Cervelo Aspero Gravel Bike (Rival AXS XPLR) 2025

Cervelo Aspero Gravel Bike (Rival AXS XPLR) 2025

In 2019, Áspero took the gravel world by storm, heralding a “new era of speed in gravel.” Fun, but flat out. The new Áspero remains true to its original brief, but with some improvements: a threaded BB shell, neater cable routing, and a UDH-compatible derailleur hanger for those who want to use SRAM’s Transmission drivetrains. And it’s more aero, of course. In the case of Áspero, aerodynamic performance is less about pure speed as a result of drag reduction, and more about conservation of energy. After a big day in a headwind, the three watts saved over the previous Aspero might add up to one less energy gel your stomach has to digest—WORTH IT.

In addition to the drag reduction, we also dropped the seat stays to give a bit more compliance out back, and reduced front-end stiffness slightly to make the last hours of a long race less painful. Between those dropped seat stays, we added in a bit more clearance for mud, too, taking what we learned from R5-CX (and the Unbound mudfest in 2023). It’s a lot of seemingly small improvements, but they add up to a lot. The result is a bike that feels a lot like the original Áspero, but is faster, more comfortable, and more versatile.

THREADED BOTTOM BRACKET
Aspero uses the asymmetrical T47a threaded bottom bracket we pioneered on R5-CX. It’s a simple, rider-serviceable interface that allows us to deliver the benefits of BBRight in a more user-friendly form.

UNIVERSAL DERAILLEUR HANGAR
We used SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standard on the new Aspero. It’s ideal if you want to live your best ‘business in the front, party in the back’ life with one of SRAM’s Transmission drivetrains today, and ensures compatibility for future drivetrain developments.

INTERNAL CABLE ROUTING
Aspero shares the same bearing dimensions as R5, Soloist, R5-CX, and Caledonia, which means you can use any combination of bearing caps and stems. Want a super-racy, fully-internal look? Grab the ST31 and HB13 from R5.

SIZES
48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
FORK
Cervélo All-Carbon, Tapered Aspero Fork
HEADSET
FSA IS2 1-1/4 x 1-1/2
STEM
Cervélo ST36 Alloy, w Cable Management
HANDLEBAR
Cervélo AB09 Carbon, 31.8mm clamp, 16 degree flare
SEATPOST
Cervélo SP19 Carbon 27.2
SADDLE
Prologo Dimension STN
SHIFTERS
SRAM Apex AXS, 12 speed
BRAKE CALIPERS
SRAM Apex
BRAKE ROTOR
SRAM Centerline Centerlock
REAR DERAILLEUR
SRAM Apex XPLR AXS, 12 speed
CASSETTE
SRAM Apex XLPR, 11-44, 12 speed
CHAIN
SRAM Apex, 12 speed
CRANKSET
SRAM Apex 1, 40T, DUB Wide
BOTTOM BRACKET
SRAM DUB Wide, T47 BBright
WHEELS
Fulcrum Rapid Red 300, 12×100(F)/142(R), 24H, 24mm IW, HG freehub, centerlock, tubeless compatible
THRU AXLES
Cervelo Aero Thru-Axles, 12×100/142
TIRES
WTB Vulpine TCS Light Fast Rolling Dual DNA 60tpi 700x40c
ACCESSORIES
Smartpak 400A Top Tube Storage Bag