Cervelo

Aspero 5 GRX 815 Di2 Gravel Bike

A tour-winning pedigree with the Aspero 5 GRX 815 Di2 Gravel bike from Cervelo doesn’t just mean the bike will be fast, it means it’ll be the fastest. This high-end build from Cervelo has us salivating for long days on gravel and mixed roads, trying to find the true meaning of "type 2 fun." The race-oriented bike tells us to attack every climb like it’s the last one of the day, and to send every descent like there’s ice-cream waiting at the bottom. We’ll take this bike anywhere, and the endurance-oriented features mean the only thing holding us back is ourselves.

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 bike is appreciated for getting us quickly back in line and through to the finish. True to the gravel category, 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 riding the Aspero is the first. A road-bike-like feel gives us reason to leave our R5’s hanging up on the wall for months, as 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.

Drivetrain duties are taken care of by Shimano’s range leading GRX 815 Di2. This futuristic drivetrain is totally electronic with a wired connection that offers quicker and more reliable shifting. Unique to GRX, the shift lever hoods are longer and offer more space between the lever and hood, allowing us to get a better grip on the bars during rough and chunky descents. GRX 815 comes without a weight penalty, either, as the machined aluminum efficiently shaves weight off the entire group.