ENVE Fray Long-Term Review on EVERY Road: The Best All Road Bike?

enve fray as a gravel bike — The ENVE Fray handles tame gravel roads nicely

ENVE Fray Long-Term Review

“All Road or Endurance – call it what you want. The Fray is for riders who want speed, versatility, and max performance – infused with a World Tour pedigree the Fray inspires exploration” – ENVE Composites

“The Definite All Road Machine. Modern road riders demand versatile durability, in-frame storage, tire clearance, precise fit, and much more.”

ENVE Fray Review Video

Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription

In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist Crew provides a deep look at the standout features of the ENVE Fray, and the real-world riding experience… on all manner of road surfaces.

Continued from Above:

The Fray Features

Geometry optimized for 31-35mm tires
Tire clearance for up to 700 x 40 (1X Only), 700 x 38 (2X)
Lightweight and durable carbon construction through ENVE’s Material Optimized Design process
Internal routing using ENVE’s IN-Route System and components
1x or 2x drivetrain compatibility
Threaded T47 bottom bracket (BB not included)
SRAM UDH
ENVE Cargo Box and Bags (in-frame storage)
Fender compatibility
Aerodynamic tube shapes and design
A la carte build options

ENVE Fray Riding Experience (Fray Video Review Above)

The ENVE fray is fast, light, and agile, but it isn’t a gravel bike, it isn’t a full on road race bike, and it isn’t really an endurance road bike… so I’m just going to say here, it’s possibly the best all-road / any road / $hitty road pavement going bike I have ridden.

Sizing is personal, consult the sizing chart, or your local fitter. I sized down, I prefer to make a smaller bike larger with little things such as a longer stem, and a wee bit more seatpost showing. I ended up choosing the size 52 ENVE Fray this review.

The headtube on this size is 137mm long, and with the stem almost slammed; there is a small spacer beneath the stem, the stem is sitting right about where I position myself on a gravel bike. Top tube is 539mm long, and I’ve got plenty of seatpost showing.

Despite this, from the first pedal strokes near Paso Robles / Templeton, California aboard the Fray, it felt absolutely dialed in, like a fast and extremely versatile road bike no thanks to its low weight. Tipping the scales at around 17lbs shod with the ENVE’S 4.5 wheels, and those sweet ENVE 700c x 35mm huge arse tubeless slicks (they measure about 36.5mm with my medical grade calipers). I’ve ridden a few endurance road bikes in my time, and the ENVE fray is anything but that. There’s no slow handling, the bike is eager to go in the saddle, out the saddle, into a corner, out of a corner, you get the picture.

The combined sound of this frame and fork ticking along with those 4.5 wheels, and those fast as 35mm tyres on any pavement, no matter how crap, is pretty intoxicating. To me, the Fray just oozes speed and fun. On dirt and gravel roads, that’s no worries too, just bear in mind the limits of traction and adhesion with slick tyres, and set your tyre pressure appropriately, feel free to consult my handy chart.

The Fray isn’t a Gravel Bike

I mentioned this isn’t a gravel bike, but hahaha!, that’s just a suggestion to me. With the ENVE G23’s installed with Panaracer Gravelking SK’s in 700c x 38mm, we’re talking just shy of 39mm of tyre, that just barely clears the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Front Derailleur. Some people love road gearing of a 50/34 chainring 2x pairing on gravel, but for me, it’s too large. Despite the gearing, the Fray rides so comfortably over garbage pavement, and plenty of gravel roads you may encounter, albeit with bugger all provision for any mud pack, etc. Seriously, buy an ENVE MOG for your crazy gravel adventures.

With that said, the ENVE Fray is a bike I would ride at that huge gravel event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (featuring “Champagne Gravel”) with 38mm Gravelking SK’s, or one of my favorite events from my former road racing days on dodgy roads, Rouge Roubaix down in Louisiana. but with 35mm slicks. There’s a ton of roads on Planet Earth you could ride this bike with 38mm tyres, it just depends on your comfort level. Remember, just a few years ago, 38mm tyres were often the norm.

I’m not a talented ascender by any means, and I do prefer staying seated when climbing. I have no way of proving this, but every watt of my power output, no matter how miniscule, resulted in forward motion through the drivetrain without any noticeable flex. That includes those rare times when I was groveling up a very steep dirt road under geared, with a 34 x 28 gear combo, and a 12 plus percent grade.

ENVE Fray Storage

I don’t like bags dangling off my bike too much, I can tolerate a small saddle bag and generally load up my jersey pockets. With the fray’s internal storage compartment, I can keep a nice toolkit such as wolf tooth’s excellent 8 bit pack pliers, review linked below, inside the frame with a tube, a tyre lever, etc.

It’s difficult to categorize who this bike is for, but it is undeniably versatile with ultra high performance.. I can best describe it as a road bike with big tyre clearance, one that you can ride on all roads, any roads, provided you are aware of its limitations. to me, it’s the perfect road bike that I wouldn’t hesitate to road or crit race, ride with mates on fast and fun group rides, realistically a perfect compliment to my gravel bike when I wanted something a little faster, but for riding a little less gnarlier.

The ENVE Fray frame module isn’t cheap at $US 5,500, but that includes frame, fork, handlebar, stem and seatpost, which represents a much better deal, and I think, a better deal than big brand bikes starting with the letter S and the like. Huge positive, if you enjoy riding a bike that’s different, would compliment your gravel bike perfectly, and stands out from the sea of boring and slow endurance oriented carbon bikes, the ENVE Fray may be perfect for you.