Cervelo Aspero is now a proper, very affordable gravel bike

Earlier models had limited tire clearance, very road-like geometry, and an emphasis on racing. The new Cervelo Aspero chills out a bit, with a 5mm longer wheelbase, room for 700×46 tires, and dropped seatstays for better compliance.

But it’s still faster, saving 3W of drag over the original, with aero shaping and a total lack of cargo mounts save for bottle cages and a top tube bag. It switches to T47 BB and UDH hanger, and fits larger chainrings in both 1x and 2x configurations. Frameset is $2,500, complete bikes start at just $3,200.

Colnago G4-X gravel race bike is a modern purebred

The new Colnago G4-X puts a heavy emphasis on racing, actually getting a steeper head angle and more reach than the G3-X it replaces, which puts the riders in a more aggressive position and gives the bike sharper handling. It will double as their cyclocross bike, but it’s still full gravel, with 45mm tire clearance, hidden top tube bag mounts, and a third bottle cage mount under the downtube.

The carbon monocoque frame takes cues from their V4R road race bike, with extra stiff hi-mod fibers around the BB and chainstays, and it can even fit road 2x gearing. Or any 1x or 2x electronic or mechanical gravel group. It has UDH and internal stealth routing. Available June 20, from $4,750 to $9,750.

Ridley Grifn all-road bike comes in racy carbon, alloy & e-bike

The Ridley Grifn is their all-rounder lite-gravel bike, and now the top-end Grifn RS carbon model gets lighter and faster for racing. Optimized, lighter fibers drop 140g. Aero shaping on the fork crown, headtube, seat tube & post decrease drag by 5%. Geometry sits between road and fun gravel, tire clearance is 42mm, and it keeps internal dynamo wire routing for front and rear lights.

The Grifn A (alloy) shares the same geometry and mounting points, but only fits up to 700×40 with 1x drivetrains (700×38 with 2x), plus semi-integrated routing and full internal dynamo wiring. Custom accessories from Apidura are available for both RS/A models, and a 650B XXXS size is coming for all models in the future.

The E-Grifn (e-bike) uses a compact Mahle X20 with 350Wh battery, and 250W/55Nm motor. Other than the larger downtube, it’s very similar to the RS in design and clears 700×42 tires.

Look 785 Huez climbing bike now made with Nano Tubes

Look’s new 785 Huez gets a new frame with carbon nano-tubes in it, which lets them reduce tube wall thickness to save weight. The 980g claimed frame weight, 390g fork isn’t the lightest by any means, but it’s really stiff where needed for power transfer, and they say it’s also comfortable and durable.

It switches to internal stealth routing through the headset, a T47 BB, has wider 700x32mm tire clearance, and only works with electronic groups. Tubes are frame-size specific. Frameset price $2790, bikes from $5,500-$6,500.

Bianchi Infinito brings stealth routing down a notch

The Bianchi Infinito endurance road bike sits below their top-level Infinito CV (which has added vibration damping features), but now it adds the same internal stealth cable routing for a more upscale look. It also gets the same geometry, putting the rider in a more upright position for comfortable long-distance riding.

Two new colors -sparkly dark purple and their trademark Celeste Green- and three build options from mechanical Shimano 105 up to Ultregra Di2 range from €2,599 to €5,299.

Orbea Rise lightweight eMTB gets more powerful, same weight

The new carbon Orbea Rise eMTB gets more travel, more power, and a stiffer frame, all without gaining weight. Now available in two travel versions – the Rise LT has 150mm rear w/ 160mm forks and a coil spring option, and the Rise SL has a carbon shock extender that changes it to 140mm travel rear with 150mm forks.

Custom batteries have 16% more energy density, with lighter 420Wh and bigger 630Wh options plus a 210Wh range extender. The custom tuned Shimano EP motors pump out 54Nm torque in normal mode, but can boost up to 85Nm when needed. Updated geo and design fits 200-230mm droppers on all frame sizes. (video here)

Sage Titanium Optimator XC bike more optimated

The 2nd gen Sage Optimator switches to US-sourced titanium tubing and gets a 2º slacker head angle with a longer 120mm fork, giving it more downhill capability while retaining its XC racing roots. The back end gets 3D-printed dropouts and drive side chainstay yoke to increase tire clearance to 29×2.4 and make room for a big 36-tooth chainring.

It’s optimized for wireless electronic drivetrains and stealth droppers, but can be ordered with internal or external routing for mechanical groups, too. Rear brake hose runs externally for easy servicing. Frames are $6,000, made to order, with a singlespeed dropout option also available.

Digit Ring 29er trail bike with integrated shock

The new Digit Ring takes their Analog suspension, which builds the air shock directly into the top tube, and puts it on a new 29er with 128mm rear travel. The design puts a lower link between the BB and rear triangle, allowing the top to articulate in a way that it can drive the rear shock perfectly straight into the tube. This reduces moving parts, lets them use higher air volume, and keep the frame very laterally stiff.

The bike is available for pre-order with “an eclectic mix of parts” with a $1,000 deposit. Only 3o will be made this year, all built and assembled in the USA. Total bike price is $9,845 with your choice of Cerakote colors, before upgrades.

