Mountain Bike (MTB)
Gravel Bike
All-Terrain Bike (ATB)
Fat Bike
After four years of silence, Rawland Cycles has emerged from the shadows with a potential plan to relaunch the brand with a new bike. Learn more about the Rawland Fara and the future of Rawland Cycles here…
Launched in Minnesota in 2007, Rawland Cycles is a two-person operation that has been fun to watch. Over the years, they’ve moved around the country and launched some awesome bikes, but the Rawland story started to fade into the background after their last Rando Rack update four years ago. Last week, Sean and Anna wiped the Rawland Instagram page clean and posted old photos from the brand’s early days.
As a long-time lover and daily user of my trusty steel Rawland Rando rack, I couldn’t resist reaching out to learn more about the brand’s latest saga and if this truly meant Rawland was back in business. Find a recap from Sean below, and what the new Rawland Fara might look like, if the people speak up.
Rawland Cycles Returns?
Words by Sean Virnig
What happens when you take the Ibis Scorcher, give it room for 29 × 2.3″ tires, and design an entirely new frame around the demands of the wild? Nearly 20 years after founding Rawland Cycles, that vision takes form in the Fara, a purpose-designed fixed-gear Neo-Scorcher built to venture well beyond the pavement. With 120mm rear spacing, Tange Prestige steel tubing, and geometry that eliminates toe overlap (even with those knobbies), the Fara occupies an unusual place among bikes designed specifically for fixed-gear riding.
The concept has roots in my riding history, long before Rawland was established in Northfield, Minnesota, in 2007. In high school in the early ‘90s, I rode a Schwinn Madison everywhere, one that had been modified and repainted to my specifications by renowned framebuilder Tim Paterek. Years later, an original Ibis Scorcher became my primary ride for several years before founding Rawland, carrying me thousands of miles over the gravel roads surrounding Northfield, with occasional, if not inevitable, excursions onto singletrack.
After founding Rawland with my wife, Anna, I eventually reimagined one of the company’s Olaf frames as a fixed-gear Neo-Scorcher. Set up with Nitto mustache handlebars, 29er tires, and a fork from the Olaf’s sister model, the dSogn, this one-off build became my primary ride following the Ibis. Although never offered commercially in that configuration, it helped establish the direction for a dedicated Rawland design. Years later, the Fara is the culmination of that progression.
A Purpose-Designed Neo-Scorcher
The Fara is designed around a 395mm axle-to-crown fork and includes fender mounts, with rack mounts being considered for a potential production version. The frame has no rear brake provision, leaving riders to select a front rim or disc brake depending on their fork. The prototype is pictured with an ENVE Adventure fork. Taken together, the design brings substantial tire clearance, a direct connection between rider and rear wheel, and the versatility to move between pavement, gravel, trails, and beyond.
The name Fara comes from the Old Norse verb meaning to go, travel, or journey, continuing Rawland’s longstanding connection to Norse history and exploration. Its accompanying phrase, “One Sail. One Speed,” captures the mindset of riding fixed gear in the wild.
Could the Fara Enter Production?
After being relatively quiet in recent years, Sean and Anna recently began revisiting Rawland’s history through archival photographs and memories shared on Instagram. Within a couple of days, the posts attracted nearly 60,000 views, along with messages from longtime Rawland admirers and others eager to see the brand return.
The response encouraged them to share the Fara prototype sooner than expected and consider whether there is enough interest to bring it into production. Rawland is currently evaluating a production version with several potential refinements. The intention is to offer the Fara as a frame-only product. A geared version is also under consideration, although the fixed-gear Neo-Scorcher remains the original concept behind the project.
Nearly two decades after Rawland began exploring the possibilities of unconventional all-road designs, the Fara represents another expression of Rawland’s mindset: Choose Your Own Adventure. One Sail. One Speed.
If the Rawland Fara sounds like something you’d be interested in, or you’d like to see Rawland make a comeback, show your support in the conversation below! Better yet, leave a comment on Rawland’s Instagram page.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.
