ENVE (Likely) Has a Road Bike for You

ENVE is well-known for producing high-end carbon components such as wheels and cockpit parts that help improve the riding experience. What many people may not have noticed is that ENVE also started making bicycles over the past four years. In 2021, ENVE started a full custom frame program. They then introduced the Melee, a traditional road bike in 2022 with stock geometry. In 2023, they launched the ENVE Mog, a gravel bike and, most recently, they released the ENVE Fray, a modern endurance road bike.

ENVE Melee

The ENVE Melee is a road-focused bike optimized for tires with a width of 28-32 mm, but capable of accepting a maximum width of 35mm (measured). These tires work best on rims with an internal width of 21-23 mm, such as the SES or Foundation series from ENVE. The design of the ENVE Melee is pavement-based, but the bike accepts a wide range of tires, and maintained dirt roads are not off-limits.

When comparing frame geometry between models, a good starting point is the frame stack and reach numbers. These numbers indicate the relationship of the top of the headtube to the bottom bracket on the frame. While taking into account the specific cockpit being used on the bike, the closer these numbers are to the rider’s needs (as established in a Rider First Bike Fitting), the better the bike will fit. On a 56cm ENVE Melee the stack is 571mm, and the reach is 394mm.  This is similar to what Cervelo uses on their longest and lowest bikes – the Soloist and R5 models.  While this means that the Melee will not fit every rider well, ENVE allows up to 4cm of spacers to be used under the stem.  Additionally, they offer two stem configurations, a traditional -7 degree, and a +12 degree option. Most bicycle companies only offer a -7 degree option in their integrated cockpit. ENVE’s decision to offer two stems increases the fit range and therefore allows more riders to effectively fit on their bikes.  Multiple stem options are available on each of ENVE’s bike models. Integrated cockpits and stack limitations make it more important than ever to get fit before you select and buy your new bike.  Fixing setup-related issues on integrated cockpits after the fact can be expensive and time-consuming compared to having the Melee’s parts specified and built to your fit needs at the time of purchase

ENVE MOG

The ENVE MOG (Mother Of Gravel) is the most versatile bike in ENVE’s bike offerings. This frame can accommodate tires ranging from 30mm to 50mm, depending on the drivetrain and wheel choice. The ENVE G Series, SES Series and Foundation wheels work well on this frame. The choice depends on what width tire is being used. This wide tire range makes the ENVE MOG a very adaptable bicycle. Some riders even consider having two wheelsets for this frame and swapping them depending on the ride choice on a given day. The ENVE MOG is the Swiss army knife of the ENVE lineup.

The 56cm MOG has a stack of 587mm and a reach of 397mm. This means the cockpit’s starting point is close to the same horizontal reach distance from the bottom bracket as the Melee but the bike provides a higher vertical stack. The 56cm MOG also has the longest wheelbase of the three bikes, partly due to the need for a longer chainstay to accommodate a bigger tire. Additionally, the head tube angle is slacker than the other two bikes. This provides more room for bigger wheel choices and offers the rider more stability on steeper and looser terrain. With internal frame storage and multiple frame mounts, the Melee is ENVE’s vision of the modern gravel bike.

ENVE Fray

From a use perspective, the ENVE Fray falls between the Melee and the MOG. It is designed to work ideally with tires around 700×35, but the Fray can accommodate tires that measure up to 40mm wide depending on the drivetrain choice. As with the MOG, the ENVE G Series, SES series and Foundation wheels are all appropriate choices for the Fray. This makes the Fray an interesting option for riding on a variety of roads, including maintained dirt roads. Some may refer to the Fray as an “endurance” road bike, but this description doesn’t fully capture its ability to tackle a wide variety of surfaces with confidence.

The 56cm Fray frame has a stack of 591mm and a reach of 389mm, making it the tallest stack and shortest reach frame in the ENVE lineup. With a wheelbase between the Melee and the MOG, the Fray reflects the design parameters of a quicker handling bike than the MOG, while being more tempered at speed than the Melee.

What About Custom?

