Raw. Pink. Bold.
The color was Tom’s idea—and it really says it all. The frame is raw, untreated, and authentic, the material left just as it is. The fork, on the other hand, is bright pink. This isn’t a coincidence, but a deliberate choice: the two colors are intentional contrasts that, when combined, create what makes this bike unique—calm and loud at the same time.
Why Pinion and why SmartShift?
For a trip from Leipzig to Tokyo, you don’t need a drivetrain that requires constant maintenance. You need one that works reliably—no matter what comes your way.
The Pinion C1.12i SmartShift is fully housed within the bottom bracket shell. Protected, low-maintenance, and completely unaffected by the outside world. Twelve gears, electronically shifted. No derailleur, no exposed mechanics, no chain lube. Plus a Gates CDX belt drive—quiet, durable, low maintenance.
Same principle for the lighting: SON29 S hub dynamo with SONLadelux, Allygn Edelmüh rear light—small but with plenty of brightness. No rechargeable batteries, no dead batteries, no stress. With this lighting setup, the day can easily stretch into the night.
And one more detail that hardly anyone knows: The TRP Hywire shift levers can be shifted from either side—left or right. Technically possible and a little-known insider tip. For Tom, this means maximum flexibility at the handlebars.
The wheels.
Built by Munro Wheels—a small wheel manufacturer east of Dresden. Handbuilt, every single one, by someone who knows what they’re doing and takes the time a wheel like this deserves. Definitely not an assembly-line product.
Now it gets nerdy, because for this veloheld.iconX Pinion, that means: Astral Wanderlust rims, SON29 S hub dynamo, DT Swiss / Pinion H3 Hybrid hub, Sapim CX-Ray spokes. Plus Schwalbe G-One Overland Pro in 50 mm—wide enough for everything that happens between here and Tokyo.
Linie 26.
Tom calls his project “Line 26.” From Leipzig to Tokyo, across the globe, by bike—because that’s just the kind of thing Tom would do. This isn’t his first adventure. He’s cycled around the Baltic Sea, across Europe, and his veloheld has always been by his side.
Anyone who knows Tom knows: He’s not doing this because he has to. He just sets off—it’s always been that way.
We’re along for the ride and we’re excited. Follow Tom’s journey: → linie26.com and, of course, on Tom’s Instagram as well as on our Instagram channel. We’ll keep you updated.
Questions about the build or your own custom bike? Just write us.
