There have been a few paradigm shifts that have totally transformed how I look at cycling, but the biggest was transitioning from mountain biking to gravel and ultimately onto what I've lovingly labeled as Big Gravel. Other labels include adventure biking, monster gravel, or even “Grountain Bikes,” as I've called them on this site in the past. Labels aside, I was indoctrinated into Big Gravel almost by accident when I reviewed the Landyachtz AB-ST—a sturdy, long-reach, slack gravel machine with fluffy 2.2” tires.
Before that, I was riding mostly mountain bikes or all-road bikes with 34c tires at most. Moving to large tires on a drop bar bike really changed what I thought was possible and how I rode. Big Gravel is effectively an anywhere bike, and over time, it became my sweet spot. With today's light tire casings, the extra rubber on the ground not only increases traction but also helps maintain momentum and speed over distance. And the ride feel of fat, chonky tires on smooth, rolly rides? Super dreamy stuff.
I rode the Landyachtz literally to death, and I knew I needed something to fill the void. Late last year, I started looking around to see who was building what I needed, and I was surprised by what I found, or rather, didn't find. There just aren't that many steel production bikes in the Big Gravel space. It still feels like a niche that lives mostly in the custom build world.
Then I remembered a feature we ran on Neuhaus Metalworks out of Marin County, California, the birthplace of mountain biking. Their Solana looked pretty close to what I was after. I reached out to owner Nick, and it turned out to be perfect timing as the Neuhaus team was working on a new gravel frame with clearance for up to 2.3” tires, called the BigLeaf.
When Nick offered me the opportunity to ride one of the very first BigLeafs (leaves?), a prototype for what would eventually become part of Neuhaus's Core Collection, I immediately jumped at the chance. So what you're seeing on this page is a world first. A BGDB exclusive (you could say): a first look at the new Neuhaus BigLeaf. While this specific bike was hand-built in California, it's pretty close to what will be rolling out as a production model later this year.
About Neuhaus Metalworks
Neuhaus Metalworks is the brainchild of Nick Neuhaus, a framebuilder based in Marin County, California. Since 2018, Nick has been building modern hardtails and gravel bikes using a blend of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge 3D printing. With a background in BMX, motorcycle racing, and fabrication, he brings a rider-first mindset to everything he builds.
Neuhaus bikes are built on the philosophy of continual refinement: ride, prototype, test, and evolve. Daniel Yang, a close collaborator, brings deep expertise in additive manufacturing and has helped push Neuhaus into the future with advanced 3D-printed components. Together, the team designs and tests everything in-house including size-specific Y yokes, dropper ports, and bottle brackets ensuring performance and consistency across every frame size.
The BigLeaf Springs to Life
Even though the BigLeaf was still in prototype mode, I was fortunate enough to go through the full Neuhaus ordering experience. Nick and I hopped on a call, which was great—it was the first time we'd actually chatted face to face. We talked through exactly what I was looking for. I told him all about my old Landyachtz and showed him a few photos. Nick assured me that, aside from a few geometry tweaks like a slightly shorter reach and wheelbase, the BigLeaf was built for the same type of adventures.
When the BigLeaf finally made it through Canadian customs (eeesh) and I got the box open, I was stunned. It looked tiny—though to be fair, that's something I always think when I get a new frame. Still, with the BigLeaf I actually had to pull out some wheels and line them up in the frame to make sure I wasn't losing my mind. Once a wheel was in place, I could see it had clearance for days. Add that to the UDH dropouts and a gorgeous ENVE carbon adventure fork—everything I wanted was close at hand.
I sat there for probably two and a half hours just staring at it, trying to take in all the details. It was at that moment I realized I hadn't seen any drawings or geometry sheets before jumping into the project. One of the first details my eyeballs caught was the lack of a bridge between the seat stays. I had to follow up with the team to confirm what I suspected: the 3D-printed part connecting the top tube and seat stays is called the “Y Yoke” and its form is so strong that it negates the need for a stay bridge.
Choosing a color is always a big decision. I wanted something that would match my WZRD New Country from a palette perspective, and with Nick's input we landed on Metallic Root Beer. I was a little unsure at first, but the second I pulled the frame out of the box, I knew we had made the right call. The paint had that shiny sparkle under the surface that really catches in the sun—similar to my WZRD. The browns, the blacks, and the silver bits of the new Neuhaus logo and head badge all came together. The whole thing just looked smoking.
