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Description
Unstoppable
Get to the worst roads fast with the aero frame & road-inspired riding position of the 3T Exploro Ultra. Many riders these days love riding in rough terrain but live in a more urban jungle. So you need a bike that is fast on-road and capable off-road. Keep your grip with massive tires (not very aero but you'd be surprised at the speed) and go for a standard round, dropper or suspension post inside the Ultra's aero seattube. Add a few packs and the Ultra is even ready for epic overnight adventures.
The Ultra is 3T's most extreme bike. Starting with 55-61mm wide tires, they then designed the whole aero package around those to keep the on-road speed high. If you ride on less extreme terrain, you can also fit 700c tires up to 45mm WAM (With As Measured).
Realfast Aerodynamics
The Ultra was 3T's most difficult aerodynamic challenge to date: starting with massive 55-61mm tires and then making the bike aero. There's nothing to be done about the tires, they're big and the knobs don't help. What can be done is to take the airflow mess that comes off the front wheel and try to catch and redirect it. That's why you will see the 60mm wide downtube placed closely behind the front wheel, going even wider as it gets closer to the BB.
Blending this into the headtube with an off-center aero profile along with loads of other tricks gives you a bike that feels so much faster than your brain can compute. Because let's be honest, when you see those tires, your brain gets ready for that slow, boring paved performance of a mountain bike. But thanks to your riding position, the aerodynamics, the BB stiffness and the narrow Q-factor, the Ultra actually feels 100% like a road bike when you want to go fast. Even when muddy.
Features:
- PERFECT AERO CUTOUT: Close-fitting cutout to shield the rear wheel and achieve the most speed.
- MIND THE GAP: No oversized gaps between front tire & downtube for better airflow transition and less turbulence.
- HUGE CLEARANCE: The original Exploro set today's standard for up to 54mm tire clearance. The Ultra has up to 61mm!
- 60MM DOWNTUBE NECK: Upper downtube necks down to 60mm to pick up the airflow coming off the front tire.
- 75MM DOWNTUBE BASE: Lower downtube aero profile is 75mm wide to fully shield water bottle.
- SIZE-SPECIFIC DOWNTUBE: Reduced depth on smaller sizes to keep frame compliant and keep space for bottles.
- MINIMALIST CROWN: With the advent of disc brakes, crowns don't need that bulk of material and can be reshaped for better strength, stiffness and weight. Plus better aerodynamics.
- PURE-ROAD FORK LENGTH: With the shorter crown, 3T can make their forks 25mm (1 inch) shorter than other gravel bikes. Exactly the same as a road fork. This offers better stiffness, lower weight, an easier steering geometry and better aerodynamics.
- DOUBLE-DROP CHAINSTAYS: Dropping the drive-side chainstay improves tire & crank clearance. Dropping the other side as well creates a much more efficient structure behind the BB for higher stiffness & strength as well as lower weight.
- INTEGRATED FENDER MOUNTS: Invisible until you need them.
- SELF-ALIGNING WEDGE CLAMP: Self-adjusting bolt angle for higher clamping forces with lower torque.
- AERO SEATTUBE+ROUND SEATPOST: The seattube is kept aero yet it fits a round 27.2mm seatpost so you have many round, dropper or suspension post options.
- Unidirectional pre-preg carbon, High-modulus/high-strength performance blend layup
- Fango Ultra Fork w/ compact crown
- Integrated headset, sealed cartridge 1-1/8"+1.5", 36°
- 3T Carbon 27.2 round seatpost - Zero offset
- 160mm pre-set brake flat-mounts
- 100x12 front - 142x12 rear
- BB386EVO
Returns: This product is overweight and/or oversize and does not qualify for our fixed rate return shipping label. If you need to return this item, we can offer a return shipping label at our discounted shipping rates, or you can arrange for your own return shipping.
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Specifications
56cm - Steel Blue | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADL98C |
56cm - Race Green | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADL99H |
XXS - Graphite/Black Glossy | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADI47M |
51cm - Graphite/Black Glossy | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADJ47M |
56cm - Graphite/Black Glossy | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADL47M |
58cm - Graphite/Black Glossy | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADM47M |
61cm - Graphite/Black Glossy | Mfg PartNum: 9205DADN47M |
Reviews
Of the carbon gravel frames which I have owned and put miles on, the 3T Ultra is my favorite. Currently riding with 650b x 57 mm tires, and have plenty of clearance. The flex characteristic feel perfectly dialed. Unlike other carbon frames I've ridden, the 3T Ultra feels in sync with my pedal strokes and does not wear me down as I ride. I cannot overstate how important this is in a frame. 3T seems to understand the materials and construction better than other manufacturers who's bikes I've ridden. Also, the aero design I probably don't benefit much from, however, I have noticed my speed when descending is far faster than it used to be. I think that's where I notice the aero design the most. That and my average speed on familiar routes has increased, and without a big increase in my fitness level. Another thing I appreciate about the 3T Ultra is the reach and stack figures for my size are a better fit than 90% of the frames on the market. Pinarello and a few companies are working with more reasonable reach and stack figures, but would love to see more of the industry follow suit. The 3T Ultra's aesthetics are not really my own, but the look has grown on me, and the color is quite nice. My value rating is based on having purchased the frame while it was on sale.
