If it looks fast, it probably is

Cervélo Áspero

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A NEW ERA OF SPEED

Gravel riding is supposed to be about "fun" and "exploration," right? Well, who said that had to be slow?

Let's do the math; more speed = more adventure. By our calculations, this seems like the hot ticket for a good time. What you give up in frame-mounted bolts to add-on bags, you gain in features that make this the perfect everyday gravel weapon for a fast one-hour smash or a 12-hour day on the fabled flintstone roads of Lawrence, Kansas.

The Áspero is designed with gravel racers and go-fasts in mind. Its aerodynamic tube shapes borrowed from Cervélo's TdF dominating R5 and S5 are paired with a carbon layup that keeps the weight down and stiffness up. This makes for a pretty wild feeling in the gravel scene, a bike that handles well and goes fast anywhere.

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GEO

WHO IS THE RIDER?

You're the type of rider who loves speed regardless of the terrain. You want to go fast no matter the surface and want a bike that prioritizes speed over utility.

Sure, gravel is a bit more carefree than the skinny, tired road race crowd, but you know you won't sign up for any week-long bike-packing slogs spent under 10 mph for 8 hours a day. If you want to go fast and race, pin a number on and go after the Grasshopper Adventure series or race your buddies on your favorite fire roads and trails.

You want a gravel bike that isn't a hardtail mountain bike with a drop handlebar and know picking the right tool for the job means you'll have more fun. If you want to ride actual mountain bike trails, you'll ride a real mountain bike; for gravel, you want a bike that is quick and responsive and closer relative to your road bike than your 150mm travel trail MTB.

KEY FEATURES

Style: Gravel
Price Range Complete $3,200 - $10,500 / Framesets $2,500 - $5,000
Frame Material: Carbon
Complete Weight: 8.22kg / 18.12lbs (Aspero-5 w/ SRAM RED AXS 1x)
Size Range: 48cm - 61cm
Tire Clearance: Up to 700x42mm or 650x49mm
Colors: Sea Ice, Woodsmoke, and Peaches and Cream

WHAT WE LOVE

Aerodynamics

We can't remember who said it, but aero is everything. Racers looking for an advantage, whether they are racing 200 miles of flintstone roads at Unbound or trying to shave 10ths of a second off the segments at Grinduro (save more time at Grinduro, party harder—it's simple math), know that every little thing helps.

Tire Clearance

The Áspero not only fits up to a 700x42mm tire but also allows you to flip a chip in the fork and adjust the bike to run up to a 650x49mm tire easily. The versatility of riding the tires you want without affecting the bike's quick handling geo is excellent.

Modern Geometry

The Áspero has been designed with a modern geometry that features a long front-center and top tube, which enables you to use a shorter stem for better handling and quicker response. Despite this, the bike still maintains a relatively standard amount of trail, so it feels familiar and predictable when transitioning from your road bike.

FULL FEATURED

We can't list them all well... we could, but if If they don't convince you to order the updated Áspero or visit our stores to experience it firsthand, we're not sure what will!

WHEEL CHOICE

700c or 650b; the choice is yours—faster rolling 700c wheels or tougher 650b wheels with chunky tires. The Áspero features a front fork-mounted flip chip that allows the rider to adjust the bike's geometry depending on wheel size. This is huge as it will enable you to keep the same nimble handling regardless of your preference. It also gives you the versatility of running thinner, fast 700c tires or up to 49mm 650b tires to help you float over any gravel, sand, or rock that gets in your way.

INTEGRATED COCKPIT

The Áspero-5 and standard Áspero feature an integrated cockpit that not only hides the cables from the wind but also from dirt and debris. The clean aesthetic of the Áspero-5 comes from a flared carbon handlebar with integrated cable guides that help cleanly and efficiently allow for the cables to enter the frame through the stem. At the same time, the Standard Áspero borrows from the Soloist (A competitive road bike from Cervelo) and uses a semi-integrated setup that attaches the bike's cables to the bottom of the stem before they duck inside the frame through the headset.

AERO SHAPING

Yes, an aerodynamic gravel bike might seem counterintuitive to the 'Spirit of gravel,' but consider this: in gravel racing, where speeds are lower, you're likely to spend more time racing and riding solo without the benefit of a draft from other riders. While Cervélo hasn't designed an S5 specifically for dirt, they've leveraged their expertise in aerodynamics from developing the R5 and S5 to create a bike that offers a significant advantage when you're pushing against the wind.

CARGO MOUNTING

While the Áspero is not the bike we'd recommend for your next bike-packing rig, it still comes as a complete package. The Áspero features top tube mounted bolts to allow you to mount a bag for simple, easy-to-grab nutrition and also has multiple water bottle mounting positions that allow you to attach tools or recovery gear inside the frame. Still need more? There are a host of fantastic frame bags that easily fit in the Áspero's ample main triangle and provide all the needed storage for a fast journey.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

Updated for 2024, standard Áspero gets a host of features to bring it into the modern era:

Semi-integrated cockpit borrowed from the Soloist
Increase in chainring compatibility to 46T
Increased mud clearance; 700x42c tire with generous 7.4mm of mud in the rear and 9.3mm clearance at the fork legs
5mm increase on chainstays (425mm) to aid in clearance and handling stability.
Fork w/ Flipchip to adjust trail (back for stability, forward for agility).

GEOMETRY

Look below to see the geo chart for a comparison between sizes.

SIZE	48	51	54	56	58	61
Stack	505mm	530mm	555mm	580mm	605mm	630mm
Reach	370mm	379mm	388mm	397mm	406mm	415mm
Seat tube Angle	74.5°	74°	73.5°	73°	73°	73°
TT Length	512mm	532mm	553mm	575mm	591mm	601mm
Head Tube Angle	71°	71.5°	72°	72°	72°	72°
Fork Offset (RWD/FWD)	52/57mm	49/54mm	46/51mm	46/51mm	46/51mm	46/51mm
Head Tube Length	83mm	107mm	133mm	159mm	188mm	214mm
BB Drop	78.5mm	78.5mm	76mm	76mm	73.5mm	73.5mm
Front-Center	577/582mm	587/592mm	597/602mm	614/619mm	631/637mm	648/654mm
CS Length	425mm	425mm	425mm	425mm	425mm	425mm
Stack	681mm	704mm	733mm	757mm	784mm	808mm
Wheelbase	990/995mm	999/1004mm	1010/1015mm	1028/1033mm	1046/1051mm	1063/1068mm

FRAME SIZING

If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, our Customer Service can help you identify a size more specific to your body type. Call us at (866) 600-BIKE.

The Áspero is available in sizes 48cm - 61cm.

FRAME GEOMETRY

The Áspero features a long top tube and front center that allows the rider to have a roomy cockpit while running a relatively short stem. That shorter stem paired with a lower trail number offers fast and responsive handling despite the added grip of bigger tires. Stability on the rough stuff comes from a slack headtube angle and long (compared to road bikes) chain stays that keep the bike tracking in even the deepest gravel trap.