Why use a belt drive on a gravel bike?
Christian is one of the mechanics at veloheld, and he really loves chains—but even he was completely convinced after just a few kilometers on the iconX Pinion that a belt drive simply makes sense on a gravel bike.
The belt drive eliminates exactly what’s annoying about a chain.
No oiling, no rust, no dirty fingers.
The belt runs dry, stays clean, and lasts four to five times as long as a normal chain. Maintenance? Just spray it down with water—that’s it.
The Pinion drivetrain is fully enclosed.
That means: If nothing gets in from the outside, nothing can break. No derailleur hanging loose, no cage that bends. Just ride, whether on asphalt, gravel, or in the rain.
SmartShift – Electronic Shifting in the Forest
The veloheld.iconX Pinion comes with Pinion Smart.Shift—and Christian fell head over heels in love with it after his first ride through the woods. His words, not ours.
Electronic shifting via shift paddles on the handlebars, customizable shifting characteristics, and even speed-dependent automatic shifting are all possible. The battery is located in the down tube and lasts for around 20,000 shifts or about 100 hours of riding—when traveling, you’re guaranteed to find an outlet during that time. So it’s absolutely smart.
Anyone who’s ridden with Smart.Shift once knows exactly what they want afterward. Just ask Christian.
Who is the iconX Pinion designed for?
To be honest: it’s not for everyone. The Pinion gearbox adds a bit of weight—if you want to win a race, you’ll go for something else. But for bike tourists, commuters, and anyone who just wants a bike—one that simply always works—without hassle, without excuses—it’s a total home run.
Customization options are the same as with our other iconX models. There are all kinds of mounting points for bottle cages, racks, fenders, or a top tube bag. Steel or carbon fork, depending on your needs.
The standard color is Beetle Juice—a warm, golden metallic green that’s actually called that and looks just as good. But, as always, you can also choose your own color.
The full interview – now on YouTube
Carsten and Christian sat in the woods and talked about everything you need to know about the veloheld.iconX Pinion—belt vs. chain, SmartShift in practice, customization options, and why this system makes so much sense for bike touring. Check it out—the tea was good, and so was the conversation.
👉 Talk in the Wood Vol. 2 – watch it now on YouTube.
Interested in a veloheld.iconX Pinion? Find out more at veloheld.de—or just drop us a line. We’d be happy to help you find the right setup for you.
