Cervelo

Aspero 5 Frameset

No matter what they look like, the most beautiful bikes are the ones we put together ourselves, and the Cervelo Aspero 5 Frameset is the icing on the cake. We’ll build it with a mixed-road epic on the mind for one day, and a new-road grave grind for the next. The Aspero is a highly capable machine and impresses on the pavement and the gravel, desiring speed and rough road surface more than it will singletrack and endless harshness. However, we’re building it from the frame up for exactly what we need out of a do-it-all capable machine.

Geometry on the new Aspero speaks towards the lineage of road racing the brand has made itself famous for. A categorically steep 72° headtube angle and 58.6mm of trail mean this bike demands we get head-over the bars and dig into the next 25° gradient gravel climb no matter what it takes. On the descents, the twitchy feel of the big is appreciated for getting us quickly back in line and through to the finish. True to the gravel category though, a lower bottom bracket keeps us out of the wind and longer chainstays mean we can run bigger tires to soak up some of the harshness of the road.

A racer through and through, the Aspero doesn’t give us much to complain about between the tape, or should we say between the start and finish line. We’re entering gravel events to get them done as fast as possible, and the Aspero is the first step in that goal. A road-bike-like feel gives us reason to leave our R5’s hanging up on the wall for months, the impressively light 1100g(size 56) frame doesn’t have any meaningful weight penalty compared to its lighter cousin. Cervelo isn’t trying to replace our cross-country mountain bike, but it might just be replacing our cyclocross and road bikes with the new Aspero.

Internal cable routing, room for multiple bottles, a downtube and chainstay guard, and an integrated mount for a top tube bag make the Aspero an inspiring choice as our next do-it-all bike. The carbon frame and fork are ready for whatever we throw at it, offer comfort for us, and the designers' room to engineer wide tire clearance. We’ll take the Aspero frame and do what makes us feel good on the road, as the ultra-versatile frame makes its way quickly to the forefront of our stable.