CDC : Cervélo is a brand with a history in racing and a main objective to go fast – why build a gravel bike?

MB, CERVELO : We had been spending the last several years jamming big tyres into our R5’s and riding the gravel roads all over the greater Toronto area. At the same time, we noticed that with each new crop of gravel bikes they were getting taller, slacker, slower handling.  All of which are very well suited for a particular type of riding.  But, highly competitive events such as Dirty Kanza were being won on Cyclocross bikes and it became clear to us that a focus on speed in the gravel segment was not yet being addressed. We were in the perfect position to make a gravel race bike.

CDC : Based on that, what are the most important elements of design in the Áspero

MB, CERVELO : For us, it was simple.  The bike needed to be fast.  Due to the broad range of types of gravel events, riders are using various setups depending on the event, or simply their riding style preference.  The larger the overall tyre diameter gets, the slower the handling of the bike.  Our Trailmixer flip chip in the fork allows the rider to adjust the fork offset to result in the same quick handling no matter what wheel and tyre size combination they are running.

We also knew that our customer was likely going to be running a lightweight setup, thus didn’t need additional mounts on their bike for bags, racks or fenders.  The exception being the top tube bag mount and the third bottle cage.  These features were a clear must, given the very long-distance events that are growing in popularity.

Finally, the bike has to look good.  We, as riders, are inspired by the aesthetics of a bike.  Not only is Áspero a fast bike, it also looks fast!

CDC : What are the differences between the design of the Áspero and the R5?

MB, CERVELO : The Áspero definitely takes some design cues from R5. R5 is the benchmark for ride quality and much of that ride quality comes from the shapes of the tubes themselves.  You might notice that the Áspero downtube shape is nearly identical to that of the R5.

The R5 was designed for the high mountains of a Grand Tour with an emphasis on stiffness to weight performance, and it wouldn’t be a Cervélo without also being aerodynamic.  For example, the R5 fastback design is an efficient way to manufacture the top tube to seat stay junction, resulting in very low weight and a high level of stiffness.  Additionally, the rider position and handling geometry are low and quick, respectively.

The Áspero was developed for a much different use case, and rider comfort over long distances was key.  You can see this in dropped seat stays which add compliance, lower stiffness figures, and an additional 8mm of frame stack compared to R5.

CDC : Where do your designers look for inspiration? And do they look outside of cycling?

MB, CERVELO :This question could be answered in a couple different ways: 1. Frame design 2. Graphic design.

Here’s what our Senior Designer, Jonathan Strack, has to say about frame design inspiration:

“While a lot of my inspiration does come from the cycling industry and community, what inspires me most is not so much what other manufacturers are doing, but what riders are doing. How are they using their bikes? How are they customizing them and making them their own? 

I also spend a lot of time looking at concept sketches from other industries, whether that be automotive, architecture, or consumer products . I try to absorb themes and stylistic cues from other designers, and how they communicate the purpose of their design through sketches and illustrations.

Lastly, graphic design, and typography in particular, has a huge influence on my design. The time and attention to detail that goes into type design is truly inspiring. The parallels between type design and product design prove that scale, balance, and proportion are fundamental in making something look and feel right, and ultimately beautiful.”

Here’s what our Graphic Designer, Alain Lanusse has to say:

The auto industry is a great resource for color and finish and we tend to have a similar relationship with our bikes as riders as a supercar fan would with their car.  Also, any high-performance products serve as valuable inspiration, particularly in industries that adapt to market changes quickly, such as footwear and electronics.  In general, though, inspiration can come from anything that creates that “wow factor” or makes you excited.  Sometimes, you don’t necessarily even know why.

CDC : What are a bike brand’s thoughts on the design in the clothing sector?

MB, CERVELO : We see that there is a wide variety of cycling clothing style, particularly in the gravel sector.  Ultimately, clothing has to be functional but aesthetics definitely influence the purchasing decisions for clothing.

A high quality chamois and a forgiving leg compression band will create loyal customers. Personally, sock height is a clear expression of style.

CDC : What do you think are the most interesting or important developments in design on the horizon for gravel bikes?

MB, CERVELO : There are many things being experimented with on gravel bikes: tyre size, tread patterns, suspension, motors, adjustable geometry (ie. our Trailmixer fork).  This is largely due to the fact that gravel riding is different depending on the type of rider you are, and where you are around the world.

In my view, these things can’t be prioritized, but rather all should be taken into consideration for the evolution of gravel. I hope there is never a clear definition of gravel riding and what exactly a gravel bike is…the interpretation is what makes this segment so much fun!

The Cervélo Áspero gravel bike as well as the R5 road bike are available to rent from our Nice café.