Last year Cube introduced their aluminum framed Nuroad as an affordable gravel bike, bridging the gap between their road & cross line-ups. For 2019 the bike gets another option with a WS women’s series update. Cube also adds a couple of new FE models ready to tour, plus small updates to the standard Nuroads.
2019 Cube Nuroad WS alloy women’s gravel bike
The Nuroad WS is a pretty no-nonsense aluminum gravel bike. It gets a shaped & butted 6061 alloy frame with geometry adapted from Cube’s proven endurance road bike range and a tapered fork that uses a forged alloy crown & steerer joined to carbon legs. That’s not going to get you a super light gravel bike (it claims a 10.5kg complete weight), but it does help Cube push the price on this one down to just 999€.
What you get with that is a complete bike built up with a Shimano Tiagra 2×10 groupset and a set of TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. The bike surely makes sacrifices to keep the price down, but it does get modern tech features, including the 1.5″ tapered steerer, 12mm thru-axles, flat mount disc brakes, and room for up to 40mm wide gravel tires.
Available in four frame sizes for the women’s WS model (50-58cm), it shares the same geometry as the standard Nuroad but finished with a one-size narrower version of Cube’s flared alloy Gravel Race bar and a women-specific saddle. All of the Nuroads gets internal routing in the downtube and include braze-ons to mount a set of full-coverage fenders and a rear rack.
2019 Cube Nuroad FE fender-equipped alloy gravel touring bikes
Speaking of a rack & fenders, that’s the start of what the new FE models get for 2019. Now available in both a full new 105 Race FE build with hydraulic disc brakes for 1600€…
…and the more affordable Pro FE with Tiagra and Spyres for 1100€. Even with fenders both bikes still come spec’ed with 35mm wide Schwalbe G-One tubeless-ready tires to head off the smooth roads.
Beyond just adding racks & fenders though, both of bikes gets dynamo front hubs and integrated lighting to round out either your daily commute or an adventure further from home. The Nuroad Race FE gets a set of tiny Supernova E3 LED lights, with a Pure 3 up front & Tail Light 2 behind. The Nuroad Pro FE opts for a more budget AXA Compactline 20 lux headlight and a Busch & Müller Toplight rear.
We’re waiting to hear back on FE bike pricing.
2019 Cube Nuroad affordable alloy gravel road bikes
The standard Nuroad gravel bikes mostly just get an updated spec for next year. For the more affordable Nuroad Pro now features a complete Tiagra 2×10 groupset, a 10.5kg claimed weight, and that 999€ pricepoint.
But on top of that a new all-105 spec’ed Nuroad Race benefits from the new ergonomics of the updated a R7000 11-speed groupset, especially the new, much slimmer hydraulic disc brake lever bodies. At 1400€ and a weight of 10.1kg, the new Nuroad Race still packs in a solid value.