New ENVE Fray 144mi test ride: San Francisco to Monterey

[@davidarthur]

Bit nicer than our last jaunt together Ben !! Thanks for the great ride

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Right? Sunshine>pouring rain, every time. Where are we going next? 😀

[@RicardoRocha-lg1xo]

Nice to see my two favorite independent cycling youtubers riding together

[@davidarthur]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I've been hatching a plan today...

[@hcw199]

​@@RicardoRocha-lg1xoPaid shills more like.

[@mogulmayhem]

this route looks EPIC. you're living the cycling dream.

[@bikeste]

Agreed! Would you be willing to share the route? Strava file?

[@Shadowboost]

It's one of the best rides in the world

[@calmenda]

The San Francisco Bay area is so scenic and has amazing riding. This video captured it well.

[@kokonanana1]

Just avoid Oakland!!!!

[@tallasianmike]

@@kokonanana1 the Oakland hills are great during the Spring time. But yes, the bad part is having to go through metro Oakland to reach it.

[@Shadowboost]

My favorite riding area that I've lived. Old La Honda/King's and Canada Rd for one day, a jaunt down the Bay Trail for another, then to SF across the bridge into Marin for the weekend. Ride to Santa Cruz for good measure. Glorious. Not even mentioning the amazing riding in Palo Alto/Los Gatos etc

[@bradlandry2426]

Would love to see a comparison between this and something more down to earth like a Giant Defy. I love the stuff Enve is doing, but those prices are simple ludicrous.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

The Defy has a bit more rear-end give/comfort thanks to the post, and - as you know - a considerably wider price range, starting at like $3,200 up to $12k. The new ones have internal routing, as is the trend. Defy is a touch shorter in stack.

[@BrennanMoore]

100%! It is tough to match wheels and tires for a fair comparison though. I was also looking at the Defy and found a used Time ADHX for like ~4k less than this frame. A bit racier geometry but similar capabilities. The fray is venom is beautiful though.

[@seanmccuen6970]

I'd wager a top end Defy is every bit, and more, the versatile performance bike this ENVE is, and all at a price where you don't feel you got raked over the coals. I'd be riding a '21 model year Defy but for the fact that they stupidly don't sell that bike in a frame set only, and I wasn't going to purchase a whole bike just to swap out a bunch of stock parts for ones I wanted. I'd have built it specifically to go fast on road rides.

[@TheBassallyear100]

Enve provides an alternate top cap so that non Enve bars and stem can be run. the cables / hoses would only be external up to the point where they enter the head tube at the top cap.

[@billyblanco8106]

Luuuv my 2018 Cipollini ALLRoad model with 40mm tire clearance, and with 2x Shimano DA Di2, and with Enve AR4.5 wheels. I've tried a variety of tire widths (28mm - 40mm) and brands, and have now settled on the Spec PathfinderPRO at 32 mm width...good for 'most all road surface conditions from smooth to rough-ish...nice to have a bike + tires that can do it all...😉

[@jamiefarrell6496]

Nice touch adding the Q&A session, Ben - haven’t seen that approach elsewhere so kudos.

[@WhaJMc]

Recently got a Specialized Roubaix SL8 Comp which I put on a 400mm FSA K-wing AGX gravel bar and carbon wheelset with 34mm Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tyres. In this set up it is the perfect bike for me. If we're honest I think that most older guys (I'm 56) should be riding bikes like this.

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

"FSA K-wing AGX gravel bar" Worst handlebar ever! Can't wait until the replacment parts arrive so I can get rid of that thing!!!

[@trust5977]

I ordered a Fray this week. It will replace my 2015 Domane. I already have a dedicated gravel bike, so I plan to run the low range on the tire width spectrum. I hope I made a good choice with the Fray.

[@markreams3192]

35’s are my go to for daily riding. There are a lot of bad roads and chip seal in Southern California and they work well for hard pack gravel around here. I have a second set of wheels with 28’s but use them only for specific rides which is not often. It sounds like Enve hit a sweet spot!

[@thatguy9051]

Enve needs to GIVE you that bike for such an awsome video!

[@hardmtnbiker]

Yesterday I rode a Century on my custom Seven Evergreen with 700x36c Challenge Strata Bianca. I personally loved it. Last year I rode dozens of Centuries and long distance mixed road rides on 700x38,700x40 and 700x42 tires. I’m so happy to be on these 36c tires, it was so smooth and comfortable, plus faster paced than my bigger tires.

[@thisisobvious]

140 mi ride, hell of a day, must have been very enjoyable

[@carlchambers617]

Just bought a Canyon Endurace last summer, with what seemed at the time to be huge clearance for up to 35 mm tires. I love my Canyon and I got an astonishingly good deal on it, but I do admit to a bit of Enve for the new crop of endurance bikes with even greater clearance. For the riding I do, such a bike with two sets of wheels, one set up with 30 mm road tires and the second set up with 38 mm gravel tires would go a long ways toward being a one bike quiver killer.

