year, Tony was quick to purchase their assets and began moving the equipment to Little Rock in order to start up shop. The ultimate goal? Creating the premiere USA domestic carbon fiber bicycle.

Over the past year, they’ve farmed the additional expertise necessary and acquired the machinery, technology and appropriately outfitted facilities in Little Rock, Arkansas to create carbon fiber bicycles not just assembled in America, but built from the ground up. And stunningly beautiful to boot.

The journey is only the beginning for this “breakaway brand” in an industry that sees so much cookie-cutter technology and processes. “We put our hearts and souls into every single Allied Cycle Works build, with complete and total transparency at our Arkansas-based facility.” Tony and the team invite you to visit them, to see behind the scenes and most importantly to be apart of their effort to create change for the good of bicycle manufacturing.

We invite you to come ride with the ALLIED Team, hear their story and join them on the journey to domestic, carbon fiber bicycle manufacturing greatness. Follow our journey at www.alliedcycleworks.com