Wheels & accessories specialist ENVE is expanding its manufacturing expertise and product offering to include bicycles. The US manufacturer has introduced the Custom Road, a modern road bike manufactured at its Ogden, Utah, headquarters.
ENVE’s Custom Road is available through ENVE.com and a limited number of US retail partners. Production has begun and bikes are now shipping to select customers.
The ENVE Custom Road is positioned as a modern road bike featuring an aerodynamic design, integrated components, premium carbon construction, and 35mm of tyre clearance. To top it all off, customers can personalize everything from geometry and paint, to wheels and components.
ENVE streamlines the customization process using an online platform called the ENVE Bike Builder. The builder guides customers through their build and allows them to change wheels, components, paint design, and colours.
ENVE is offering four paint design templates and 38 colours. For customers who want paint and design outside of this offering, full custom paint is available from ENVE, or a ‘ready to paint’ chassis can be shipped to one of several specialty bicycle paint shops with whom ENVE has partnered.
“The ability to customize and add that personal touch to each Custom Road is the crux of this project,” commented Jake Pantone, ENVE’s VP of Product and Brand.
“Our opportunity as a carbon specialist and US manufacturer is to deliver a bike that can compete with the best high-end frame models available while also delivering a high-touch personalized experience to our customers.
“While customization at any level is a challenge, the ENVE Bike Builder allows customers to virtually paint and build out their dream bike, streamlining the process and allowing us to focus our direct interactions with customers on getting their fit and geometry defined.”
In regards to geometry, the Custom Road is available in two unique formats, ‘Race’ and ‘All Road’.
- The Race geometry has a shorter wheelbase and delivers the ride sensations you would expect from a pro-level race bike.
- The All Road features a slightly longer wheelbase and is tuned for larger volume tyres making it a solution for mixed-surface adventures.
Regardless of the chosen geometry, the Custom Road can accommodate a labelled 35mm tyre, making it a viable option for mixed-surface road events such as the Belgian Waffle Ride or Paris-Roubaix Challenge.
The ENVE Custom Road also features a high level of integration. Employing the design and features of ENVE’s recently launched SES AR Handlebar, each Custom Road is paired with a one-piece bar/stem combo that saves weight and allows for all wires and hoses to be hidden for a clean aesthetic, and airflow.
Additionally, the One-Piece SES AR Bar/Stem Combo is manufactured and assembled in Ogden which allows ENVE to customize the stem length and bar width to the customer’s needs. Specifically, stem length is adjustable in 5mm increments between 90 and 130mm and the bar is available in widths between 38 and 46cm.
To make the integrated front-end possible, ENVE partnered with fellow US manufacturer Chris King Precision Components to develop the AeroSet, a premium headset for the Custom Road. The new headset features a proprietary interface that creates a net fit with the carbon top bearing cover.
Brake hoses and wires are routed through the stem and into the head tube between the upper 1.5” bearing and a standard 1.125” steerer.
The ENVE Custom Road is offered as a complete bike with SRAM Red or Force AXS, and Shimano Dura-Ace or Ultegra Di2 electronic and disc brake drivetrains only. Customers opting for a ‘frame-only’ will have the option of buying what ENVE is referring to as a ‘Chassis’ or ‘Rolling Chassis’.
The Custom Road Chassis consists of the frame, fork, headset, seat mast topper, bar/stem combo, and custom Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Travel Case. By adding an ENVE SES or Foundation wheelset, the Chassis becomes a Rolling Chassis.
“The Custom Road, like all ENVE products, is designed to deliver not only the best ride experience possible, but also the ownership experience,” continued Jake Pantone at ENVE.
“With performance features like the integrated seat mast and one-piece bar/stem combo, travel and transport of the bike become inherently complicated. Most shipping solutions require the removal of the handlebar and seatpost to fit them in a bike case.
“In our personal experience, this greatly increases the risk of kinking brake lines, cutting wires, and damaging the bike in transit. To solve these problems, we include the Scicon travel case with every configuration of Custom Road.”
To order a Custom Road, ENVE is asking potential customers to secure a future production slot with a US$250 deposit made on ENVE.com at the end of the Bike Builder configuration process.
Orders will be fulfilled on a first-in, first-out basis. ENVE is clear to point out that selections made through the builder are not final and will require final sign offs prior to the start of production.
After paint, geometry, and build specifications have been signed off, a 50% deposit to which the initial $250 is applied, will be required to initiate production. The Custom Road is currently available in the USA only.
Pricing for the Custom Road is as follows:
- Chassis Only US$7,000
- Rolling Chassis Premium US$9,500
- Rolling Chassis Foundation US$8,500
- Complete Dura-Ace Di2 Premium US$12,500
- Complete Ultegra Di2 Premium US$10,900
- Complete Ultegra Di2 Foundation US$9,950
- Complete AXS Red Premium US$12,500
- Complete AXS Force Premium US$10,900
- Complete AXS Force Foundation US$9,950
