Bike Check: Nico Valsesia and the Nemo Gravel
This September, together with a group of friends from the Cinelli family, legendary Italian endurance cyclist Nico Valsesia (4-time Race Across America competitor, multi zero-to-peak world record holder) headed out to northern Spain for the epic Basajaun gravel adventure to test out our (and his) new Nemo Gravel.
After a hard couple of thousand kilometres riding the bike he offers us our first impressions.
How many kms/miles have you clocked on your Cinelli so far?
I used my new Nemo Gravel about 5 or 6 times before doing the 800 km Basajaun, for a total of 1400/1500 km and another 500km here in Morocco.
What kind of riding have you been using it for? What kind of rides do you most love taking it on?
I use it exclusively for gravel riding that it is more demanding, bordering on mountain biking, including of course Basajaun!
 |
 |
How does your setup reflect that? Could you take us through the details of your build and its relationship to your riding style and needs?
I'm not light, I have quite heavy muscles for a cyclist, I pedal very powerfully, I have very brutish riding style, having coming from mountain biking and Downhill but to be honest I did not feel any need to change anything from the stock build...
Is this the first time you’d ridden a carbon fiber/steel bike? How does it compare to the carbon (or other material) gravel bikes you had been riding previously? What are the pros and cons? How would you describe the handling and ride experience?
At the "old age” of 52 😅. I have ridden many bicycles made of steel, titanium, aluminium, carbon, and I also own a bicycle shop, so I have been able to try every new and particular feature on the market that interests me. For a gravel bike the best material as far as I'm concerned, remains steel...but the new type of steel! Light, still responsive and above all very comfortable which is very important for endurance activities.
What do you like most about this bike and why would you recommend it to a friend?
It is agile, reactive, tough… but above all comfortable, these are the characteristics for which I would recommend this bicycle to a friend.
And where do you plan on taking your Nemo Gravel next?
Right now I am in Morocco where I organize bike tours through my shop and hotel with the Nemo though mostly I have been riding my Hobo here… the Hobo is actually the bike that I first approached Cinelli for, specifically for riding here.
How would you describe your Hobo?
A highly adaptable indestructible bike for riding anywhere.
 |
 |
 |
 |
bike setup
Frame: Cinelli Nemo tig gravel
Fork: Hiride Sterra Fork
Front derailleur: NA
Rear derailleur: Sram Rival axs
Shifters: Sram Rival
Brakes: Sram Rival
Cassette: Sram Rival
Chain: Sram Rival
Wheels: CYP Explorer 32
Hubs: Tune PrincessPrince ceramic
Crank: Sram Rival
Handlebars: Ritchey
Seat post: Cinelli
Saddle: Prologo
Tires: Vittoria Terreno dry
DISCOVER THE FUTURE OF HANDMADE OFFROAD BIKES
