Passoni Nova Gravel Gravel Frame

Love at First Ride with the Passoni Nova Gravel

The Passoni Nova Gravel is easy to fall in love with. For one thing, Passoni already makes our job easier by positioning this officially as an entry-level gravel bike. Such honesty is rare in an industry where everything has to be promoted as the latest and greatest. But it’s also surprising since even industry veterans of 30 years will go weak in the knees at the thought of owning such a fantastic gravel bike like the Nova Gravel.

Made from Columbus Spirit HSS triple butted steel tubing, the Passoni Nova Gravel focuses on comfort and stability without ignoring the snappy responsiveness that gives us such a buzz when riding dropbar bikes. One of the many joys frame builders have when working with Columbus tubing is the almost inexhaustible choices they have for just how the tubes are drawn and what variety of thickness and shapes that can offer. So for instance, the top tube and seat tube are 31.7mm bi-oval, while the downtube is 44mm drop-profiled. That combination gives the front end the rigidity it needs without forgetting that this bike should also be comfortable too, enough for long hours on gravel.

The Customized Columbus Futura Cross Fork in the Nova Gravel

They have made the dropouts from a shell-shaped 316 stainless steel as well for durability and longevity, while the CNC machined aluminum replaceable hanger will make your life easier if you are ever traveling with your bike and want to remove that piece so that a baggage handler doesn’t snap it off. Using the Columbus Futura Cross fork customized for Passoni will help the handling remain stable and predictable while absorbing the road chatter before it reaches your hands. The CNC’d stainless steel 316 bottom bracket with BSA treading will make sure that it is doing its bit in the power transfer department.

Available in six sizes, the Passoni Nova Gravel makes great use of Passoni’s extensive experience in making custom frames. So they have quite a catalogue of geometries that has allowed them to extrapolate and devise what geos have worked best over the years. Interestingly, if you are a smaller rider and have had trouble finding off the peg gravel frames small enough for you, the Nova Gravel’s smallest size is a 48 that measures 44mm seat tube and 49.4 at the top tube. With a 74.5° seat tube, you should feel nice and snappy when you get out of the saddle and don’t have to compromise on just how short you want your stem. Similarly, the largest size is well designed for the bigger riders who often feel under-represented by designers as well.

The Passoni Nova Gravel is a steel gravel bike that has been designed to make even the hardcore lifelong cyclist have a huge smile on their face for every ride.

Also check 3T Gravel & CX Bikes.