Cervelo Aspero Force AXS 1 Bike

The Cervelo Aspero Force AXS 1 Bike is the second-generation version of the gravel bike Cervelo introduced in 2019, a bike the brand built around the idea that gravel racing doesn't have to mean giving up speed. The new Aspero keeps that original brief intact while addressing the small frustrations riders found with the first version, from cable routing to bottom bracket serviceability, resulting in a frame that rides like the original but covers ground faster and holds up better over a long day.

Cervelo made the new Aspero more aerodynamic than its predecessor, though the gains here are framed less as raw speed and more as energy conservation over a long gravel race, the kind of marginal savings that matter more on the back half of a five-hour effort than on a short group ride. To offset that stiffer, more aero front end, Cervelo dropped the seat stays for added compliance out back, a change borrowed from lessons learned developing the R5-CX. That same cross-pollination shows up in the frame's mud clearance, widened after testing at events like Unbound, so the carbon frame holds up when the course turns into a swamp instead of gravel. The fork is Cervelo's own all-carbon design, and the frame runs a T47a asymmetric threaded bottom bracket, a rider-serviceable standard the brand pioneered on the R5-CX that trades the stiffness of press-fit for a bottom bracket you can actually service at home without a shop visit. A UDH-compatible derailleur hanger rounds out the frame, keeping the door open for future drivetrain updates.

The build on this Aspero Force AXS 1 leans into wide-range gearing over a second front chainring. SRAM's Force XPLR AXS E1 shifters and hydraulic disc brakes handle shifting and stopping, paired with a SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type rear derailleur and a 10-52 12-speed cassette, a mullet-style setup that borrows Eagle's mountain bike range for a single 46-tooth chainring up front. It's a drivetrain built for riders who'd rather have one wide range to shift through than manage a front derailleur on loose, technical terrain. The crankset includes an integrated power meter, so structured training and race pacing come standard rather than as an add-on. SRAM Paceline Centerlock rotors handle braking duty, and the whole groupset is wireless, which keeps the cockpit and cable routing clean.

Cervelo's own Reserve wheels round out the build, a 48mm-deep front and 53mm-deep rear GR wheelset built on DT Swiss hubs and set up tubeless from the factory. WTB's Vulpine TCS tires come mounted at a generous 700x45c, wide enough to soak up chatter on rough doubletrack while still rolling efficiently on hardpack and pavement sections between gravel sectors. The cockpit pairs a Cervelo AB09 carbon handlebar, flared 16 degrees for extra control in the drops on descents, with an alloy stem and a carbon seatpost tuned to work with those dropped seat stays. A Fizik Vento Argo X3 saddle finishes the build. Cervelo and RA also include practical touches most gravel racers end up buying separately: a Smartpak top tube storage bag plus front and rear accessory mounts, so computer, lights, or a small bag have a home without zip ties.

This build sits in the middle of the Aspero lineup, a step up from the mechanical Rival and Apex builds and one tier below the top GRX Di2 spec, and it's aimed at riders who want a genuinely race-capable gravel bike without needing to think about a front derailleur or worry about running out of low gear on a punchy climb. It suits everything from local gravel races to long, self-supported days where the accessory mounts and wide tire clearance start to matter as much as the frame's aero details. Available in Quarry and Dusty Unicorn colorways across sizes 48cm through 61cm, the Aspero Force AXS 1 is built for riders who race gravel, not just ride it.