These 2022 Aspero Rival AXS bikes have been developed by Excel Sports as frameset-up builds. Though similar to Cervelo's complete Rival bike versions, there are some differences in specifications. The frameset, wheelset and components are fully covered by each manufacturers factory warranty, and Excel Sports will be your contact.

The Cervelo Aspero set a new standard in handling, speed, and comfort for gravel-race oriented bikes, and it maintains a best-seller status. Built here with a SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS HRD 1x12 build with wide range gearing, along with a Reynolds ATR DB Carbon Wheelset, along with Ritchey and Cervelo kit items, you have a more affordable, very capable complete package capable of tackling a long gravel event, speedy weekday rides on country roads, and epic weekend days when the terrain opens up before you. The Aspero frameset remains a great frameset that the team at Cervelo worked hard to develop, and it's continued popularity is proof that they achieved their goals.

For gravel racers and speed enthusiasts it is the engineering behind the frame geometry, fork design, an adjustable trail set-up, and overall frame stability that define the Aspero. One major engineering goal of the design was to provide the clearance necessary for 650b x 51mm tires, or 700c x 43mm tires with at least 4mm on either side to spare. This was accomplished in a few key ways. Up front the fork legs have a new carbon lay-up and shaping from the large 12mm thru-axle dropout on up, with an integrated crown that isn't as vertically thick as you'd expect, yet still inherently strong and gravel ready with proper tire clearance. Cervelo also was able to maintain a standard front-center effect, by elongating the top tube, maintaining a road-style seattube angle, and proper trail via an adjustable front dropout design. More on that below. The center of gravity is moved rearwards, as the headtube angles are more gravel/cyclocross than road. The 56cm toptube of the Aspero is 9mm longer than the R-Series road frameset. The headtube itself was kept essentially at moderate road lengths per size, which along with the impressive fork design and integrated headset means that the forward cockpit position feels more like a road bike- your saddle drop to bar can be more like your road fit. At the rear triangle a 420mm chainstay length was achieved with the familiar dropped chainstay design, and a seat-tube cut-out.

The engineers were particularly focused on making sure the Aspero handled properly regardless of wheel and tire size, without compromising the headtube angle. The concept of fork "Trail" is best known in the mountain bike world, but is relevant across all cycling. Cervelo is using what they call their Trail Mixer system to allow the rider to keep effective Trail at 62mm. Larger variations in tire size effect the rearward position of the tire- affecting handling and toe-overlap clearance. By using off-center, bolt-in 12mm thru-axle drop outs, the rider can select the +5 forward position or the -5 rear position of the axle. With a 700x42 gravel tire set-up, such as the stock Aspero Force AXS Disc bike, the +5mm forward is the proper position for best active handling and nimble bike control, which is what faster, race-oriented users want on more technical surfaces. If you moved it to the -5mm rearward position, it would slow the handling down, perhaps better for long, flat rides on firmer, smoother, less technical surfaces. The principles of Trail set-up come down to the measured outside diameter of a mounted tire and desired handling characteristics to determine your Trail Mixer set-up.

The use of the modified Squoval.Max tubeset is clear with the Aspero featuring a substantially larger downtube and massive bottom bracket junction over the R-Series. The integrated fork crown and downtube design resembles the Dropped Downtube of the aero bikes but it seems more functional for strength and visual balance from the tapered headtube through the downtube. The seattube features a squared back, cut-out design, but carries a 27.2mm round seatpost, which can provide more vertical compliance and offers more options. Everything, from the dropped, oversized chainstays, slightly curved, shaped aero seatstays, rear dropouts and Flat Mount disc interface are all stouter for increased strength and torsional stiffness. A modified Future Proof cable guide and internal routing system has an option for a cabled or hydraulic dropper seatpost, and a bolt-on downtube protector handles the debris coming off the front wheel.