Mondince new 2026 Aero Gravel

[Pistonbroke]

I actually have the VB Aero gravel, but haven't ridden it yet. I probably won't use it as a road bike, though. One major difference from the Noah Fast 3.0 is that the VB has a chainstay length of 425, while the Noah has 407. Also, not quite as steep STA. Will absolutely try mine with large slick tires on the road, but still on the lookout for a new road frame.

Looked at the VB 368, but not a fan of many things about that frame, and also it is not nearly as "progressive" as the Noah.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the VB.
I've got a vb368 on the way...I agree it's not perfect but we're going to give it a go

[jo1673]

Good luck with the 368! I am actually considering the LTK 266-D-SL based on the glowing reviews in that topic  But not 100% sold on the argument that frame aero doesn't really matter, and that aero looking does not equal actual aero (though I am a firm believer that position on the bike is king when it comes to aero). Kind of hard for the aero weenie in me to go for a frame seemingly without aero credentials ...

[Pistonbroke]

Good luck with the 368! I am actually considering the LTK 266-D-SL based on the glowing reviews in that topic  But not 100% sold on the argument that frame aero doesn't really matter, and that aero looking does not equal actual aero (though I am a firm believer that position on the bike is king when it comes to aero). Kind of hard for the aero weenie in me to go for a frame seemingly without aero credentials ...

Thanks...
 I'll be going from an Ican FL1 (Aethosy) to the 368 to try something aeroish so we shall see.
 Sorry to derail the thread folks.

[CJ]

Finally had a chance to take a look in the box, here's the hardware they included....


Pleasantly surprise they included an internal routing headset.

Internal storage


Top of head tube - a little rough on one side but fine...


Bottom of head tube


Bottom bracket


Seat tube


Closer look at the seat stay


Overall, I'm impressed with the build quality given the price point.

I've seen some complaints about the aggressive geometry but I think it's overblown. Here's a comparison between a Medium FM316 (in the updated geometry put out by Mondince) and comparable Canyon Grail:



I don't consider this to be extreme at all.  I'm a gravel racer and have seen the natural progression of reach from novice to experienced rider over time. If speed is your concern then you run the risk of capping potential if you hem yourself into a restrictive range, IMO.

Many here had similar gripes about the Yishun R086 but I've been perfectly fine with it, even with a 130mm stem.

[Pistonbroke]

That looks really nice!
Look forward to hearing how it rides 

[lkip]

I didn't like the change in geometry, especially because it changed after placing the order.
Having a 24 mm increase in reach is a lot.
411mm reach with 563mm stack is pretty extreme for a size S gravel bike for me, also the 85mm BBdrop, same as the new Specialized Diverge, will lead to more pedal strikes riding offroad.

Canyon bike sizing is a bit weird IMHO, a size M bike is huge, I'd use a size XS canyon when for most other brand I'm on a M or an S.
If you compare the size XS grail it has a 385mm reach and 556mm stack, a lot lower than the original fm316 geometry but the reach figure is almost the same.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to have my frame delivered, from your pictures it looks quite good, how's the paintwork quality and finishing?

[CJ]

I didn't like the change in geometry, especially because it changed after placing the order.
Having a 24 mm increase in reach is a lot.
411mm reach with 563mm stack is pretty extreme for a size S gravel bike for me, also the 85mm BBdrop, same as the new Specialized Diverge, will lead to more pedal strikes riding offroad.

Canyon bike sizing is a bit weird IMHO, a size M bike is huge, I'd use a size XS canyon when for most other brand I'm on a M or an S.
If you compare the size XS grail it has a 385mm reach and 556mm stack, a lot lower than the original fm316 geometry but the reach figure is almost the same.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to have my frame delivered, from your pictures it looks quite good, how's the paintwork quality and finishing?

I feel ya...they reached out to me after I placed my order as well. I'll adjust stem length as needed. Unfortunately, there's no easy adjustment for lower BB other than going to 160mm cranks 🤭 In reality though, how often are you pedaling through turns while banked on gravel? Happens in road on rare occasions...usually while racing.

However, the proof will be in the pudding.  Hoping to get it built up later this month after Big Sugar and a few more events here in the US.

Update: Oops, forgot to mention the paint...no issues. Minor flaking at the edges (noticeable in my photos) that would otherwise be covered by headset cap/BB/collar. No defects or slopiness. Smooth and uniform. Time will tell with resilience but my Yishun (in black matte) has taken a beating in 2 seasons of racing with no chips or blemishes, so far.

[jfcb]

It’s a real shame they went for such a long reach in the geometry. At this point, you might as well go for a lightweight 29er hardtail frame.

Of course, “gravel” can mean very different things to different people:  for some, it’s mountain biking with drop bars, while for others it’s a road-cycling alternative on unpaved roads. Personally, I lean more toward the latter and therefore I prefer an agile bike that corners sharply — something you don’t get with such a long reach. Sure, it’s more stable on the descents, but that’s part of the charm of a gravel bike: it still challenges your skills.

Also it's a general remark for Mondice: It looks like there is no real thought behind their geometry. They just copy paste something from an existing brand, but apply it to a bike with different application as the one they copied it from.

[Asco]

Unfortunately, there's no easy adjustment for lower BB other than going to 160mm cranks 🤭 In reality though, how often are you pedaling through turns while banked on gravel? Happens in road on rare occasions...usually while racing.

Shorter cranks, and bigger tires. 85mm drop makes a lot of sense if you're running 50+mm tires and 160mm cranks.

[Pistonbroke]

Hey folks
Probably a daft question, but do you just email them to order?
Cheers!

[gribs]

Hey folks
Probably a daft question, but do you just email them to order?
Cheers!

Yeah. I've just ordered one that way.

[darkening]

Finally had a chance to take a look in the box, here's the hardware they included....

Have you had a chance to measure the clearance for tires that are at least 50mm wide? How much space in mm is left between the tire and a frame?

[lkip]

My frame arrived eventually, I'm quite impressed with the paintjob, it looks very well done
Frame and fork are quite well finished, seatpost looks a bit cheap but nothing to worry about
Also the frame storage it's not just a cutout but an bathtub shaped insert inside the downtube, everything seems allright
I'll just to measure everything and make it work

Edit updated pictures

[gribs]

Any chance of using the forum image function as Imgur is blocks UK users?

[Pistonbroke]

Postimages.org is still working for UK too