First Look | Cervelo updates the Aspero gravel bike with a focus on outright speed

Since the Cervelo Aspero was first launched in 2019, gravel bikes have changed quite a bit. People are riding them faster, longer and in more varied terrain, and the thought of running a tyre with a width that starts with anything less than a four seems outrageous.

According to Cervelo, with the Aspero it sought to make a gravel bike that could “haul ass, not cargo” without the faff or the proprietary bits and pieces — and they pretty well achieved that goal in that first-generation bike. Two years later, the brand launched the Aspero 5, which was essentially the same bike with clearance for slightly wider tyres, headset cable routing and a new carbon layup said to be 10% lighter — it also had some EPIC paint options.

For 2024, the Aspero has evolved again, claiming to be faster, more comfortable, and more versatile. It also sports a UDH and threaded BB.

We have a brand new Cervelo Aspero, which we’ll be keeping as a long-term test bike en route. But in the meantime, here’s a closer look at what’s new on the 2024 Cervelo Aspero.

Related:

Cervelo calls this paint job ‘peaches and cream’ and we’d say that description is pretty darn apt.

An overview of the new 2024 Cervelo Aspero

Cervelo makes it clear it hasn’t strayed from the goal of making the fastest gravel bike possible with the latest generation Aspero.

There’s no flex pivot this or suspension fork corrected that — because that would add weight and complication — and all of the compliance will come from the tyres and flex tuned in the frame. With that said, the brand does note that it dropped the seat stays and slightly reduced the front-end stiffness to introduce some compliance.

There are also claims about marginal watt savings due to shedding a bit of drag, likely because of the headset cable routing and dropped seat stays. These gains will be totally reversed when we strap a handlebar bag full of Party Mix to the front end.

According to Cervelo, there is 57mm between the stays, meaning you can run a 45mm tyre with room for mud. We mounted a Continental Terra Trail to the Shimano RX880 wheels (25mm internal width) and there is HEAPs of room.

Cervelo makes a big deal about how much room there is between the seat stays on the new Aspero. Like the Canyon Grail, the new Aspero has been optimised around a 42mm tyre, which is becoming the de facto standard for bikes in this category, but the Canadian outfit says it will clear a 45mm tyre by ISO standards, which means a minimum 4mm of clearance on all sides.

“The actual clearance of the frame for 700c is 57mm, so the maximum measured tyre (no matter its label, and variable by rim width) is 45mm. For 650b, max measured tire is 47mm,” the Brand tells Flow. “The trail numbers also stay consistent for all sizes.”

Cervelo designed this platform to be unapologetically about speed, and with that, things like rack and fender mounts that are common across gravel bikes have not made the cut on the new Apsero — remember, haul ass, not cargo, as the tagline goes. There are provisions for a top-tube feed bag and a third water bottle, but not much else.

Bottom brackets and derailleur hangars

For over a decade, Cervelo has centred its bikes around the BBRight press-fit bottom bracket standard, which was something of a hybrid between BB90 and PF86, using asymmetric cups with claims of improved stiffness. For the new Aspiro, the brand has adopted the asymmetrical T47a threaded BB first seen on the R5 CX.

We’re stoked to see a threaded BB and a round 27.5mm seatpost, and decidedly less stoked about the headset cable routing.

According to Cervelo, it has kept the asymmetric cups, threading them into a T47-sized hole in the frame using standard inboard and outboard cups — clever!

Cervelo has also borrowed the headset bearing dimensions from a number of its existing bikes and allows you to use any bar and stem combo — a feature that is becoming a rarity with gravel bikes. Unfortunately, borrowing from its existing bikes also means the cables and brake lines run through the upper headset bearing and into the frame — so call any liveability gains on the front end a wash.

At the back, the new Aspero has opted for an SRAM UDH hanger, which not only simplifies replacing one should you have a whoopsie, but it also means it can be run with a T-Type Transmission if that floats your boat.

Moving up, the Cervelo has also opted for a standard 27.2mm round seatpost held in place by an external clamp. In a world of proprietary seat posts and hidden seat clamps, the simplicity is refreshing.

At the back the Canadian brand has opted for a UDH, meaning you can run a T-Type Transmission.

Cervelo Aspero geometry

The geometry of the Aspero is nearly identical to the previous version bar a few minor adjustments.

Everything has stayed the same except for the chainstay length, which has grown to 425mm, and the standover height, which is now 733mm.

2024 Cervelo Aspero Geometry
The geometry hasn’t changed a whole lot from the previous Aspero.

Interestingly, the press documents don’t mention the flip chip in the fork. Dubbed the Trail Mixer, this flip chip changed the rake of the fork by 5mm. When the Aspero was first launched, swapping in 650B wheels and tyres was still a feature that folks wanted. While a 650B wheel with a fat tyre and a 700c wheel and skinnier tyres have a similar width and circumference, they are not exactly the same, the Trail Mixer was designed to maintain the handling characteristics by keeping the trail figure consistent. Given that even swapping from a 40-45mm tyre can affect the trail and handling of a bike, it was a novel approach that we’ve since seen across a few other gravel bikes.

While 650B wheels and tyres have largely gone out of fashion on gravel bikes, the Trail Mixer is back and allows you to customise how the Aspero handles depending on the terrain. However, it’s not exactly a trailside switch, as you also have to change the brake calliper mount.

As with the previous model, three distinct forks are used across the six available sizes again to maintain similar handling characteristics across the range.

The flip chip in the fork is back and Cervelo has also employed size specific forks to maintain a consistent trail figure and handling across the range.
We have just taken delivery of an Aspero frameset and will be hanging onto it as a long term tester. Built up with a Shimano GRX 820 12-speed mechanical groupset it tipped the scales at 8.2kg. Stay tuned for more with this peachy Cervelo.

Cervelo Aspero pricing and availability

Cervelo AU is bringing in half a dozen builds of the Aspero with both electric and mechanical drivetrains, starting at $4,100 AUD and there will also be a frame kit available for $3,600 AUD. The new Aspero is available at launch, here is a break down of the models available.

The top-spec Aspero comes with some fancy Reserve carbon wheels and a SRAM Rival AXS drivetrain

Cervelo Aspero Rival XPRL AXS 1

There is only one frame, so the only difference between the models is the spec. Subbing in a 2x Shimano GRX drivetrain and Fulcrum alloy wheels cuts a significant amount off the overall price.

Aspero GRX 820

Cervelo is offering a 1x SRAM AXS build in the same second-tier price range.

Aspero XPLR AXS 1

Taking another step down in price, the Aspero XPLR sees SRAM’s mechanical Apex groupset and a slightly cheaper set of Alex rims.

Aspero XPLR 1

The Shimano GRX 620 build is the only complete bike in this lovely Peaches and Cream colourway.

Aspero GRX RX610

The most budget friendly build of the new Aspero comes with a 1x Shimano GRX 12-speed group.

Aspero GRX RX610 1

Aspero Frameset

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