Meet Aliah Eichinger: From Olympic Slopestyle to Just Riding for the Joy of It
We're thrilled to officially welcome Aliah Eichinger to the BlackHeart family 🖤
Aliah Eichinger has already lived a few lives. Federal Police Officer. Business Administration student. 2022 Beijing Olympian in ski slopestyle and big air. And now, the newest name on the BlackHeart roster.
But ask her about the Olympics and she'll tell you a different story than you'd expect — not one about chasing podiums, but about what came after she stopped.
The Pivot
Aliah spent most of her life chasing performance in competitive skiing. Results, training blocks, the whole machine. When that career ended, she had what she calls a reality check — a look behind the curtain at what professional sports actually looks like, stripped of the highlight reel.
What she found on the other side was endurance sports, and something she hadn't expected: doing something purely for herself.
"I love pushing my own limits, but without anyone telling me how I should do it," she says. "The results matter far less than the process — it's about the feeling and the joy the sport gives me."
Why BlackHeart
Aliah lives in Innsbruck, a city where cycling culture runs performance-driven — watts, carbon frames, the pressure to look the part. She'd already done the pro thing once. She wasn't interested in doing it again.
That's exactly where BlackHeart comes in.
"BlackHeart reminds people that cycling doesn't have to be about any of that," she says. "You don't need to race the Tour de France to belong on a bike."
It's a mindset she connects with beyond her own riding, too. She points to another athlete on the BlackHeart roster, Max Jolliffe, as an example of what she means: endurance sports aren't reserved for people with the perfect coach, the perfect setup, or the smoothest path in. Aliah's drawn to what she calls the "unperfect athletes" — the ones who show up because they love it, not because they had it easy.
"Passion, consistency, and love for the sport can take you further than anything else."
Discovering the Bike
Aliah describes herself as a self-proclaimed bike newbie. Between the cost of cycling and a career fully committed to skiing, owning a bike was never really in the picture — until now.
What's caught her off guard is how much ground a bike covers compared to running. A single ride can take her somewhere entirely new while still delivering the physical challenge she's chasing.
More than that, the bike has become balance. Skiing was demanding on her body — injury-prone, and it took a toll over the years. Cycling is where she builds endurance and recovers, without it just being rehab.
"It gives me another reason to be outside, explore new places, and share adventures with friends. I'm still learning, still discovering — and that's honestly one of the most exciting parts about it."
What's Next
Aliah's already checked her first 100K off the list, finishing a race through the Colorado desert. More trail ultras and road marathons are on the calendar, along with a personal project: running from Innsbruck to Oktoberfest...just because!
Beyond that, she's not forcing an outcome. Bigger swings — like The Speed Project, or running across an entire country — are on her radar. So is seeing how far the bike can take her, literally and figuratively.
"I just want to keep saying yes to things that come up and see what's possible."
Aliah doesn't stay still for long, be sure to follow her: @aliaheichinger and BlackHeart: @BlackHeartBikeCo on Instagram to keep up with the adventures ahead!
Built for Wherever the Road Takes Her
Aliah rides two aluminum builds from the BlackHeart lineup, the Road AL and Gravel AL, chosen for the range her riding demands: road miles around Innsbruck and trail time further afield.
Built for Every Terrain
Endurance athletes need bikes that hold up across changing conditions, not just one type of ride. Aluminum frames deliver the durability to handle unpredictable terrain and the confidence to keep pushing without worrying about the frame.
Performance Without the Premium Price Tag
BlackHeart's aluminum bikes match the ride quality of premium carbon options while staying more accessible, and more forgiving when the ride doesn't go to plan.
A Sustainable Choice
Aluminum is 100% recyclable with no performance tradeoff. At end of life, BlackHeart frames can be returned to the supply chain instead of a landfill, a detail that matters to riders who think beyond just the ride.
Aliah's BlackHeart Setup
Road AL
Race-ready geometry with fully integrated cable routing, built for the road miles that make up Aliah's endurance training around Innsbruck and further afield.
Key Features:
- Aero Kammtail downtube for efficiency
- Fully integrated cable routing
- Race-ready geometry
- 32mm tire clearance
Gravel AL
Endurance geometry and 50mm tire clearance for the mixed-terrain adventures that unlock Aliah's adventures over any surface.
Key Features:
- 50mm tire clearance for any terrain
- Endurance geometry for all-day comfort
- Stability built for loose, unpredictable surfaces
Make It Yours
Every BlackHeart bike is built to order in Truckee, California, with a choice of 137 Cerakote colors. Just as Aliah rides for herself and not for a scoreboard, your BlackHeart bike is built around what fits your riding, not a category.
Ready to Start Your Own Cycling Story?
Road Collection → Race-ready geometry with responsive handling
Gravel Collection → Adventure-ready bikes built for exploration
