Mondraker Arid Carbon 2025

This is how true adventures begin: “Journey for the first non-motorized gravel bike of the Mondraker brand, please halfway around the world.”
Previously primarily known for their robust and powerful mountain bikes and only represented in gravel racing with a Mahle-powered light support model, the Spaniards have obviously ventured into "real" gravel biking with a new platform called Arid. Their chosen location for the press launch: Arizona.
Both the bike and the location fueled expectations. How tough are the test conditions there, what does the Arid offer, and who is it suitable for? To find out, I set off into the rugged desert landscape of the southwestern USA and had the opportunity to get a first impression of the bike on the unpaved roads there.

After a true odyssey through several airports, I finally arrived in southern Arizona. The landscape was reminiscent of the Wild West: vast plains intersected by rugged rocks and giant cacti, while somewhere on the horizon, the old Route 66 runs, which once led adventurers and fortune seekers to the prairie states. The atmosphere was almost mystical, as if Clint Eastwood could appear from a cloud of dust at any moment—perfect for putting the new Mondraker Arid to the test.
And according to the manufacturer, it's made from the exact material their latest creation is carved from, because: Mondraker bikes are developed and built in one of the (usually) driest areas of Europe. “We love the heat, the dry climate, and our terrain. Stones, gravel, little grip, and the battle with ourselves in this environment have driven us to develop a gravel bike that meets all the demands of this discipline,” say the Spaniards in the dossier distributed on-site.

Two longer tours were on the schedule, and the first day led us on well-prepared sand and gravel paths through a barren, fascinating desert landscape. Already here, the Mondraker Arid showed its strengths: The ride was exceptionally smooth and stable, thanks in no small part to the stiff carbon frame and the high-quality Zipp wheels. Even on a kilometer-long climb in sweltering heat, the bike pedaled effortlessly and gave me a feeling of lightness.
Upon reaching the high plateau, I treated myself to two ice-cold drinks for refreshment, followed by a well-deserved snack. Freshly invigorated, I continued on the gravel path. But on the flat terrain, I soon lost sight of the breakaway group and was left entirely on my own. Just the Arid and me, amid this endless lunar landscape. For a moment, I felt like a lone cowboy wandering through the wilderness, surrounded by nothing but sand and rock. Shortly thereafter, however, I rejoined the group, who had been waiting for me before a longer descent.

It went downhill - a moment I had been eagerly anticipating as a mountain biker. Because if there's something I love, it's descending. And on the Arid, I could really enjoy it, as the bike was incredibly fun going down.
Thanks to its excellent stability and precise handling, the bike glided confidently over the gravel - I could almost feel how reliably the tires gripped. However, a slightly larger gear ratio would have been desirable: At 40 km/h, I felt like a hamster on a wheel, struggling with a cadence of what felt like 140 revolutions per minute.
The new Sram Red shifting system fulfilled every wish, and with the Blips buttons on the hoods, the gears could be effortlessly changed at any time, regardless of the position.
Nevertheless, according to the Mondraker briefing, I was aware that the Arid would truly showcase its strengths the next day. Exhausted from the day and the jet lag, I fell into bed at 9 PM - full of anticipation for the second tour.

Mondraker relies on a clear, minimalist design that embodies the brand's DNA. The development of the Arid Carbon follows a special manufacturing process known as the Stealth Air process. This enables a very distinctive frame design, which specifically brings stiffness or flexibility to the necessary areas, aiming to ensure maximum performance and comfort - keyword: low-mounted stays.
Additionally, the bike offers tire clearance of up to 50 mm, which, along with a significant amount of off-road capability, is intended to guarantee even more comfort and stability on a wide variety of terrains.

The frame, compatible with Flatmount and designed only for single drives, features internally routed cables, a UDH derailleur hanger, and is equipped with a total of six mounting points that can be flexibly used for water bottles or accessories. The maximum system weight is 130 kg.
A clever feature is the integrated compartment in the frame, directly under the bottle holder, accessible via a water- and dustproof flap: Here, a multitool, spare tube, and other important items can be stored. For this so-called Carry-On system, there are three specially designed zip bags that fit precisely into the down tube and sit rattle-free.

Geometry

It is also worth mentioning the introduction of an additional frame size. The new M/L is ultimately intended to lead to a better fit for everyone, as it makes the transitions between sizes more fluid and allows the size S to be more compact, while providing more space for larger riders in size XL.
This approach was already implemented in the recently introduced mountain bike models Sly and Crafty Carbon.

In typical Mondraker fashion, the Arid Carbon also offers a generous reach and stems that vary between 60 and 90 mm. The 70-degree head angle and the 425 mm long chainstays ensure a comfortable seating position that provides a lot of confidence on the terrain, while simultaneously enabling a very sporty performance.
The seating geometry is rounded off by two new, specially developed OnOff handlebars, available in widths of 440 mm and 460 mm.

The next morning, we headed to an area that was not only scenically appealing but also rich in history: numerous Western films had been shot here, and one could almost imagine the cowboys and outlaws in this setting.
The route led us over sandy, barely paved paths, through a hilly landscape with rocky descents and loose ground. During the briefing before departure, we were warned about the local wildlife: bears, hyenas, poisonous snakes, and spiders were not uncommon here. Fortunately, we didn't encounter any of them, except for a dried snake skin, a silent witness to the wild nature.
Under a cloudless sky, the group set off on the 50-kilometer circuit, which also included several river crossings.

After the first three kilometers, it became clear: the tire pressure needed to be lowered to better handle the sandy paths and the almost mountain bike-like trails.
With the optimal pressure in the tires, the Arid truly came to life: it felt light and agile, especially on the descents, where the bike seemed to want to go faster. It provided solid feedback about the ground without feeling unpleasantly harsh - a plus point that is not a given for many gravel bikes.
The Sram brakes did a perfect job and brought the bike to a stop effortlessly even on loose terrain.
This tour gave me a clear idea of how off-road capable the Arid really is. I began to imagine trails in my home region near Vienna and was sure that this bike would perform just as well there.

The Arid is available in four different equipment variants starting at €3,199: Arid Carbon, Arid Carbon R, Arid Carbon RR, and Arid Carbon RR SL, the latter also available as a frameset only for €1,999.
All four models are based on the same Stealth Air Carbon frame and the same Stealth Air Carbon fork, which ensure maximum stiffness and performance in every variant.

Mondraker Arid Carbon RR SL

During my two test rides, I had the opportunity to ride the top model costing 9,499 euros, and it proved to be an exceptionally adventurous gravel bike, not least due to its wide (and potentially even wider) tires.
The bike rides incredibly stable and smooth, which is especially apparent on long descents. I deliberately tested it in size L because I prefer a long reach and stem on gravel and road bikes - after all, aero is everything, and that is reflected in my choice of clothing. Despite the long reach and excellent stability when descending, the Arid Carbon RR SL remained surprisingly playful and seemed to practically urge to use every small dirt mound as a kicker jump.

I think the bike is a true all-rounder: Whether after work, to take a quick spin and forget the everyday stress, or for two weeks of bikepacking - Mondraker's first off-road racing bike without a motor masters both and probably much in between with flying colors.
The frame of the Arid Carbon may not be the lightest on the market, but that was never the goal of the Spaniards. With the Arid, they have created a bike that is ready for any challenge and looks good in any situation - at least as long as it's dry. How it performs in wet and slippery conditions, I can't say due to lack of experience with the Goodyear tires. In a pinch, tires can be quickly swapped.