https://www.nuabikes.com/

In recent times I’ve toured on a steel Co-Motion Pangea with a Rohloff hub (The Americas Ride) and a Hilite Titanium with 18-speed Pinion gear touring bike (The Rockies Ride).

The beast for the 2026 North/Eastern Europe Ride is a NUA brand titanium ‘Terra’ Gravel Bike with a 12-speed Pinion Drive and Gates belt drive.

This is the ultimate touring machine, custom made in Spain by Roberto and his team.

Why get the 12 speed and not the 18? It is lighter and the range is almost as good (600% as opposed to 636%). I have had the 18 speed and was clicking over gears so having 12 is fine and less shifting.

What if the belt breaks? Carry a spare. Carry two. They weigh nothing. In the Americas I had a belt break after 8,000km. I put a replacement on for the next 10,000km.

What if the Pinion fails out in the middle of nowhere? Could happen. Just hasn’t for me (Rockies top to bottom and Europe)

TECH SPECS ON THE TERRA’ NUA:

Titanium Gr.9 Ti-3Al-2,5V Hand brushed finish Oversized tubing.
Tire clearance 76mm-584 (27,5″ 3″ PLUS) and 61mm-622 (29″ 2,4″) // Belt port //
FORK NUA Ti-FORK Type B SEGMENTED // Titanium Gr.9 TI-3Al-2,5V Oversized tubing hub wire (right blade) // Hand brushed finish

HEADSET Chris King i7 Tapered ZS44 EC44 (Red)
GEARING Pinion C1.12 Gearbox // Speeds 12// Overall Ratio: 600% //
SHIFTER Pilot Supershifter: special rotary shifter installed on the bar tops
BRAKES HYBRID: Hydraulic caliper actuated by cable:
Juintech hybrid GT-P Post Mount 4 Pistons (Black)
Avid Mechanical levers (adjustable pull)
Compressionless cable housing
Shimano Deore SM-RT66 160 mm 6B rotor
Shimano Deore SM-RT66 160 mm 6B rotor

TRANSMISSION Gates CarbonDrive CDX Hi-Performance Belt (C-C=462mm)
Front Sprocket: Gates CarbonDrive CDX Hi-
Gates CarbonDrive CDX Rear Sprocket=30T Stainless
Gates CarbonDrive CDX Hi-Performance Belt=115T
CRANKS Pinion CNC L=TBDmm (165mm/170mm/175mm)

TIRES Schwalbe G-ONE Allround Snakeskin 2,8″/70mm
TUBES Schwalbe presta SV21 X 2
RIMS DT Swiss XM481 30mm inner (ETRTO 584/27,5″)
SPOKES DT Swiss Competition Butted (Black) + DT
REAR HUB Pinion H3R Hybrid (DT Swiss)
AXLES Robert Axle Project.