his is a perfect vintage gravel bike, best for 5’10”-6’5″ riders. The Via Carisma was Univega’s high-end hybrid bike. Its frame is absolutely beautiful ‘blue marble’ in like new shape. Hybrid bikes are lighter than mountain bikes, stronger than road bikes, and a lot more comfortable than both due to a more relaxed, upright riding position. This bike is a ‘gravel’ bike circa 1993.

This 1993 Via Carisma model uses Univega’s Bi-Axial Power Oval frame made of super light CroMoly steel tubes interestingly shaped: the top tube transforms from a vertically squished oval at the head tube to the horizontally squished oval at the seat tube. The downtube goes from a vertical oval at the head tube to the horizontal oval at the bottom bracket. 

This bike has a 21-speed Shimano Exage 500 LX drivetrain, designed specifically for hybrids, and beefed-up 700x38c wheels with gravel/touring tires that are fast enough on paved roads and tough enough off-road.

This bike’s bottom bracket bearings and cables were badly rusted and the shifters were clogged up so it was impossible to ride when I bought it. It was likely in storage for years, and because of that, the gorgeous ‘blue marble’ frame was preserved so well and still looks like new. I replaced the old-school bottom bracket with a new sealed Shimano BB and restored the original shifters.

This is Ruthy’s son’s bike now.