Nordest has updated their steel Super Albarda 3 “gravel bike for mountain bikers” with newly refined off-road geometry, and a couple more MTB-inspired features for more technical adventure rides. Plus, their recently introduced 3003 flat bar gravel bike now adds a titanium frame option for riders looking for a more premium ride, whether around town or deep into the backcountry…
Nordest Super Albarda 3 MTB-inspired steel gravel bike
Nordest calls this the third evolution of their slack adventure-ready steel Super Albarda gravel bike. First launched back in 2020, it adopts mountain bike geometry inspiration to take your gravel rides further off-road. Longer frame Reach and slacker head angle boost stability while descending and cornering over any terrain. And a steep seat angle will help spin back up those long climbs.
What’s new?
The biggest update to the new Super Albarda 3 is really just the switch to the UDH standard for compatibility with the latest drivetrain options. Especially with the MTB leaning of this adventure-ready gravel bike, mullet Transmission builds will be a perfect match for the Super Albarda 3. But it still keeps worry-free external cable routing so you can also build it up even with a 2x mechanical drivetrain.
Another key shift is the addition of stealth dropper seatpost routing. It’s still a 27.2mm post, but as more adventure gravel riders want droppers, Nordest’s Super Albarda 3 is ready for your custom build.
Geometry is updated as well. The changes are mostly minor. You still get the same slack 68° headtube and 420mm chainstays, but a steeper 74.5° seattube.
But now, frame Reach is a full 2.5cm longer, while Stack increases a bit, too. The new bikes have a little higher bottom brackets, balancing a bit longer wheelbase.
Super Albarda 3 – Tech details
- welded from double-butted 4130 chromoly steel tubing
- long reach geometry optimized for short 50mm stems and drop bars
- max tire clearance 700cx50mm/29×2.0″ or 650bx53mm/27.5×2.1
- 1x (max 46T chainring) or 2x (max 50/34T compact chainset) compatible
- fully external cable routing, plus internal routing for a dropper seatpost
- 2x 3-pack anything cage mounts on downtube, standard seattube cage mount & toptube bag mount
- plus 2x 3-pack anything cage mounts on either steel or carbon fork options
- full rack and fender eyelets
- UDH, and thus compatibility for SRAM T-Type direct mount transmission derailleurs
- threaded BSA bottom bracket
- flat mount disc brake, and 12x142mm thru-axle
- 27.2mm round seatpost, with 28.6mm alloy seatclamp included
- straight 44mm headtube for 1 1/8″ ZS44/ZS44 or 1.5″ tapered ZS44/EC44 headset
- claimed frame weight: 2490g (size Medium)
- designed for a 400mm axle-to-crown 1.5″ tapered steerer fork with 52mm offset (factoring in the external lower headset cup)
Nordest Super Albarda 3 – Pricing, options & availability
This updated Nordest Super Albarda 3 gravel bike frame is available to pre-order now with early-bird discounts. Pick from just 3 sizes, and either glossy Mustard yellow or black.
Pre-order pricing starts at 599€ for the frame only, with full retail price set to rise to 749€ at the start of next year. Custom paint is also possible, for an extra 250€.
Two frame kit options are also available with your choice of fork, both anything cage & fender mounts, and kits including a Cane Creek 40 headset. The 749€ Steel Kit pre-order then includes a straight steerer uni-crown steel fork and the 899€ Carbon Kit pre-order includes a tapered steerer full carbon fork with adjustable rake. You’ll save 100-150€ vs. the eventual full retail price of the frame or frameset.
Nordest will ship pre-orders of the new Super Albarda 3 frame and framesets in January 2025, so you’ll have time to build it up for next season’s riding. EU shipping is included.
Nordest 3003 simple flat bar gravel bike, now in titanium, too!
The newest Nordest 3003 Ti gravel bike was all about not taking gravel too seriously. Aero may be everything to some. But for many gravel bike riders, the fun is in the journey, not getting faster to the destination. But while a steel 3003 is probably the perfect choice for the ‘not-too-serious’ gravellers, there surely are some willing to pay just a bit more for an affordable titanium flat bar bike, too.
Once again, why not just sit up, sit back, and enjoy the ride… even more so now with the buttery smooth ride of ti.
How does Nordest’s 3003 Ti compare to the Super Albarda?
The 3003 Ti is a simple flat bar gravel cruiser built for a wide range MTB-style drivetrain (with UDH compatibility) and big volume 29×2” tires to cruise over any type of road or trail surface. Nordest calls it a flat bar gravel bike, but it doesn’t really have to be a flat bar only. In fact, the 3003 Ti (like the steel version) sits as a happy medium between the lighter Albarda and this new, slacker MTB-inspired Super Albarda 3.
A compromise in between with relatively stable geometry that can be ridden for any type of terrain, whether you want a more upright flat bar position or not. A quicker-handling 69° head angle, steep 74.5° seat angle to shift weight forward, medium long frame Reach, comfortably high (but not extreme) Stack, lots of BB drop, and short for a cruiser 420mm long chainstays. Nordest thinks that’s a great place to sit up with a flat bar to enjoy the ride.
And then from a tech perspective, they are remarkably similar.
3003 Ti – Tech details
- welded from double-butted Ti3Al2.5V titanium tubing
- long reach geometry optimized for flat handlebar builds with a short 50-80mm stem
- max tire clearance 700cx50mm/29×2.0″ or 650bx53mm/27.5×2.1
- 1x (max 46T chainring) or 2x (max 50/34T compact chainset) compatible
- fully external cable routing, plus internal routing for a dropper seatpost
- 2x 3-pack anything cage mounts on downtube, standard seattube cage mount & toptube bag mount
- plus 2x 3-pack anything cage mounts on either steel or carbon fork options
- full rack and fender eyelets
- UDH, and thus compatibility for SRAM T-Type direct mount transmission derailleurs
- threaded BSA bottom bracket
- flat mount disc brake, 12x142mm thru-axle
- 27.2mm round seatpost, with alloy seatclamp included
- straight 44mm headtube for 1 1/8″ ZS44/ZS44 or 1.5″ tapered ZS44/EC44 headset
- claimed frame weight: 1750g (size Medium)
- designed for a 400mm axle-to-crown 1.5″ tapered steerer fork with 52mm offset
3003 Ti – Pricing, options & availability
The titanium Nordest 3003 Ti is available in 4 stock sizes. Nordest manufactures the ti flat bar gravel bike to order, with a 12-week lead-time. It is offered in a few different frame-only and frameset options. The frame alone sells for 1700€.
For 2000€ you get a 3003 Ti frameset with Nordest’s adjustable rake full carbon Albarda Carbon bikepacking fork and a black Chris King InSet 7 headset.
Or, you can splurge and get the 3150€ gravel suspension frame kit that includes Cane Creek’s lightweight 40mm carbon Invert CS gravel fork with Climb Switch lockout, plus the Chris King InSet 7 headset.
All Nordest frames & kits include free shipping in the EU, and are also available for worldwide delivery.
