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As an ambassador and sales representative for the Swedish brand POC, which specializes in cycling protection, David Hamou is, above all, a true enthusiast of cycling and high-quality gear. La Traka, the Roc d’Azur, l’Étape du Tour, the Gravel Crit Series… he’s the kind of person you regularly see at major events, always with a particularly keen eye for gear. His Cervélo Áspero-5 2026 actually says a lot about him: fast, meticulously maintained, thought out down to the smallest detail… but chosen first and foremost because he liked it. And David stands by that choice wholeheartedly.
By Jeff Tatard – © Photos: David Hamou
“The look. Above all, I choose a bike that I like—one that catches my eye. ” There you have it. David Hamou has probably just summed up his Bike Check better than we ever could have. Because behind his Cervélo Áspero-5 lies more than just a 7.7 kg race gravel bike, built with SRAM Red XPLR and meticulously selected down to the smallest detail. Above all, there’s a conviction: before being fast, high-performance, or versatile, a bike must make you want to ride it just by looking at it.
And this one, with its Mercury paint job featuring purple highlights, its highly personalized build, and that obsession with detail, says a lot about its owner. Welcome to 3bikes’ Bike Check #003.
What? What kind of bike do you have?
A 2026 Cervélo Áspero-5, size 54. But more than that, it’s the third chapter in a story that’s been unfolding since the Áspero’s debut.
David bought the first generation as soon as it came out in 2019. He then upgraded to the 2024 version before falling for this one: full integration, UDH dropouts, more aerodynamic lines, and that Mercury paint job—whose purple highlights played a major role in his decision.
The current build centers around a SRAM Red XPLR E1, with a 48-tooth chainring, a 10-46 cassette, and 170 mm cranks. The Quarq power meter is integrated into the chainring.
As for the wheels, the Zipp 303s are logging their final kilometers on the bike: a pair of ENVE Pro Gravel wheels will soon take their place.
The tires already reflect the bike’s philosophy: Specialized Pathfinder 45 mm in the rear for efficiency, Tracer 50 mm in the front for extra grip—all tubeless, of course, and inflated to around 1.7 to 1.8 bar.
And then there are the details. The purple Wolf Tooth pedals complement the SRAM chain and the paint’s shimmer. Because with David, even what might seem like a detail is never really just that.
Why? Why this bike?
The answer could be summed up in one word: the look. “Above all, I choose a bike that I like, one that catches my eye. It’s more of a treat for myself!” That says a lot about him.
David has been a long-time Cervélo fan and has followed the Áspero’s evolution almost generation by generation. The first version already performed remarkably well, but the cables were still exposed and tire width was limited. The next version corrected some of those flaws. With this Áspero-5, he finally found almost everything he was looking for: integration, aerodynamics, UDH, versatility, and a design that makes him want to ride.
The bike was purchased as a complete bike, since a frame kit wasn’t available. But L’Échappée Cycles, in Bois-Guillaume, took back certain parts so that David could gradually build the bike he truly had in mind. The original XO mullet setup was thus replaced with the Red XPLR E1, the Cervélo HB18 cockpit, and new wheels.
The goal? “The ultimate gravel bike. With reliable gear that I’ve been using for quite a few years.”
In the Vexin region, his daily playground combines farm roads, forests, and much rougher sections. And when he heads down to Girona, it’s to experience what he likes to call “gravel caviar.” So he needed a bike capable of handling just about anything. To the point where, with 30- or 32-mm tires, it becomes a true substitute for a road bike.
How? How did you build it?
For David, a bike is never really finished.
The Zipp 303s are a good example of this constant quest for improvement. He really loves their rims, which he considers nearly indestructible, but he’s much less fond of their hubs. That’s why the ENVE Pro Gravel wheels are on their way—chosen specifically for their wide rims and ceramic bearings.
Because bearings are precisely one of his pet peeves: bottom brackets, hubs, headset… David favors ceramic wherever he can, for smoothness but also for longevity when properly maintained.
His favorite component, however, is far less spectacular. “The handlebar tape!” An Australian Burgh, chosen as much for its comfort as for its design.
The same logic applies to the gear ratios. The 48-tooth chainring stays on for rides in the Paris region, where, paired with the 10-46 cassette, it covers just about every situation. For Girona or the Alps, David simply switches to a 44-tooth chainring.
And the bike continues to evolve. The Shimano XTR components have recently been replaced by the new Wolf Tooth pedals. The next planned upgrade: swapping out the SRAM Red calipers for Hope ones, to gain more stopping power and, above all, a better feel when braking.
However, there remains one compromise that can’t be fixed with a new part: the maximum 45 mm at the rear. David would have liked to be able to fit a 50 there.
So what? How does it perform out on the trail?
“Agile, fast, comfortable.” Three words that pretty much sum up the Áspero-5, according to David. On fast sections, its aerodynamics and stiffness let him easily maintain speed—provided, he notes, that his legs can keep up. When the terrain gets trickier, its maneuverability takes over. And that’s important for someone who particularly enjoys technical sections and still does a bit of cyclocross in the winter.
Its main strength, however, remains its versatility. Fast gravel, more challenging terrain, long distances, or road riding: David hasn’t yet found a situation where his Cervélo has truly fallen short.
The Traka 200 provided a real-world test: 200 kilometers without any mechanical issues or significant discomfort.
And when he really pushes it? “The bike is just begging for it!” So his verdict is easy: 9/10. The one point deducted is always the same: that darn rear clearance limited to 45 mm.
If someone steals it tomorrow, would you buy the exact same one again?
No. And that’s probably the most surprising answer in this Bike Check, given how much David seems to love his bike.
His explanation is even more surprising: “I never buy the same bike again. It’d be like getting back together with an ex…” There you go. He said it. So it’s not really the Áspero-5 he’s questioning. David loves trying out, discovering, and switching up his gear too much to repeat the exact same story twice.
Tomorrow, he’d probably be looking elsewhere, with a priority that’s become clear: more clearance to fit 50- or even 55-mm tires. A Factor? The latest Ridley? He hasn’t decided yet.
And perhaps that’s ultimately the best way to understand his relationship with cycling: the bike he owns has to be perfectly designed. But the next one still has to make him want to dream.
David’s Bike Check
A quick note from David: “I never buy the same bike twice. That would be like getting back together with an ex…” David gives it a solid 9/10. What does he love? The look, and that Mercury paint with its purple highlights. What annoys him? The rear clearance limited to 45 mm. And while he wouldn’t change a single thing about his setup today, he still wouldn’t buy the same one tomorrow: David loves discovering and testing new gear too much to repeat the same experience twice. His next gravel bike? Probably one capable of handling 50, or even 55 mm tires. |
Same concept. A different bike.
One bike. Four photos. Four questions. Four answers. Bike Check, the 3bikes series that’s less interested in what a brand says about a bike than in the reasons why its owner chose to ride it.
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