Verdict on the Gregario Vera AR test
Für ein Wettkampf-Rennrad ist das teure Gregario vergleichsweise schwer, auch in der Aerodynamik-Wertung nur Durchschnitt. Für die avisierte Kundschaft dürften die Messwerte aber nicht an erster Stelle stehen. Die Zielgruppe sind vielmehr anspruchsvolle – und vor allem solvente – Hobbyradsportler, die ein exklusives und technisch außergewöhnliches Fahrrad suchen und Wert legen auf Individualität und eine persönliche Entstehungsgeschichte zum Produkt.
Data and facts about the Gregario Vera AR
| Weight | 7.52 kg |
| Drivetrain | Campagnolo Super Record 13 |
| Wheelset | Campagnolo Shamal |
| Front tire | Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR 700x28 |
A customised road bike frame was long regarded as a sign of individuality and high craftsmanship - as long as metal was the material of choice. With the triumph of carbon, steel custom cutters have disappeared deep into the niche of craftsmen - even rarer are only frame builders who make carbon frames to measure. Until now, they have generally only been able to build customised lightweight carbon frames by gluing together pre-cut tubes that are not very suitable for the material. Until recently, it was impossible to find a customised frame that met today's expectations in terms of design and aerodynamics.
Monocoque made to measure
The Gregario brand from Italy is causing all the more of a stir with the launch of a sleek aero racer that is built exclusively to measure. The engineers and company founders Salvatore Botrugno and Paolo Baldissera explain that they want to combine classic "made-to-measure" frame construction with modern monocoque carbon technology - because the frame is produced as a monocoque in a mould, as is usual with modern carbon frames in series production. The frames are manufactured entirely in an autoclave, without glued joints between tubes or individual prefabricated modules.
The trick behind this is modular mould segments with interchangeable tool parts and insertable intermediate pieces, allowing the geometry to be adapted with millimetre precision. The developers compare the concept to a classic frame construction gauge, only as a negative mould. Only minimal dividing lines in the raw carbon are visible afterwards. In addition to the frame, the milled aluminium stem and the flat carbon handlebars are also individually adapted, also with millimetre precision. Gregario claims to be able to cover frame sizes from around 45 to 65 centimetres, i.e. for body heights from 1.50 to well over two metres.
The riding position can also be adjusted between "stretched out for racing" and "comfortably upright". Ultimately, as with every frame builder, the 700C wheels are the limit for even larger or smaller frames. The developers do not rule out the possibility of offering smaller wheels at a later date, especially for smaller people, should the need arise. However, the fork and rear triangle would have to be redesigned for this.
Customised down to the last detail
Our Vera AR is built for people of average height, but still looks extremely unique thanks to its special shape. Details such as the milled stem with attached, wing-like handlebars or the seat clamp are not something you see every day. The latter is recessed into the extended seat tube as a cone clamp. Despite being customised, the components are designed to allow a certain degree of adjustability. The handlebars can be adjusted in height and angle, and the stem angle can be varied between -3 and +10 degrees using interchangeable small parts in the stem clamp. The saddle height can also be adjusted by a few centimetres using spacers. The details, some of which were realised with metal parts from the 3D printer, add quite a bit of weight. Their elaborate integration prevented the naked frame from being weighed, but at 7.5 kilograms, the bike is not exceptionally light compared to its exclusive equipment with Campagnolo Super Record and Shamal wheels. Gregario emphasises that the frame has a very stiff and stable carbon layup to make it particularly durable and capable of withstanding all rider weights.
Stable foundation
The TOUR lab confirms that the construction is extremely torsion-resistant and has no disadvantages compared to full monocoque frames off the shelf. Adjustments to the layup, for example to build lighter frames for small and light riders, are not planned for safety reasons. However, variants of the Vera with other fibres could follow in the future. The comfort of the bike turns out to be a weakness, especially at the rear. The integrated seat post is unyielding, which can also be felt on the road. With tyres up to 32 millimetres wide, the frame could at least be tuned a little more comfortably.
Otherwise, the bike is pleasantly smooth and extremely stable. The design instils you with confidence straight away, not least because the attachments make a robust impression. Nothing rattles, nothing creaks, which is not to be taken for granted considering the unconventional way in which the handlebars and seat post are attached. In view of the exalted appearance, the handling is almost a little boring; in a positive sense, the bike is completely predictable and free of quirks. By customising the angles, Gregario wants to ensure that the Vera rides the same in all sizes.
Exclusive audience
Because the Gregario apparently has many aerodynamically motivated features, we tested it in the wind tunnel. 217 watts in standard trim sounds disappointing at first, and the bike is a long way from the aerodynamics of current competition bikes. A few more watts can be teased out with faster wheels, 212 watts with the Zipp 404 reference wheels is a pretty decent value. However, aerodynamics are probably not the top priority for the intended clientele. Gregario does not see himself in direct competition with series manufacturers. The target group is not professionals, but rather discerning - and above all solvent - amateur cyclists who are looking for an exclusive and technically exceptional bike and value individuality and a personal history of the product's creation.
The basic price of 8,500 euros plus VAT for the frameset alone is likely to keep the customer base rather small. More than 20,000 euros would be due for the nobly equipped test bike. It could therefore well be that the bike is delivered more often with a comfort geometry than with the sporty cut of our test specimen. Customers can have their desired dimensions determined by existing bike fitters or submit them themselves. Gregario also offers its own online app that can measure the body with a smartphone camera. However, the final customisation usually takes place in a direct and close exchange between the manufacturer, dealer and customer. In addition to some predefined designs, customised paint finishes are also possible and are implemented by a partner company in nearby Turin. There are no limits to the imagination when selecting the components. The delivery time from order to finished bike is around 10 to 15 weeks.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