The ideal riding position on a bicycle involves the rider being centered on the bike with their weight appropriately distributed between their feet, hands, and seat. The stem and handlebar setup should place the rider’s hands in a good position for controlling the bike. For some riders, a custom frame may be necessary to achieve a balanced bike, while others may only need minimal component adjustments on a stock frame. A custom frame offers a no-compromises approach, placing the rider in the most centered position. This allows for future adjustments without compromising handling and comfort.

ENVE’s custom program offers a frame designed and built for you in Ogden, Utah. The process begins by choosing one of two design platforms: Race and All-Road. The Race platform features steeper angles and a shorter wheelbase, providing a quick and responsive feel, while the longer wheelbase All-Road is more stable and suitable for mixed-surface riding. Both platforms can accommodate tires up to 35mm. Once the platform is chosen, Fit Werx and ENVE collaborate to design a frame that best suits you. Additionally, ENVE has an in-house paint lab. You can find their design page here. The result is a bicycle tailored specifically for you.

Which ENVE Bike Model is Best or Me?

Since all three ENVE bikes are strong offerings in their respective categories, one could simply choose based on tire size and riding style. However, this overlooks the importance of finding the right fit for each rider. At Fit Werx, we follow the Rider-First philosophy, which means we match the bike to you rather than forcing you to adjust to the bike.  There are too many well-made bikes on the market today for a rider to compromise when it comes to how a bike fits. Likewise, a bike is the sum of its parts. With a carefully considered component selection that is specific to the rider, the line between the Fray and the Melee becomes quite grey; most riders should select the model that fits best instead of defaulting to the one that sounds the most attractive on paper This Rider-First approach keeps the rider in the best position while maximizing the bike’s performance. 

Related, Global Cycling News (GCN) did an interesting piece on the impact of tires and wheels on speed when comparing road bikes to gravel bikes. The bottom line is that the tires matter a lot more to your speed than whether a frame is in a certain category. You can watch the video here.

ENVE Cockpit Components Included

ENVE’s history in manufacturing carbon wheels and components means that the seatpost, saddle, and handlebar choices that are included with their bikes and frames are among the best in the business. The explosion of internally routed bikes has made it challenging to achieve some riders’ fit requirements while using the manufacturer’s products. ENVE uses the In-Route standard for their internally routed handlebar and stem. The major difference from other manufacturers who use this standard is that ENVE offers stems in six lengths and two angle options. With four handlebar options within ENVE’s In-Route family, the rider and fitter can collaborate on what combination of stem and handlebar is best suited to match the rider. While the ENVE Aero seatpost is proprietary to the frame, this is less disruptive to the fit process than the cockpit. With two clamp locations, the seat can be positioned correctly for most, but not all, riders. Since ENVE sells its frames as a module with the stem, bars, and seat post, every piece has been designed to work together. We’re here to make sure you get the right combination.

Rider Matched Component Selection

Since companies such as ENVE, Parlee, Moots, and OPEN choose to focus on the frame of the bike and leave the parts selection to us, we make component decisions that are based on the fit needs of the rider and the geometry of the bike. We specify the correct stem length, handlebar width, seat post setback, and crank length for the rider when we order the bike. If we choose a bicycle from a company that provides only complete bicycles, we almost always need to change at least some of these fit-based components. This adds complexity and time to the Pro Build process. Regardless, it is always more efficient and usually far cheaper to make sure your new bike is built to match your fitting when it is first built rather than trying to make it fit after.

Where is ENVE Going with Their Bikes?

ENVE’s entrance into the bike frame market has not happened with much publicity. However, they are making some impressive frames that align well with the Rider Matched approach to bike selection we take at Fit Werx. ENVE offers three distinct models segmented into the three most common categories of road bikes today – aero-based road, endurance road, and gravel. Each frame has three standard color options and can built in a virtually infinite number of ways. This results in a bike that is bespoke for the rider. ENVE’s understanding of the fit and use needs of today’s road riders is evident in the design differences between the three frames. Also, ENVE’s carbon fiber expertise is some of the best in the industry. ENVE’s bikes are welcome offerings in our lines at Fit Werx.

Contact us to find out more about ENVE bikes and the Rider-First Bike Fit process behind Fit Werx.