Trek Procaliber alloy hardtail brings better budget performance

The new Trek Procaliber 6 Alloy replaces their X-Caliber model with a better, slacker, more capable XC race bike that’s just $1,699. The geo and features largely match the carbon Procaliber, but add rear rack and kickstand mounts without dumbing down the standards.

That makes it very upgradeable, with Boost spacing, 120mm forks, and standard internal cable routing. But the starter spec ain’t bad: 12-speed Shimano Deore/XT group, Rockshox fork, tubeless-ready wheels, and 29×2.4″ tires.

Formula Nebbia is a user-tunable air shock like no other

The Formula Nebbia is their first air mountain bike shock, and it does things very differently, which requires some explaining.

First, it uses a bladder-based IFP rather than a nitrogen gas-backed IFP. Gas-charged IFPs require very high pressure to prevent air bubbles from forming in the oil, which means seals have to be very tight, which means stiction. This often reduces small bump compliance, but a bladder can quickly and easily expand as oil flows past the compression damping valve during compression, so the shock can react very quickly.

Second, the compression damping circuit is user swappable and it comes with three CTS (Compression Tuning System) inserts (soft, medium, firm) so you can tune it for you and your bike. Multiple external dials let you adjust it even more. Clip-in spacers also let you adjust the stroke by 2.5/5/7.5mm.

Third, the air spring can be tuned with their NeoPos spacers, which are closed cell foam volume spacers that compress as the fork compresses. This provides a mellower ramp compared to standard plastic volume reducers, but still lets you tune the air spring. The negative spring is an air/coil combination, which is also unique.

Hutchinson Caracal Race gravel tires

Handmade in France, the new Hutchinson Caracal Race gravel tires use a bonded casing that minimizes overlap (and skips any added puncture protection) to save weight and improve suppleness. Claimed weight is just 475g (700×40, tan wall only). Their Mach 3.0 rubber has more rebound (helps propel you forward), is cut-resistant, rolls fast, and is grippy enough its intended use – race days on dry, hardpacked, not-very-technical terrain.

For training and fun days, the standard Caracal gets bead-to-bead Hardskin puncture protection and extra casing overlap under the center tread. Claimed weight is somehow also 475g, but it won’t be as supple. Also 700×40 only, but with tan and black sidewall options. (video here)

Delium adds $50 gravel bike tires

Consumer direct brand Delium has added gravel bike tires to their lineup with three tread patterns. Left to right, the SpeedX (450g, 38/40/45mm) is designed for fast, dry conditions with tightly spaced center knobs to roll fast, and much larger cornering knobs to bite into the turns.

The AllRounder (448g, 38/43/50mm) is a general purpose tire that handles typical gravel and dirt roads. The Loamer (457g, 40/45/50mm) has bigger knobs with more spacing for wet and soft conditions. All three have dual-ply 62tpi sidewalls with a single-layer under the tread cap, which probably makes them supple but without much puncture protection. All are just $49.99 each.

Forge + Bond add thermoplastic road (and enduro) wheels

Forge + Bond make their carbon rims with a thermoplastic rather than typical resin, which means they’re recyclable since any scrap or old products can be chopped up, re-melted, and formed into new (non-bike rim) products.

Originally launched with mountain bike rims, they’ve just added a new, stronger 27.5″ rear wheel for enduro, aimed at mixed-wheel riders and e-bikers who go hard.

The bigger news is the new road bike wheels, with 35mm & 45mm deep rims with wide 35mm internal rim with and shaping optimized for 700x32mm tires, but compatible with tires from 28mm up to 47mm wide. Available with multiple hub options starting at $1,899. Wheelset weights not listed, but rims are 410g and 455g.

Madrone makes it easy to repair SRAM Eagle derailleurs

Madrone makes replacement parts for SRAM Eagle mechanical and AXS derailleurs, including new inner and outer link plates, pins, and pulley cages (shown on left). These let you repair a broken derailleur for less than what it costs to replace it, and their parts look stronger and better than stock.

On the left, the green prototype is their own 12-speed MTB derailleur that uses sealed cartridge bearings for ultra smooth, precise mechanical shifting. It’s compatible with SRAM and Shimano shifters by swapping the rear cable cam.

But the most impressive part is the play-free hanger installation bolt. Go ahead, go wiggle your SRAM derailleur and watch the play at that bolt, I’ll wait. Madrone’s has zero (ZERO!!!) play, and it’s glorious. Fully rebuildable, it’ll be $395 when it launches.

Tout Terrain CINQ PLUG6 Plus headset power adapter

If you use a dynamo front hub to power regular bike lights, or wanted to use it to recharge your phone, GPS, etc., then you’ll need a USB adapter. The new CINQ PLUG6 Plus combines a dynamo-to-USB adapter with a 1,100mAh battery and electronics to smooth power delivery.

That means it delivers a steady, constant output regardless of how slow or erratic you’re rolling, so it can safely power and charge your electronics. And it’ll keep lights from dimming and shining as your speed varies. When those things aren’t drawing too much power, the dynamo hub recharges the CINQ’s battery. MSRP $359.

On Stage

The Radavist wants us all to Shred Lightly, if not for us, do it for the ‘crust.