No fender mounts, less tyre clearance and a lower front end: the Enve Melee V2 is the race bike Enve wishes it had built for TotalEnergies – but does it leave the rest of us behind?
I’ve ridden every Enve road and gravel bike model, and the new Melee marks a distinct change of direction. Here are my first impressions
The Enve Melee V2 race bike prioritizes speed and aerodynamics over versatility, shedding fender mounts and reducing tyre clearance to 33mm. The lower front end and lighter frame contribute to enhanced performance, making it a more pointed and race-focused product. The development process for the Melee V2 was driven by requests for a lower position, weight reduction, and better aerodynamics, with total emphasis on speed.
Despite the bike's new direction, Enve maintains a broad roster of athletes and smaller programmes across various disciplines, ensuring the Melee V2 will not remain absent from competition.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
