You immediately realise that the guys are at home in the automotive industry. There's the topographical proximity on the one hand, and the technical background on the other: Christoph Lermen talks about "identical parts", "modular concepts" and draws comparisons with the "VW transverse kit". He thus describes how the young Pinion company designed the 18-speed gearbox from the outset as a basic technology for plausible derivations. Internally, gear stages work in groups of three. Six of these are in the P 1.18, only three in the P 1.9. The nine-speed gearbox is intended to find its place in high-quality everyday bikes, where the finer gradation of the 18-speed rotary shifter means you have to turn a long way when accelerating from 0 to cruising speed. The gear jumps of 24% that the P 1.9 offers are more effective. Nevertheless, it covers a gigantic 568 per cent gear range (for comparison: P 1.18 636%, Rohloff 526%, regular derailleur approx. 520%). A second nine-speed version with a narrower gear spread (364%, 18% gear steps) and a 12-speed gearbox are due to follow in summer 2015: Together with Pinion's forged cranks, a rear hub with a tightly geared freewheel to reduce the idle angles in the system and the then four gearbox variants, this will create an ever-growing product family. "We can't sell the P 1.9 with its complex inner workings so much cheaper than the 18. It is around 500 grams lighter and is therefore attractive for frequent riders and commuters who don't have any major inclines on their route," explains Christoph Lermen. Oliver Römer from Tout Terrain has a similar view: "We see the Metropolitan Xpress with the
P 1.9 primarily as a commuter bike: for people who don't need 18 gears because they primarily ride their familiar route every day and in all weathers. So it's more of a suburban railway replacement." The Metropolitan from the Freiburg-based bike specialist (from 2800 euros) has a decidedly manoeuvrable ride and accelerates quickly: The compact, deliberately lightweight 26-inch wheels keep the high-quality CroMo bike manageable. The nine-speed gearbox shifts quietly, easily and precisely, especially with the Gates belt. You can feel the attention to detail that Pinion has put into it over the past few months. However, the system reaches its limits when shifting under load: It remains a gearbox without a clutch - a slight load interruption is always necessary. The large gear range and gear jumps are useful on everyday routes. Exception: On longer uphill stretches, you will reach the red speed range more quickly.
