Beautiful Bicycle: ENVE Melee V2

Written by Contender Bicycles, on October 02, 2026

ENVE launched the Melee V2 in September with a clear goal: cut weight and drag without losing the ride feel that defines the Melee. Tube shapes are revised, the seatpost is new, and the cockpit is redesigned. For the launch, we built one up with SRAM RED XPLR, a 50t aero chainring, and ENVE SES 4.5 PRO wheels.

ENVE Melee V2 road bike in UL Black carbon with a SRAM RED XPLR drivetrain and deep ENVE SES 4.5 PRO wheels, seen from a front three-quarter angle.

Frame

The changes start with proportions. ENVE trimmed total frame surface area by 7.5%, reshaped the head tube around a smaller headset, and lowered maximum tire clearance from 35mm to 33mm. That's a deliberate tradeoff, and ENVE says it saves both weight and drag while still leaving room for the tire sizes riders actually race. The shapes were developed in the Mercedes-Petronas wind tunnel with riders, bottles, and cages included, accounting for how air moves around the complete system. The UL Black finish keeps the carbon front and center, with minimal graphics.

Rear view of the Melee V2 showing the seat tube, seatpost, and rear wheel.

Close-up of the Melee V2 downtube, showing the reshaped tubing and minimal graphics on the UL Black finish.

Angled view of the front wheel, fork, and head tube of the Melee V2.

Drivetrain

A single 50t aero ring is the headline choice. Paired with SRAM RED XPLR AXS, it gives the bike a wide-range 1x setup and a very clean drivetrain, and the big ring face suits the frame's aero shaping. RED AXS brakes handle the stopping.

SRAM RED XPLR crankset with the 50t aero chainring.

SRAM RED XPLR rear derailleur and 10-36t cassette.

Detail of the 50t SRAM RED Aero chainring with the chain engaged.

Wheels & Tires

ENVE SES 4.5 PRO wheels carry the ENVE theme from the frame to the wheelset, paired with Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tires. ENVE's tube shapes are tuned to work with its SES rim shapes, so the wheels are part of the design rather than an add-on. Deep rims and bold graphics give the otherwise understated build some presence.

ENVE SES 4.5 PRO front wheel with a Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tire.

Close-up of the ENVE front hub and spoke interface.

Cockpit & Finishing

Up front, the SES Aero Pro V2 one-piece bar carries the frame's integration into the cockpit. ENVE's Aergonomic pads sit in the drops, where they cut drag by enlarging the drop's cross section and also damp vibration. We wrapped the bar in Supacaz Super Sticky Kush tape. A 155mm S-Works Power EVO with Mirror saddle and SES Aero carbon bottle cages finish the build.

Head-on view of the ENVE SES Aero one-piece handlebar, wrapped in Supacaz tape, with the Aergonomic pads in the drops.

Angled view of the drivetrain and the lower part of the frame, including the bottle cage.

SRAM RED AXS shifter and brake lever on the handlebar.

Specialized S-Works Power EVO with Mirror saddle (155mm) on the Melee V2 seatpost.

Bike Specifications

Frame	ENVE Melee V2
Groupset	SRAM RED AXS XPLR E1
Cranks	SRAM RED XPLR E1
Chainring	50t \| SRAM RED Aero X-Sync Direct Mount Chainring
Cassette	10-46t \| SRAM RED XPLR XG-1391
Brakes	SRAM RED AXS E1
Wheels	ENVE SES 4.5 PRO
Tires	Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR
Cockpit	ENVE SES Aero V2 One-Piece Handlebar
Saddle	Specialized S-Works Power EVO with Mirror - 155mm
Bottle Cages	ENVE SES Aero Carbon Bottle Cage
Bar Tape	Supacaz Super Sticky Kush Classic Tape w/ ENVE Aergonomic Pads