INTROAnyone looking for a bike that requires as little maintenance as possible when it comes to the drivetrain will, sooner or later, end up with a Pinion. Twelve gears housed within the bottom bracket, plus a low-maintenance Gates belt instead of a chain. That’s exactly how this veloheld.iconX Pinion, in frame size L, is set up. It’s fitted with Schwalbe G-One R Pro tyres in 50 mm – which is quite a statement for a gravel bike. But let’s take a closer look at the bike.

What the Pinion in everyday life really changes

The Pinion C1.12i is completely sealed within the bottom bracket. This means no mud, no road salt and no dust can get in. There’s no rear derailleur that could come off if you take a bit of a tumble in the woods. And because it’s fitted with a low-maintenance Gates CDX belt at the rear, the whole issue of chain maintenance is a thing of the past. No oil, no black chain marks on your calves, and no need to re-lubricate after every ride in the rain.
Then there’s the gear range. Twelve gears, all evenly spaced. That might sound unspectacular at first, but it makes a really noticeable difference, especially when you’re out cycling for long periods. With the Pinion, every gear change is the same size, so you can keep pedalling at your own rhythm the whole time.

Smart.Shift

Gear changes are made electronically and smartly via the TRP Hywire lever. A single press of a button and the gear is engaged, even when stationary at traffic lights or if you’ve had to coast downhill and forgot to change down beforehand.
But the best bit is Pre.Select: The system shifts gears whilst you’re coasting and not pedalling at all. So, at the end of a descent or before a tight bend, the right gear is already engaged before you start pedalling again. Absolutely brilliant!

Beetle Juice with Gold

The colour is called Beetle Juice and has a glossy finish. It’s a deep dark green that shifts towards olive and sometimes almost bronze, depending on the light. You can see this really beautifully in the photos taken in the evening sun. It’s complemented by gold detailing and a steel fork in the same colour as the frame. Gold on dark green works so well here because both shades are warm.
To match, there’s a Brooks B17 in Honey and Brooks handlebar tape in the same colour. Thinking of the saddle and handlebars as a pair – that’s the sort of little detail that makes a bike something special.

Light, which one only sees, when it shines

At the front, a SON Edelux II in black is mounted on the fork, with power supplied by the SON hub dynamo in the front wheel. It’s laced into DT Swiss G 540 rims, whilst at the rear there’s a Pinion H3.R hub. And at the rear, it looks really smart: the rear light is integrated into the seat post clamp. No bracket, no cable loops, nothing sticking out.

Out into the woods

Exactly that is what also the Schwalbe G-One R Pro in 50 mm. Together with the encapsulated gearbox and the remaining components make it absolutely clear that this gravel bike: I want to head out into the woods and onto the trails!

What do you think of the bike?

What do you think of this beautiful gravel bike?Do you like it as much as we do? Would you change anything? We are looking forward to your comments!
P.S.: Would you also like such a dream bike? Then get in touch with us with your ideas and we will soon present your bike here.