[@Sharpetz]

One of my favorite areas to ride! Bridge north to Marin area is just so good.

[@Shadowboost]

The whole Bay has amazing riding

[@robbchastain3036]

You are living the dream, Ben, beautiful. Thanks for showing us your ride down the coast and I'm just glad it wasn't foggy in Pacifica that day. 😀

[@jimhansen5395]

Longer wheelbase isn't going to have any noticeable (if any at all) negative effect on straight ahead speed. The potential negative impact is in low speed handling (sharp turns at low speed specifically).

[@BrianRPaterson]

Lovely looking rig. A bit too rich for my blood, but I appreciate its existence! Tell Dave I said "Hi." Cheers

[@truemarmalade]

Good to see and pass y’all on the road! 😉 🐢

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Bravo, sir!

[@terrillford7784]

Ben living the dream life. Great video brother

[@ledoov]

I actually ride plenty rough roads and light gravel on the Melee with 32C tires. Works a charm. However had the FRAY been out before the melee I'd have chosen the Fray for my needs.

[@stefanodirector]

Thanks Ben, this Fray is really tempting me. I'd love if you put it up Vs the Bridge Surveyor ...

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Need to get on a Bridge. Been chatting with those folks; just haven’t made it happen yet.

[@jamesong2672]

This is the bike that makes me wanna sell my Aethos to get this. After suffering from herniated disc, I need a bike with higher stack and short reach. Although I might not be able to slam the stem on the Fray but one spacer still looks good on the Fray.

[@RicardoRocha-lg1xo]

I have no intention to buy that bike (nor the budget to), but Idefinitely enjoyed watching this video.

[@sccxvelo]

All road is the new endurance bikes/climbing bikes; light weight, relaxed geo, and more tire width then aero road race bikes.. Use my CX bikes for everyday for years use not just racing with 40 max in rear depending on tread/rim combos. Amazing when disc came in it freed up so much in designs and made drop bar frame style choice easier in ways based on tube shape or max allowed tire width.

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

Yep, kinda/sorta the same bike pros raced on in the 1970's. Any vintage bike event in Italy will remind you that the whole gravel/allroad thing is simply being recycled for a new generation. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's not the "newest-latest" thing the bike biz would like us all to believe.

[@tmayberry7559]

Cx sits in the middle and In my opinion the ultimate all road bike 😊

[@tpawlicki]

First bike in a while that has me wanting to switch back to carbon. I ride 45mm slicks (Challenge) and keep up with my friends on 28s no problem. But that’s on gravel geo. Road focused geo with big tire clearance is perfect.

[@tpawlicki]

Rolling resistance is with maybe 10watts. But being comfortable enough to ride longer will give you so much more fitness in the long run.

[@gearsofmedicine]

Fantastic video as always, beautiful ride; my favourite place. Joined the newsletter. Funny enough - GCN had an interview regarding cardiac health and cycling recently with MRIs; many points to expand on if you are interested from a medical aspect regarding heart considerations for cycling that may be of relevance to your audience, get in touch. Awesome videos and good luck at Sea Otter.

[@treyquattro]

nice review of a nice bike in a great environment. The Melee vs Fray question was useful: thanks to that questioner. It'd be good to know the weight of this particular Fray build w/ SRAM Red.

[@marvinkamei7007]

cycling a gentle way to get older!! long /hard days in the saddle

[@mikejackson1949]

Great looking bike, just wished they'd fitted hidden eyelets for full guards (fenders) for those of us that ride in the wetter parts of the world, especially in the winter months.

[@againthebegin]

Mog works for that. It’s plenty quick set up for road also.

[@mikejackson1949]

I stand corrected, just seen one in my LBS and they do have hidden eyelets!!! Now officially on the want list.

[@emetzger]

whether bikes or places to live, you get what you pay for. welcome to town.

[@ketle369]

What took you so long? David Arthur’s video has been up for a long long time now. 😂 only kidding, great video man.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Right? Dude keeps putting me in my place… 😁

[@terrillford7784]

Hey Ben, what has been your favorite bike so far this year that you have tested?

[@scottk8769]

I was surprised how similar the geometry of the rear triangle is to the Mog. Front center is longer on the Mog but I think a shorter stem and small spacer would put you in the same position as the Fray. How different would the handling be? I think the compromise might be worth it for the larger tire clearance and more versatility.

[@philheiman7009]

Nice video, Ben. What tire pressures were you running for this ride? And approx system weight, if you don’t mind?

[@echtogammut]

You must be sleeping. How can you upload a day after Dave Arthur? :) I did this route many years ago, this makes me miss that aspect of living in California.

[@witepa]

Mill Valley != Marin. Bay Bridge != Golden Gate Bridge.

[@Trissb1988--]

7:30 Where the rubber meets the road.

[@hanswolters1781]

Ben, how does this compare to the Custom Road that we both know so well?

[@shawrx]

Could it pull double duty as a road and CX bike if you put some CX specific tires on it?

