Each year, we enjoy a trip to Ogden, UT, home of ENVE Composites for their annual Builder Showcase and Grodeo ride. The facility boasts an incredible production space, staffed by friendly individuals who are passionate about their craft and supportive of ours. We’ve used the event as a design charrette to push ourselves to craft something new or update our lineup. And every year after the show we lineup for an incredible ride, this year 90+ mi with over 8k of climbing.
We’ve always brought something more akin to an MTB with bigger tires. This year, we finally did it… we broke down and brought a gravel bike to the ENVE “Gravel” show. Though this wasn’t our first curly bar bike at the show, it was the first proper gravel-focused one. That said, the Cenote is here to usher in the next generation of gravel bikes. Rides are getting rowdier, and people are asking more of their gravel bikes.
You can view the whole Radavist Gallery in the link below.
With its lockout suspension fork, ability to run any drivetrain, and modern geometry, the Cenote is ready to find a permanent place in your bike garage.
Key to the geometry is a concept we pulled from the Yaupon. Compared to our long-standing Terlingua gravel bike, we extended the TT and slackened the HTº so that you can run a nice short stem and a wide bar. If you usually run an 80-100mm stem on a Terlinuga, on the same size Cenote, you’d knock about 20mm off that.
A shorter stem has a smaller path to move during fork compression when compared to a longer stem. So as the fork engages, you end up not even noticing a fit change. All you feel is a smoother ride and increased traction.
A bit taller stack helps when that fork gets activated. A touch more sloping TT for ride feel and increased standover. The entire concept is designed to keep you poised when the terrain becomes unpredictable, yet maintain that gravel race feel.
What do you think of our latest bike?!? We’d love to know! support@chumbausa.com
