The rider’s ride

Cervélo Áspero-5, £3,999 frameset, cervelo.com

In the increasingly complex world of gravel bikes, the Cervélo Áspero-5 sits very much at the racier end of the spectrum. Its frame is lightweight carbon, the tubes are aero-profiled, the cables have all been hidden away, the geometry is fairly aggressive… in fact it is essentially a road bike with 38mm tyres. Which suited me fine, as the Cambrian Mountains are blessed with a near endless network of high-quality fire roads that are made for riding at speed, with few technical sections to worry about. And despite its racy nature, the Áspero-5 is remarkably comfortable thanks in part to its vibration-damping seatpost, but probably mostly due to those squishy Panaracer Gravel King tyres. If you’re planning a round-the-world tour, the Áspero-5 probably isn’t for you. But if you just want the joy of blasting round your local trails, then it could be the perfect partner.