[@gc641]

Nice bike

[@carlosmcintyre3639]

Have you ridden the Allied Echo? If so, how do they compare? The Echo has been on my shortlist, but the Fray has now peaked my interest.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I have not, no. As you know, the Echo can flip the geo, which this bike cannot. Longtime cycling editor Josh Patterson loved the Echo for its versatility.

[@carlosmcintyre3639]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney, thanks for the reply and for the continued great content.

[@FliskerX]

Regarding the fat tire conversation, if I want to go bigger than 28 on race/road bike, let's say 32mm, do I need a special wide wheel and if so what would be the example? Even ERC wheels from DT SWISS with 22mm internal rim are "only" 28.5mm outer rim. So do people who want to run 32mm on road bike, run gravel wheels ? Could someone help me make sense of this ? I keep reading that the ratio should be 1.05 for optimal aero performance, but can't find 31mm outer rim hooked "race" wheels :(

[@nelsonglover3963]

What about all the 25mm internal rims? Bontrager do them, as do loads of brands in a variety of depths. Also, its such a marginal gain, I wouldn't stress, just run the 32s. Also with a 32 the pressures are low enough that hookless is fine

[@seanmccuen6970]

check out the Parcours Ronde wheel set. 1400gr. 'all road' type wheel, approx. 31.5mm outer width. perfect for 30-32mm tires.

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

And people wonder why we tolerate the high cost of living, can ride this everyday 😊

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I can’t afford to live out there or to own that bike - but I sure do enjoy the opportunity to taste test the good life! 😁✌️

[@bobfoster687]

What’s the wind like along the coast?

[@DogDude4all]

How is the handlebar/cable setup to travel with?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

For me it was super easy: the ENVE guys drove it out fully built from Utah, then I handed it back to them in Carmel. 😁

[@Handletaken4]

A mechanical nightmare. Last week guy brought in Giant Defy. The wizards at Giant ran cables through the frame! Water got in. Hour later all cables replaced and housing plus hour labor $165.

[@ketle369]

van der Poel smashing through the cobbles of Paris-Robaix on an aero bike with 32 mm showed that the all-road bike category is already dead. The climbing bike is also dead as the aero bikes are now getting very light. With 32 mm tires it’s no problem to ride poor tarmac and also hard packed gravel, and cobbles without any issues. I think it would benefit the bike industry to make things less complicated. There should be race bikes (ie aero bikes) and there should be endurance bikes with 50mm clearance, mounts for fenders and bike packing. Would make it much easier for cyclists to choose a bike.

[@stefankucher1081]

Everyone is a MvdP, you are right….😆

[@korsveien]

@@stefankucher1081 With 35 mm or more tire clearance you don't need a dedicated cobbles bike. 99% of dampening is in the tires.

[@jaycycles10]

Just out of curiosity, what size Fray were you riding?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

56

[@motomoto898]

What does it weigh? Is it a light bike? Easy on the climbs?

[@tirrellpoole2349]

Is there any way to get the route you took ?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

strava.app.link/fA5sB8UpWIb

[@rdd6366]

Hooooooot

[@justinofboulder]

Uninspiring colors and boutique pricing are the biggest turn offs for me. I enjoy looking at exotic cars, but drive a Honda (that bought used)...

[@craigpavia8943]

Carbon bike reviews are so strange. It really should be a fit video followed by a rundown of the wheels/tires, then other "touch points" since the frames are all the SAME!!!!

[@bobfoster687]

Dylan Johnson has done tests and 47 mm tires are faster!

[@seanmccuen6970]

lolol, yeah, sure they aren't.

[@ChrisWright2000]

..with his hat on backwards!

[@kmmntrls]

looks like a citybike

[@GHinWI]

Enve board room circa 2018: “hear me out guys…we build the factory in China, but we put the name Enve on it and try to hide where it was made. They’ll still pay a ton for it. Hahahahaha”

[@harrisr.7979]

Appearances wise, doesn’t inspire 😢

[@jeremysweeten2792]

Old Aspire paint scheme

[@ozgurinsan]

Just another overpriced generic bike.

[@charlesmansplaining]

Internal cable routing is not for me especially on a bike I would consider using for long endurance adventure riding. The Ritchey Montebello Randonneur would be my choice. I'm not a fan of carbon bikes after all the bad experiences I've had with them. I'll leave those to the cool guys with big egos to fulfill.

[@seanmccuen6970]

great, so you like heavy, conservative bikes that double as mules for 'adventure' cycling. too much excitement for me.

[@charlesmansplaining]

@@seanmccuen6970 Good. Just shows me you aren't my kind of people.

[@seanmccuen6970]

@@charlesmansplaining oh! that stings. 'we got us a live one here'. bahahaha!

[@jason-fc4iq]

This allroad is lost on me. If you want wider than road, just get a proper gravel bike, which is actually all roads

[@andretim75]

Haha -- the "Democrats"-California is most definitely not a state , where chemtrailing and any kind of artificial weather manipulation is forbidden or in any way restricted ...