Earlier this year, Nordest launched their affordable Albarda titanium gravel bike, but is stepping up to more adventure capability with this newest gearbox-driven model – the Candonga Ti. Meant to extend your trip to the end of the world and back, the new Candonga gets all of the features you need in a 650b/700c capable titanium gravel bike, now with a 12-speed Pinion C1.12 gearbox and the option for a rigid carbon or Lauf carbon suspension fork.
Nordest Candonga Ti titanium Pinion adventure gravel bike
Named from slang for smuggling food, the new Candonga essentially takes the proven Nordest Albarda gravel bike (available in steel or titanium) and takes it to the next level with a Pinion gearbox drivetrain and the option for either a chain drive or Gate belt drive setup.
Like Nordest’s other relatively affordable ti bikes, the Candonga Ti is designed in Spain by Pedro Jerónimo (who also goes more custom under the Jerónimo Cycles brand). The new bike is then welded from double-butted Ti3Al2.5V titanium tubing in Asia.
Tech details
The Candonga T is built to clear the same 650b x 2.1″ tires or up to 700c x 50mm. The frame features fully external routing, post mount rear brake, rear rack & fender mounts & a 27.2mm seatpost.
Design geometry for the Pinion-powered bike is identical to the Albarda, with short 420mm chainstays, deep 85mm BB drop, and slack 70° head angle for all-terrain stability. The Candonga comes in the same four stock frame sizes (or custom geo for a just 150€ extra.)
Nordest offers the Candonga Ti only as frame-only or a frame kit with forks, yet both include the Pinion C1.12 gearbox. The bike is actually available in two dropout options – either a fixed position thru-axle for use with a chain & Pinion’s tensioner mounted at the gearbox, or a Gate-ready version that uses a sliding dropout with a split at the seatstay to insert a belt drive.
Shifters are not included. Nordest recommends the Cinq Shift:R setup for drop bar builds (as we recently saw on Cinq’s own steel frame brand Tout Terrain).
The frame uses a straight 44mm headtube which allows for a tapered headset and gives them the option to spec a Lauf Grit suspension fork, or their own 12mm thru-axle Albarda carbon fork with fender (but not rack or anything cage) mounting.
The stock Candonga Ti frame with the gearbox & seatpost clamp sells for 2650€, with a claimed weight of 4970g including the gearbox. Add in the Albarda carbon fork and a kit including a Chris King headset comes to 3000€, or up to 3580€ with the raw finish, 30mm travel Lauf Grit fork. The Candonga Ti is made-to-order, so expect a lead time of approximately eight weeks.
