ENVE Melee
21 JULY 2022
By Dan Duguid
The Ogden, Utah-made Custom Road, released in 2021, was ENVE’s first bike frame and has paved the way for the Melee, their brand-new, custom fixed geometry race frame.
ENVE designed the Melee with one goal in mind, to meet the demands of a modern race bike. This meant prioritising attributes such as aerodynamics, responsive handling, durability, versatility, customisation and all-day comfort in the saddle.
Foundations
The foundation of any great chassis is material optimisation, using the best material for the purpose at hand. ENVE’s team, being the market experts in carbon, focus on more than just the material itself. They ensure that the processes the carbon is subjected to bring out the strengths of the material.
With the Melee frame, as with the SES rims, ENVE runs continuous fibres throughout, tapering the laminate and removing material where possible to reduce the weight. The result is a light but incredibly strong final product. To enhance these properties further, ENVE layers and orientates the fibres for zone-specific performance that increase the stiffness, compliance and strength of possible impact zones.
Real-World Fast
To guarantee an outstanding road feel, ENVE has tested the Melee not just in the lab but for hour upon hour out on the road itself. The brand’s Real-World Fast aero technology is something that those familiar with the SES wheel line-up will have heard of. It focuses on aero efficiencies to create one of the most aerodynamic bikes on the road, whilst complimenting the SES wheel line.
Unlike the Custom Road frame, the geometry of the Melee is not customisable. It uses a monocoque design, which means that narrower tubes and refined profiles are possible, resulting in aerodynamic efficiencies. The aerodynamic frame is then tested at both 32kph/20mph and 48kph/30mph, to ensure that real riders will gain advantages from it.
Versatility is Key
Versatility was key to the Melee’s original design brief and being optimised for the SES wheel opens up the possibility to change the nature of its ride. Select the SES 2.3 and you will have a lightweight climbing machine, or opt for the SES 3.4 for all round versatility. The SES 4.5 delivers a fast road feel, the SES 6.7 the ultimate aero advantage. Whatever your preference, the Melee has been built to compliment your wheel of choice, since although ENVE has optimised its geometry for a 27-31mm tyre, the frame can take up to a 35mm tyre.
Adding to its versatility, the Melee is compatible with almost any groupset out there. From Shimano mechanical to wired or wireless, 1x to 2x, every possibility is covered. In line with advances in bottom bracket design over the past decade, ENVE uses a threaded T47 inboard-bearing to achieve a perfect balance of stiffness, creak-free operation and bearing load for reduced resistance.
Find your perfect fit
ENVE’s Chassis Concept will let you find your perfect fit. Choose from seven frame sizes and five fork rakes to gain the best responsiveness and agility, no matter your size, then build in your choice of handlebar, stem and seat post. All these options make the Melee one of the most customisable bikes on the market with a fixed geometry.
To take the guesswork out of your build, ENVE has created a Best-Fit Calculator to help you select the best frame size, stem length, spacer stack and seat post offset to achieve your desired stack, reach and saddle position.
To put the final touches to you bike, ENVE offers its SES AR Handlebar in 38-46cm sizes. This has internal routing capabilities to shield cables, hoses and wires from the wind. The integration is taken a step further with ENVE’s new Integrated Road Stem, available in 80-130mm lengths, through which the cables, wires and brake hoses pass before reaching the head tube. On the way they’re routed between a 1.5” upper bearing and 1.125” steerer tube, to create a wind cheating front end.
The final piece of the jigsaw is the aero seat post. Specific to the frame, it has a cam-tail design and includes ENVE’s proven twin-bolt saddle rail clamp. The post is available in three different lengths and a choice of 0° and -20° offsets.
If the options above are not custom enough for you, you can choose to personalise the Melee a step further with a decal kit in a choice of colours, obtained through a third-party supplier in the UK.
Finally, ENVE backs its Melee frame with its Factory Limited Warranty to cover the original owner against defects and workmanship, and offers further support with its Incidental Damage Protection, which gives prorated coverage for damages that you might experience when racing, riding and transporting your frame.
From the moment the Melee hits the wind it is designed to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiencies, and thanks to its agile handling, durability and versatility through fit and wheel choice, works equally well as a wind cheating machine or a lightweight climber. Your options are almost limitless.
