Cinelli King Zydeco 2 Frameset

The Cinelli King Zydeco 2 Frameset is Cinelli's flagship fast-gravel platform — a carbon race frame for riders who treat gravel as a performance discipline rather than a slower version of road riding. Cinelli has been building race-oriented bikes in Milan since 1948, and the King Zydeco line carries that pedigree directly into the gravel category. This second generation arrives with a revised carbon layup, an expanded size run that now includes an XS, and the full Columbus Cento integrated cockpit and seatpost included with the frameset — a combination that, according to Cinelli, produces a build that's 400g lighter than the original King Zydeco frameset configured the same way.

Frame Engineering: Double Response Layup

The frame is full carbon monocoque construction — a single integrated carbon structure rather than a bonded or tube-and-lug assembly — built around Cinelli's Double Response layup and design system. The approach uses varied carbon fiber orientations through different sections of the frame to address stiffness and compliance as independent targets: enough lateral rigidity for efficient power transfer and controlled cornering, while managing vertical input from rough terrain in sections where absorption matters. The outcome, by Cinelli's numbers, is a 5% increase in bottom bracket stiffness and frontal stiffness compared to the original King Zydeco. The painted frame comes in at 1,130g in size M; the uncut full carbon monocoque fork weighs 456g. Full internal routing runs through the frame and is compatible with Shimano Di2 and Campagnolo EPS electronic drivetrains. Flat-mount disc brakes accommodate rotors up to 160mm.

Columbus Cento Integrated Cockpit — Included

The Columbus Cento one-piece integrated bar and stem is part of the frameset package — not an optional add-on. Cinelli matches the cockpit dimensions to each frame size for a proportional fit out of the box: XS and S receive a 90mm stem with 400mm bars, M and L use 100mm with 420mm bars, and the XL comes with a 110mm stem and 440mm bars. The full integration runs cables internally from levers through the bar, into the headtube, and through the frame to the rear — clean lines, no external housing runs, and no transition point where vibration can transmit through a gap between bar clamp and stem. Cinelli includes an FSA ACR 1-1/2" headset, hidden seat clamp, spacers, and Cinelli Wave bar tape with the frameset. The seatpost is an aero design with variable offset of 10 or 20mm depending on fit preference.

Geometry, Clearance, and Compatibility

The geometry is tuned for pace. Head tube angles run from 70.5° on the XS up to 72.5° on the XL, progressively steepening through the range to keep handling responsive as the frame grows. Chainstay length holds at 430mm across all five sizes — a consistent rear-end length that keeps the bike lively and close-coupled regardless of where in the range you land. Tire clearance reaches 700x45C, enough for the wider gravel setups that provide float and traction on rougher terrain without pushing the frame into territory that compromises its road-adjacent handling character. The press-fit bottom bracket shell is 86.5x41mm. Thru-axle spacing is 12x100mm front and 12x142mm rear. A Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) comes installed, giving broad compatibility with SRAM's current gravel drivetrain lineup and most other 1x systems.

Two Colorways, Five Sizes

The King Zydeco 2 is available in Orange Safari and Sage Green — both colorways consistent with Cinelli's approach to frame aesthetics as a considered part of the product, not an afterthought. Five sizes cover XS through XL, with stack and reach progressing linearly through the range for more precise fit targeting than the original King Zydeco offered. At $3,990, this frameset sits where gravel racing carbon gets genuinely competitive — and the all-in nature of the package, with the Columbus Cento cockpit, seatpost, headset, UDH hanger, down tube and chainstay protections, and thru axles all included, means the cost of getting to a complete build is more contained than many comparable framesets at this price point. This is Cinelli's answer to what a fast-gravel race frame should be: opinionated engineering, specific geometry, and no weight left on the table.