Test Van Nicholas Rowtag: The noble titanium bike is suitable for bikepacking with numerous attachment options, but can also be tuned for sporty use given its special geometry. In the online configurator it can be set up in a luxurious and price-conscious manner - every version is an individual piece of jewelry with very good driving characteristics.
When the Van Nicholas bike brand was founded in 2006, titanium was an expensive frame material for enthusiasts who valued durability and ride quality over big brand names. But even at that time, a US-made titanium frame easily cost 3.000 euros - unaffordable for many cycling fans and an opportunity for the young Van Nicholas brand to make a name for itself. The Dutch company's high-quality, versatile and, above all, affordable frames quickly became known, and since its takeover by the Accell Group, Van Nicolas has become a fixture on the market for sporty bikes and touring bikes - specializing in the finest bicycle technology at extremely attractive prices.
Van Nicholas Rowtag: Complete bike under 4.000 euros
Sure, a titanium bike is never cheap - but with Shimano GRX 1×11 and Mavic wheelset, a complete Van Nicholas Rowtag is available for just 3.849 euros, with the frame set for self-assembly costing an attractive 2.299 euros. As I said, this is extremely cheap for titanium - and the Dutch frame uses the most modern manufacturing methods and is therefore fascinatingly beautifully designed. The head tube, rear dropouts and bottom bracket area are cast, creating flowing shapes. The input for the shift cable on the right dropout is very elegantly designed - of course it remains unused on the test bike, especially since the bike is built with electronic SRAM Force 2×12. Lasered and engraved logos stand out on the velvety precious metal; all weld seams are finely scaled and evenly executed. Where painted frames get unsightly scratches and blind spots, a titanium frame will only develop a little patina during use - which is of course a big advantage on heavily used gravel bikes.
The test bike, which costs 6.800 euros, is superbly equipped: the lightweight carbon wheelset 303s comes from Zipp, whose 42 WTB tires could be converted to tubeless to save further weight. The handlebars and stem also bear the Zipp logo; The seat post, like the spacers and headset cap and cover, is made of titanium.
In addition to the Nootau bikepacking MTB with a rigid fork, Van Nicholas' Rowtag runs under "Adventure", which can be seen above all in the various mounting options: three bottle holders, fork mounts, rear rack, mudguards and top tube bag can be attached. 28-inch tires can be up to 45 mm wide, while 27,5-inch tires can be up to 50 mm wide.
Lots of seating position options
This means that the Rowtag is completely suitable for bikepacking, but on the other hand it is also not averse to sporting use, which is not least due to the versatile seat geometry. The manufacturer offers six frame sizes, from XS (Rh. 48) to XXL (Rh. 64). The middle four sizes (S, M, L, XL) differ significantly in height, but hardly in length: the head tube grows in 25 mm increments and with it the handlebar height; The seat length, on the other hand, only changes by 3 to 7 mm. This means you can choose between a clearly sporty or very upright posture without the sitting position being noticeably longer or shorter.
Between smooth running and strong propulsion
With slightly longer chainstays (440 mm) and a rather flat head angle, the Rowtag runs smoothly and safely in a straight line, but without appearing leisurely; If a super-light wheel set from a racing bike is installed, it suddenly feels more manageable and has more propulsion. This indicates how well the titanium bike with narrower tires is suitable for sporting use. When it comes to driving comfort, the Van Nicholas is somewhere between steel and aluminum. If you want maximum vibration dampening at the rear, you should retrofit a carbon support, which is not available in the online configurator.
The SRAM group is of course not the only option when configuring, but perhaps the most interesting: Van Nicholas offers the “super compact” version with 43/30 teeth on the double chainring, combined with a 10-33 or 10-36 cassette. This results in a translation range that is as broad as it is narrowly graduated; the lightweight cassette also reduces the overall weight. When it comes to the wheelset, it should be noted that the manufacturer mounts the high-quality centerline brake discs from SRAM - even in the upper class, savings are made here from time to time. The only detail that I don't like about the equipment is the quick-release axles with tensioning levers. They are cumbersome to use and twice as heavy as conventional axles.
Speaking of which: At 9,6 kilos, the Van Nicholas is on a par with many carbon gravers, although it of course benefits from the lightweight construction. However, as with many high-quality bikes, factors such as frame geometry, seating position and details in the set-up ensure that the titanium bike simply feels good - a few hundred grams more or less are irrelevant.
