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Mondraker launches its first gravel bike, the Arid Carbon
Spanish MTB brand Mondraker has launched its first pedal-only gravel bike, the Arid Carbon. The frame shares the longer reach, slack head tube and shorter stems of its MTBs, which are designed for stability when riding fast. The Arid Carbon is the first Mondraker bike to include internal frame storage.
There are four specs available at launch, ranging from a Shimano 12-speed to a SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13-speed build, with prices from £3,199 to £8,499.
Designed for versatility
Mondraker says that the Arid Carbon is designed for the dry, loose, rocky, hot conditions in Elche near Alicante, Spain, where it is based.
Technically, the Arid Carbon is not Mondraker’s first gravel bike, as it already offers the Dusty electric gravel bike, powered by the Mahle X20 rear hub motor system. It is its first foray into pedal-only gravel bikes though.
The Arid Carbon is constructed from Mondraker’s Stealth Air Carbon and passes the same battery of ISO standards as the brand’s mountain bikes. The frame is 1x only, with under-stem cable guides and clearance for 50mm tyres.
The brand claims that the Arid Carbon is designed for versatility, so that it can be adapted to the many different styles of gravel riding. It’s also set up to be livelier than the Dusty, with thinner tube profiles. The top tube is particularly skinny.
The lowered seatstay-seat tube junction, which has two points at which the seatstays connect to the seat tube, is claimed to increase ride comfort and compliance, without compromising frame stiffness.
The Arid Carbon has a UDH derailleur hanger interface, so it can be used with the latest SRAM Full Mount derailleurs, and a T47 threaded bottom bracket shell. There are enough mounting points for six water bottles, including fork leg mounts.
There’s also internal frame storage in the down tube, a first for Mondraker, with three bag options depending on what you want to fit in.
Flared handlebars come in carbon or alloy, with flattened bar tops and 440mm or 460mm width, dependent on frame size. They’re paired with stems between 60mm and 90mm in length.
Five size options
Mondraker is better known for its mountain bikes, being one of the first brands to embrace progressive geometry with a longer reach, slacker head tube angle and shorter stem for improved handling.
It has carried over its longer reach/shorter stem geometry to the Arid Carbon, with a 70° head tube angle and 425mm chainstay length.
The Mondraker Arid Carbon is available in five sizes: S, M, M/L, L and XL. Mondraker says that the new M/L size allows it to fit taller and shorter riders better and also to reduce the size jumps in the mid-range.
Mondraker Arid Carbon specs and prices
Mondraker will sell the Arid Carbon in four specs with a mix of SRAM and Shimano groupsets which tops out with the latest SRAM Red XPLR AXS 13-speed. It’s also available frameset only, price £1,799 / $2,199 / €1,999.
Arid Carbon RR SL
- Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR AXS with power meter 40×10-46t 13-speed
- Wheelset: Zipp 303 XPLR with Goodyear XPL 45mm tyres
- Price: £8,499 / $9,799 / €9,499
Arid Carbon RR
- Groupset: SRAM Force XPLR AXS 40×10-44t 12-speed
- Wheelset: Mavic Allroad Pro Carbon SL with Maxxis Reaver 45mm tyres
- Price: £5,799 / $6,499 / €6,499
Arid Carbon R
- Groupset: SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 40×10-44t 12-speed
- Wheelset: Mavic Allroad SL with Maxxis Reaver 45mm tyres
- Price: £4,199 / $4,699 / €4,499
Arid Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano GRX RX610 40×10-45t 12-speed
- Wheelset: Mavic Allroad Disc with Maxxis Reaver 45mm tyres
- Price: £3,199 / $3,299 / €3,199
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