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The answer is: definitely, maybe. The Cervelo Aspero 5 has aggressive/racy geo for a gravel bike, which means it can also be a solid but slightly muted road bike, you can flip the front axle 5mm either way to alter the handling, and it was built to deliver great handling across any surface
You get tons of tire clearance - up to 49 for 650b, the geometry and fork offset is different for each size, and the new carbon layup shaved over 100 grams off the previous model, bringing a painted 56 in just under a thousand-grams. And there are three builds ranging from $4300-6500 dollars. I tested the base model with GRX mechanical, which meant flawless shifting and sublime braking.
But, what can I say about the Cervelo Aspero that hasn’t already been said? Seriously - as I was riding this bike and thinking about this review, that was my inner dialogue. I mean it’s a really crowded space right now with the Allied Echo, Scott Addict, time ADHX, Specialized Diverge, 3T Exploro, Ridley Kanzo, Trek Checkpoint and Domane, Canyon Grail or Grizl, Pinarello Grevil, Giant Revolt, Cannondale Topstone.
Another space that’s really crowded is that of the bike reviewer, so as part of my research I always listen to what everyone is saying before I sit down to write a script. And, when I think of all the Aspero reviews I watched, the one point that really resonated with me was in Bike 198’s…especially what he said about his road riding, and how he tapped out of it a few years ago because it’s becoming increasingly unsafe - and, we all know why. To be honest, I’m about one close all away from never riding a road bike - on a road - with cars - again…either.
Anyway, as I watched review after review I noticed one question about the Aspero that wasn’t…directly…being answered, and it’s a question you can ask about every one of those bikes I mentioned a few minutes ago: who is the Aspero really for?? I think a couple of reviewers hinted at it, the guys at cycling tips got pretty close but nobody really nailed it. And I think you can see where I’m going with this…
80-90% of my routes are in mostly rural areas and anywhere from 40-60% of those roads are gravel. But I’m also a lifelong roadie, and I’m completely addicted to the way road bikes ride, respond, and perform. And because the Aspero is a direct descendant of my beloved R5, and it feels almost exactly like that bike, but with knobby tires. As it so happened, was testing the Aspero the same month that Porsche released the limited edition 911 Dakar, an everyday supercar they say is as comfortable on the road as it is off, and that’s EXACTLY what the Aspero is: with 25-30c tires, the aspero becomes an extremely capable road bike that climbs, sprints, and descends with the best of ‘em, but with the buttery smooth Panaracer Gravel Kings back on, it transforms into the near-perfect off-road race bike.
Now…notice I said two things there: NEAR perfect and RACE bike. If I’m honest, at lower speeds - like one zone above photo pace (which is where I spend a LOT of my time) bike is a too stiff and the front end was too much for me - I had to install my redshift stem to keep from getting jackhammered to death on the rougher stuff. And if the seat post was any bigger than 27.2, the rear end would be intolerable. But this isn’t a photo pace bike. It’s a race bike…like the Grevil and the Domane and the Diverge and the Addict. That means it’s GOING to be chattery when you ride it at a leisurely pace, but when you’re fit enough and fast enough to pin it - well, then it really comes to life: it becomes compliant, and responsive, and stable and all the things you need when you’re maxed out at the front of your pack.
I think that’s who the Aspero’s for - the former road bike racer/rider who’s become the serious ( or aspiring) gravel racer. Or maybe even the serious mountain biker who wants something a little faster for the fire roads. But for me, the Aspero and all those other bikes it’s competing against is an escape plan. It’s…safety equipment…or…maybe a life preserver, in a couple of ways: on the one hand a bike like this keeps me miles away from inattentive motorists, but on the other it’s breathed new life into my old, stale hobby. And if you’re like me, nothing keeps you sane quite like the bike. So if you came here looking for advice on what to buy - buy a gravel bike, whether it’s this one, an old cross bike you found on OfferUp, or any of the myriad of options available to you right now. Sure, it seems trendy, but there’s a reason - lots of them actually, and me? I’m happy to be on the bandwagon.
Негізгі бет Is the Cervelo Aspero Perfect?
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