Test: The Cervelo Aspero comes across as a real gravel race machine at first glance, because not only the aerodynamic tube shapes, but also the geometry seems to have been strongly inspired by fast racing machines. We tested for you whether the Aspero can hold its own on gravel or whether it belongs more on the road.
The visually appealing frame of the Aspero gravel bike, which is typical for Cervelo, comes with curved and aerodynamically indicated tube shapes. Even if the topic of speed certainly plays an important role here and there when gravelling, it is certainly not the main feature of gravel bikes. But not with the Cervelo Aspero, because, according to the manufacturer, it is designed for speed and race and not for transporting luggage or providing a lot of support in everyday life. In addition to the tube shapes, the UCI logo also quickly suggests such an orientation, because the bike is completely suitable for competitions and officially approved. The geometry of the Aero-Gravler is also slightly different from that of conventional gravel machines. Because the bottom bracket in particular is a little lower than usual and thus fits into the overall concept with rather sporty dimensions.
"The Cervelo Aspero is designed to transport KOM trophies and winner's cups, but not your luggage." - Cervelo Bikes
In order to further improve the aerodynamics and at the same time give a visually clean impression, the cables and lines on the Cervelo Aspero have been routed neatly into the frame, while still retaining the versatile adjustment options and compatibility of a classic handlebar/stem construction.
What would certainly be atypical for many gravel bikes seems almost logical with the Cervelo Aspero, because in addition to screwing points for three bottle holders and a top tube bag, there are no mounting options for mudguards or luggage racks. So here, too, a clear statement in which direction the Aspero should go. In order to consistently continue the topic of clean optics, the two screw-on points for an optional top tube bag have been hidden with a black and simple cover cap. Thumbs up for that!
If things get a little tougher off-road, you or the frame are additionally protected at critical points thanks to covers. On the one hand, this applies to the chainstay, which is protected in the event of a knocking chain, as well as the area below the bottom bracket, since you want to put an end to bottoming out here or at least want to minimize their destructive power. The Cervelo Aspero should look good even after hard rides over hill and dale.
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[blog specific=“142371″]Cervelo Aspero – Trail Mixer for more riding fun
One of the highlights of the Cervelo Aspero is certainly the so-called Trail Mixer. This is a small oval insert at the dropout of the fork, which can affect the caster by +/- 5mm depending on the setting. This promises to bring a concept with versatile wheel and tire options to the man. Because the Cervelo Aspero has room for wheel-tyre combinations of up to 700 x 42C or 650 x 49B.
In combination with the Trail Mixer, the handling of the bike should remain the same regardless of the choice of tires or the driving behavior can be adapted to individual needs. Depending on the setting, the Aspero becomes noticeably more agile or smoother and can also be adapted to the respective routes. But be careful: Since the brake adapter has to be changed or adjusted in addition to the Trail Mixer, you should think about which setting is necessary for the tour before you set off, otherwise you could have real problems on the way.
Testing the Cervelo Aspero
Our Cervelo Aspero test bike came with a SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain, robust Alexrims Boondocks wheels with Donnelly X'Plor MSO TR 700 x 40C tires, and ergonomically designed Easton EA 50 aluminum components. In this configuration, the bike is designed for two people.999 It's available for €9,48 and weighs approximately 2 kg, which should underscore its sporty design. The top model with Sram AXS or Shimano GRX DiXNUMX and DT Swiss wheels weighs about one kilo less, according to the manufacturer, and is about twice as expensive.
In theory and from the visual impression alone, one would attest the Cervelo Aspero a sporty performance. We didn't want to make it that easy for ourselves and of course for the bike, so we tested it extensively on varied routes.
And we can actually give the Aspero the title "Racer". The agile and direct handling is particularly impressive. Because the high reach of 406mm ensures smooth running on straight sections and conveys a safe driving feeling. But appearances are deceptive and as soon as you turn in and turn onto the trail, the Cervelo Aspero Gravelbike shows its sportiest side and can convince with an aggressive front. Even if the rear end of the Cervelo Gravelracer is very sporty, it is a bit sluggish in comparison and cannot quite keep up with the snappy characteristics of the front. Nevertheless, this not only gives you agile and direct handling, but also great acceleration, which is caused by the high rigidity of the carbon frame. Especially when accelerating, the Aspero takes off like a rocket.
But even after accelerating, the Cervelo Aspero knows how to keep its pace and delights us with great rolling characteristics over long distances. This is where the pleasant comfort comes into play, which gave us a lot of pleasure on long trips. But we were also well prepared for rough sections and were able to benefit from the comfortable tires and the lowered rear stays. Be careful, however, if it is very exposed, because the low bottom bracket can cause the pedal and frame to bottom out here and there. Now it is also clear why this cover is necessary.
The equipment of our Cervelo Aspero is rock-solid and goes without saying, but cannot quite keep up with the high-quality frame. Because, for example, the gear ratio of 40 x 11 teeth is a bit short for really quick extensions. If you need more bandwidth here, you should take a look at the variants with two chainrings. The wheels also work great and impress with their robustness and comfort, but could be lighter due to the race genes of the frame. The ergonomics of the Easton handlebars with a width of 440 mm rounded off the overall package and also appealed to us.
