£7,800 The Italian brand’s first gravel bike
Will Poole
Weight 8.37kg (M) Frame Monocoque carbon Fork Carbon Gears Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed (9-42t, 38t) Brakes Campagnolo Ekar Wheels Campagnolo Levante Finishing kit FS ACR 95mm x -6˚ alloy stem, FSA K-Wing AGX handlebar, Cipollini carbon 27.2mm seatpost, Selle Italia Model X BB FEC saddle, WTB Raddler 700x45mm tyres
Like Mario Cipollini, the Italian ex-pro behind the brand, the Ago is a fast, flamboyant performer. Unlike the former racer, however, the bike won’t lose interest part way when its preferred terrain is done. With a lot more off-road capability than the brand’s MCM Allroad, the Ago seeks to tick boxes for the aspiring gravel racer as well as the long-distance explorer.
Made as a full monocoque (one-piece frame) carbon unit to improve strength, the Ago has all the hallmarks of a modern performance bike, including a BB86 press-fit bottom bracket, subtly shaped aero profiles and full internal cable routing. Its short, 427mm chainstays across all sizes keep weight over the rear axle to aid traction while improving power transfer and quickening handling.
Ready for adventure
The Ago has your adventurous spirit covered too, with dual bottle-cage mounts in the front triangle, accessory mounts on the underside of the down-tube and on the top-tube, triple-bolt cargo cage mounts on the fork legs and an optional mounting kit for mudguards and pannier rack (with limited compatibility due to its design).
There’s also scope to add a double chainset to give you more gears, and the seatpost is a
27.2mm round unit offering more choice for upgrades. While the 427mm chainstays and 77mm BB drop remain constant across all sizes, everything else is size-specific to ensure a consistent experience for all sizes. The geometry of the Medium Ago on test gently points towards the performance end of the scale with its 386mm reach, 572mm stack, 71˚ head-tube angle, 73.7˚ seat angle and 1,034.2mm wheelbase.
The Ago has a full, gravel-specific Campagnolo Ekar groupset including hydraulic brakes with 160mm rotors. The 1x13 drivetrain comprises a 38t chainring and a 9-42t cassette, which offers enough of a range for both winching up steep gradients and hauling a serious pace on descents.
The closer jumps between the higher gears help make riding at speed smoother.
Campag’s Levante gravel wheels are shod with WTB Raddler 700x45mm tyres set up tubeless. The carbon seatpost is own-brand and topped with a Selle Italia Model X BB FEC saddle, whil
