Road framesets

Building a bike from a frameset

A frameset consists of the frame and fork, supplied with their frame-specific parts — headset, seatpost or clamp, derailleur hanger and hardware. You choose everything else: groupset, wheels, cockpit and saddle. It’s the route to a custom build, and the only way to get exactly the bike you want.

What you gain

• No compromises on components. No entry-level wheels to resell, no saddle that doesn’t suit you, no gearing chosen for you.
• An upgrade in stages. You can fit a mechanical groupset now and upgrade to electronic shifting later on the same frame.
• Replacing a broken frame without buying another complete bike: the components from a crashed bike can almost always be transferred.

What to check

• The size : this is the choice you can’t change later. Reach and stack matter more than the stated size, which means different things from one brand to another.
• The bottom bracket standard, which determines which chainset you can fit.
• The cable routing : most modern road frames require fully internal, so you need a compatible cockpit, and assembly takes considerably longer.
• The seatpost diameter and shape — many aero frames require a proprietary seatpost, usually supplied.
• The headset : read the frame’s SHIS code before buying any headset parts.

What you’ll find in this section

ZEEN, the in-house brand, with the Superlite and theIcon, available separately or in a pack with the ZEEN Road Combo handlebar. And ENVE, with the Melee — a versatile road frame available in a very wide range of colours, including team liveries — and the Fray, its all-road counterpart with more generous tyre clearance. Two approaches: the in-house brand focuses on performance for the price, while ENVE focuses on finish and aesthetic choice.

Before you order

List every part you still need and its cost before committing: a frameset build almost always costs more than an equivalent complete bike. It’s not the cheaper route; it’s the route that gives you a choice. And if the frame has internal routing, plan for a workshop build — it needs different tools and takes longer than a conventional build.

To find out more: How to choose the right road bike size

See also: Road handlebars · Road bike headsets and bearings · Complete road groupsets