Rim brakes or disc brakes, 650b or 700c, geared or single speed – the Pine Cycles Rasa really can do it all

By Jack Evans

Published: Wednesday, 24 November 2021 at 12:00 am

Pine Cycles’ new Rasa steel frame can be equipped for road cycling, gravel riding and fixed-gear urban riding. The US-made frameset is compatible with four different forks, three wheel sizes and rim or disc brakes. A 50 per cent $1,050 deposit secures you a frame and fork.

According to Pine, the Rasa is inspired by tabula rasa – the idea that the human mind begins with a blank slate.

The manufacturer says the bike’s maximum tyre clearances are 700c x 35mm, 650b x 48mm or 26in x 2.3in. You can switch between sizes on the same frame.

"Pine
Pine’s Rasa can be set up for road riding with a carbon fork and 2× groupset.
Pine Cycles / @analogstrikesback

Therefore, Pine claims the Rasa can be a road, gravel, cyclocross, touring or commuter bike and “anything in between”.

Pine explains the Rasa’s attractive, slim Columbus Zona tubing is possible thanks to retro front-end geometry.

The bike is built around a custom 1 1/4in head tube. These were seen commonly on mountain bikes in the nineties, but these days, most steel bikes use a tapered head tube – which can look a bit out of place compared to skinny steel tubes – or a straight 1 1/8in or 1in head tube.

"Pine
Wide, knobbly treads can be fitted to the Rasa for exploring off-road.
Pine Cycles / @analogstrikesback

The 1 1/4in head tube allows the Rasa to accommodate its matching straight steel or tapered carbon fork, but does require the bike to use a custom headset from White Industries. Two other fork options are also available to purchase separately.

The frame’s cable routing is external on the down tube and internal along the top tube.

Pine says the biggest chainring the Rasa can take in a 1× guise is 44T, and 50/34 with a 2× setup.

Its suggested gravel setup is based on Campagnolo’s 13-speed Ekar groupset and full Enve cockpit with flared drop bars.

"Pine's
The Rasa in its single-speed guise.
Pine Cycles / @analogstrikesback

Pine says its own dropouts – a collaboration with custom frame part maker Lichen Precision – underpin the Rasa’s adaptability.

These dropouts allow the bike to use a 12×142mm thru-axle and flat-mount brakes for disc-brake builds.

The bike is also compatible with a standard 130×10mm quick release for use with rim brakes, or 135×10 horizontal track ends for fixed gear and single-speed builds.

All dropouts also have the option to add mudguard or rack mounts.

The bike is available in five different handsome earth tones and comes with three bottle boss mounts as standard.

Example road build

"Pine
The road build is based on a carbon fork and rim brakes.
Pine Cycles / @analogstrikesback
  • 700c x 32mm tubeless tyres
  • Carbon disc brake
  • Allied all-road fork
  • 2x groupset

A carbon rim brake-compatible fork is sold separately.

Example gravel build

"Pine
The gravel build is intended to use a 1× groupset.
Pine Cycles / @analogstrikesback
  • 650b x 48mm or 26in x 2.3in tyres
  • Steel disc or rim brake
  • Pine’s own segmented fork
  • 1x groupset

Example commuter build

"Pine
If tracklocross is more your thing, this bike could be for you.
Pine Cycles / @analogstrikesback
  • 700c x 32mm tyres
  • Carbon/alu rim brake
  • Wound Up commuter fork

Or single speed/fixed wheel

  • Rim/no brake
  • 135/10 horizontal track insert