The difference between road and gravel bikes is pretty clear: road bikes are better for paved roads and gravel bikes are better for gravel roads. However, the line that separates the two disciplines is far from solid and some bikes like to play in the murky gray area that lies in between. This is “all-road,” and ENVE is saying its latest bike — the new ENVE Fray — is the “the definitive all-road bike.”
Here are the highlights:
- Lightweight carbon frame with aero shaping
- Geometry designed around 31-35mm tires
- Clearance for 38mm tires (2x) or 40mm tires (1x)
- Threaded T47 bottom bracket
- SRAM UDH
- ENVE Cargo Box and Bags (in-frame storage)
- $5,500 for a “chassis” — frame, fork, headset, stem, handlebar, and seatpost
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All-Road is Hot Again
10 years ago, “all-road” and “gravel” were essentially the same thing in my mind — bikes designed to handle a mix of paved and unpaved roads. At some point, I just stopped saying “all-road” completely. Gravel is what people wanted. Gravel bikes were the ultimate quiver-killers.
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But now, tires are getting wider and geometry more stable and relaxed to allow the latest gravel bikes to go faster on rougher terrain. That doesn't suit everyone's riding needs though.
The Fray exists on the end of the spectrum geared more toward speed and agility on pavement. But since it can also clear such large tires, it’s a bike that can get a little rowdy when the pavement disappears.
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There are a few other bikes in the same category. The latest Specialized Roubaix, Trek Domane, and BMC Roadmachine are probably the closest analogs from big manufacturers. They’re more road-oriented bikes that can fit fat 38-40mm tires.
Once upon a time, we called these “endurance road bikes.” But with tire clearance that now rivals gravel bikes from only a few years ago, these bikes have evolved beyond endurance road into something less restricted — welcome back all-road.
Bring the ENVE Fray to a crit, a road race, or a fondo. The high stiffness, low weight, aero shaping, and road-friendly geometry will help you stick to fast groups. Slap on some bigger tires and race Paris-Roubaix, or (if we’re being more realistic), use it as a lightweight gravel racer on smooth courses or as an all-day multi-surface adventurer. This is what a modern quiver-killer looks like.
The Definitive All-Road Bike
The Fray is ENVE's fourth bike model, and it’s designed to fill the gap between the World Tour-ready Melee aero road bike and the beefy Unbound-ready MOG gravel bike. Like a Porsche Cayman nestled between a Boxster and a 911, the Fray splits the difference between its two siblings nearly perfectly...
In terms of tire clearance:
In terms of geometry:
In terms of aerodynamics:
Because it sits right in between ENVE’s dedicated road and gravel models, calling the Fray an “all-road” bike seems fair. Is it “the definitive all-road bike” though? Maybe.
At $5,500 for a “chassis,” the starting price is fairly expensive, but on par with top-of-the-line offerings from other brands. T he Specialized S-Works Roubaix frameset is the same price, but it doesn’t come with a cockpit.
The Fray chassis allows riders to choose from any of ENVE’s carbon handlebar options — the G-Series Gravel, SES AR, SES Aero Road, or Compact Road — and pair it with ENVE’s Aero In-Route stem. Or choose the one-piece SES AR cockpit.
All cables are internally routed. While it looks clean, it can be a pain for home mechanics to assemble so our team of pro mechanics can assemble the Fray for you upon order.
The UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) is enticing news for me because it opens up the possibility of building the bike up with one of SRAM’s latest T-Type Transmission drivetrains. As a massive 1x fan, this would be my dream setup for a do-it-all-road bike.
I like that this frame has top tube bag mounts, which will be nice for epic rides that require extra snacks.
In-frame storage in the downtube can store a repair kit and spares so you won’t need to carry a saddle bag. An included bag keeps items from rattling.
The Fray will come in three colors — Salt, Venom, and Ash. Initially, TPC will only have the Salt color available (I think it’s the best looking), but we should be able to order the other colors later as well.
I'd likely run ~35mm slicks, which would keep things light and fast enough for our painfully fast Wednesday lunch rides while also keeping me comfortable on the smooth dirt and gravel roads I regularly ride on weekends. I live on the Colorado Front Range and many roads here don’t require a gravel bike with 45+ tires to tackle them comfortably.
This is probably one of the best bikes I can imagine for my local terrain, and I think it’s much cooler than a similar bike from Specialized, Trek, or BMC. Personally, with the right tires, I think it’d be an ideal race bike for a fast gravel race like SBT GRVL or BWR California. What do you think?
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