The first thing you notice is the wide, slightly angled handlebars in front of you – with robust Ergon grips with bar ends (like "ox heads") on both the left and right sides. These are convenient because they give you a slightly different grip on the handlebars – and the more positions you have on such a long journey, the better. After just two pedal strokes, you'll feel: this is a very stable bike that just begs to be decked out with panniers. It rides well and doesn't feel nervous at all. It's no stoplight sprinter, but then again, an expedition bike isn't built for that. You select your gear and turn into the road.

How does shifting work with that gearbox? The Pinion gear system works smoothly and quickly, although you'll probably need some time to get used to the twist grip: it's a bit stiffer than a derailleur shifter. You can also feel the difference between the chain and the belt. A chain is metal on metal, while the plastic of the drive belt is a bit softer. With a Pinion, you can shift one, two, or more gears at a time.