The Moment You Ride It, You'll Love It: The Ridley Aster Gravel Bike

This bike is fun!

My first impression of the ASTR was, to be honest, a bit peculiar. It's a strange model that accommodates unusually wide tires, even though it's not an adventure bike. That was my impression when I first saw the catalog. But when I actually rode it, the "fun!" factor came first, before any specs. I could just start riding without much effort, and the routes were limitless. Before I knew it, I had covered a lot of ground. That's the kind of bike it is.

What kind of bike is the ASTR?

The ASTR is categorized as a gravel racer within Ridley's lineup. It's designed with aerodynamics and stability at race speeds in mind, with a position similar to a road racer, but it doesn't feel as twitchy as typical race models. While speed is a core focus, it feels like it's balanced to be easy to handle even on casual rides.

Road bike feel, no road limitations

The riding sensation, including position and handling, is almost exactly like a road bike. The test bike had 40c tires, so the lightness couldn't quite match a road bike, but I think even those used to riding road bikes wouldn't feel out of place. And yet, rough road surfaces don't bother it. There's a sense of security that allows you to confidently ride off-road. The ASTR can accommodate tires up to 52c, so a key feature is the ability to significantly change its riding character by choosing different tires. It feels like the range you can ride expands while maintaining the feel of a road bike.

Wheels and tires expand the fun

If you have two sets of wheels, the ASTR's fun factor increases by a level. By using different wheels for on-road and off-road, you can have a wide range of fun with just one bike.

I also tried riding with wheels fitted with 28c road tires, and the riding impression was almost entirely like a road bike.

There was absolutely no discomfort when riding on paved roads.
However, when asked if it became dramatically faster, it wasn't really the case. Perhaps I had excessive expectations, but I didn't get the results I had hoped for.
The charm of the ASTR, such as its comfort and sense of security, seemed to diminish somewhat.
For mainly on-road riding, 35c seems to offer the best balance.

For those who ride paved roads usually, but occasionally gravel

If your main riding is on paved roads, but you occasionally want to ride gravel. If you want to ride on rough roads without worry. If both speed and enjoyment are important to you. The ASTR is a bike that I think strikes just the right balance for such a person.

Realistic price and ease of swapping parts

The ASTR frameset in the mid-range grade is 330,000 yen including tax. In the gravel racer category, when sold as a frame, it's often only high-end models that are available, but among them, the ASTR is relatively accessible. It's a very realistic option if you want to swap parts from a bike you already own.

Consultations for customization and part swaps

Grumpy currently has an ASTR frame (XS size) in stock. We can assist with size selection, part swaps, and consultations for road-oriented or gravel-oriented specifications. We can also discuss actual riding experiences, such as operating with two wheelsets or choosing tires, so please feel free to contact us if you're interested.