The BigLeaf couldn't have come at a worse time financially. I really wish I had the kind of access some cycling sites do to bling out the BigLeaf top to bottom (Paul Components give us a buzz, please). But as a guy with a house and a family, I had to swap over the hardware from the Landyachtz to get the BigLeaf rolling. Everything came over nicely, minus the crankset, which I had to swap for a gravel-wide width. One notable upgrade came from NOBL: a set of spanking new TR33 wheels (full review coming soon), built around DT Swiss 350 hubs and some stylish silver spokes. Also, huge thanks to Mitch at Marty's Mountain Cycle for helping stick this thing together.
Once the bike was together, I was in awe. However, it's been a while since I've had a bike with externally routed cabling, so that took my eyeballs some adjusting. I still find a few of the cables a little loose under the down tube, but there are two screws and anchors there to help lock them down a little tighter. I'm hoping I can dial that in over time.
Enough talk. Let's ride.
Twitchy AF to Totally Dialed
My first few rides on the BigLeaf were twitchy. The Landyachtz was designed as a proper drop-bar mountain bike. It had a super long wheelbase, reach, and a slack head tube angle. Because it was so long, the designers paired it with a short MTB stem—45mm. So, when I built up the BigLeaf, that same 45mm stem was what I had on hand. Putting a 45mm stem on the BigLeaf was, frankly, ridiculous. It forced me to shove my saddle way back on the rails, which obviously impacted handling. Everything felt okay in a straight line, but when I hit anything technical, the bike felt like it had drank too much coffee.
After those first rides, I swapped in an 80mm Thomson stem and shifted my entire position forward. That small change made a massive difference. The BigLeaf balanced itself out, and together we were finally free to connect as machine and rider.
Over the past three years, I'd gotten really used to the feel of a long and low bike. So, even with the new fit dialed, it took me a moment to adjust to the less aggressive geometry of the BigLeaf. Being up and over the bike for the first time in years had me playing it a little safe at first. But once I got the hang of it again, the BigLeaf ripped. Being over the bike meant I could really dig in and drive power through the pedals. Getting the BigLeaf up to speed happens quickly, and holding that speed is easy.
On the way home from my regular 60km loop, there's a little drop I like to launch off of. And by “little” I mean probably five inches…max. The first time I hit it on the BigLeaf, muscle memory kicked in. I forgot I was on a lighter, more nimble machine. I pulled the front end up like I was on my old ride and gave the rear a solid lift with my clipless pedals. The BigLeaf absolutely launched itself into the air. Time slowed. I had a clear moment to think, “You're 47 years old, what the hell are you doing up here?” I landed cleanly, of course, to a few gasps from onlookers. It was a solid lesson in how to handle the BigLeaf—and from that point on, I've mostly kept it on the ground. Even if I looked rad for a split second.
I haven't done a ton of singletrack on it yet, but what I have ridden showed me that the BigLeaf can handle it all. It's responsive, nimble, and never felt out of its depth. The DNA of the BigLeaf seems just as comfortable in the rough stuff as it is flying over open gravel. And that's exactly what I was after. A bike that could dip into the tracks when needed but still roll fast and function as a daily gravel grinder. Perfect.
Conclusion
Back to the idea of Big Gravel. It's a thing, and most likely, it'll be my thing to the grave. I don't see myself going back to anything under 50c or 2” ever again. The momentum and “big roll” feel that comes with a proper Big Gravel bike is something that feels impossible to walk away from.
Especially here on Vancouver Island, where “gravel” on most routes is basically just mountain biking with drop bars, having a bike that can handle all of it comfortably and confidently is essential. The BigLeaf lets me do just that. It gives me confidence and, I guess, even a little sense of safety.
What I love about the BigLeaf is how it has all the modern features you'd want in a Big Gravel bike, like UDH dropouts, but it's wrapped up in that classic steel silhouette that will never go out of style. That combination pretty much guarantees this bike is going to be in my rotation for a very long time. It'll evolve as I do. If you've been following the site, I hope you like it, because you'll be seeing a hell of a lot more of it.
Nick and the team will be showing more of the BigLeaf throughout the summer. They plan to have more test bikes out by June, with full production rolling in the fall. When I asked Nick about pricing, he said things are hard to lock in right now (thanks to the ongoing disaster in the White House… my words, not his), but the goal is to ship the frame and fork for $1,600 USD.
Long live Big Gravel. Long live the BigLeaf.
