Parapera Anemos Masterpiece – The least gram for the buck?

Does it get any lighter? Probably not at this price. In addition to the impressive 7.07 kg on the scale, the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece boasts high-quality components from Schmolke and Campagnolo. But is this gravel bike also a masterpiece when it comes to having fun?

Does weight play a huge role on gravel bikes? Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. Our gravel race bike group test allowed us to experience first-hand that an increase in weight certainly doesn’t make a bad gravel bike. The Ridley Kanzo Fast won despite being the heaviest bike on test. Conversely, of course, that also means a lightweight gravel bike isn’t automatically the best. Weight, naturally, plays a much more significant role with road bikes, especially those made for climbing, where hauling less weight up the mountain means you can ride faster. If the lightweight gravel category doesn’t yet exist, then the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece is here to ring it in, tipping the scales at just 7.07 kg and therefore on par with some road bikes. You would expect a build featuring lightweight components from Schmolke to be light, of course. What’s truly surprising considering these specs is the price point of just € 5,999. So, where’s the catch with this matte black featherweight? We left no stone unturned to find it.

Slender and trim – The Parapera Anemos Masterpiece in detail

Weighing in at just 7.07 kg, it’s no surprise that the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece doesn’t have oversized tubes and deep aero profiles. The gravel bike looks delicate with its slender tubes and skinny fork. Components like the seat post, handlebar, and stem also match the svelte tubing of the frame. The transition from the seat tube to the skinny seat stays is particularly striking, consisting of a mono-stay adorned with the Parapera logo. In general, the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece is an absolute feast for the eyes. The simple and clean matt black finish with glossy black decals results in a high-quality stealth look. Apart from the logos, the frame isn’t lacquered, to save weight. It’s immediately evident that the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece isn’t a budget bike, and you wouldn’t guess that it comes in well below €10,000.

The specced components further underline this impression. Schmolke Carbon, who have a particularly large following amongst weight weenies, supply both the TLO seat post and Gravel Carbon TLO handlebar. Even the Selle Italia SLR Boost Tekno Superflow saddle is made of carbon. Only the stem of the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece is made of aluminium, and it matches the Parapera logo perfectly when viewed from above. Apart from the thumb shifter, the Campagnolo EKAR controls also suit this clean and elegant gravel bike well. The Campagnolo Levante wheels are squarely aimed at gravel with an internal rim width of 25 mm. Combined with the 40 mm wide Schwalbe G-One R tires, this results in a coherent package.

The cables aren’t routed internally throughout, thereby muddying the otherwise clean look but also saving a few grams. Nevertheless, the cable routing looks pretty old school. Parapera’s weight saving ambitions presumably also came at the cost of adventure and everyday features like bosses in the fork or mudguard mounting points. At least there’s place for a third bottle cage underneath the down tube. You won’t find attachment points for a front derailleur, however – the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece is designed exclusively for a 1x drivetrain. Like almost all other Parapera bikes, this featherweight is configurable in the online shop.

Tuning tip: longer, steeper stem for a more aggressive riding position

Parapera Anemos Masterpiece – Geometry and intended use

Thanks to the use of T1000 carbon fibre, the frame is about 400 g lighter than the standard Anemos. The wall thicknesses of the frame are thinner in various places, there’s no way of attaching a luggage rack, and the maximum permissible weight limit has also dropped from 145 kg to 125 kg. As such, the intended use is clearly aimed at fast rides, elevation gain, and performance. Everyday practicality has had to take a back seat. According to Parapera, it isn’t even suitable for attaching frame bags. The geometry is quite relaxed for a performance-oriented gravel bike. The stack to reach ratio is 1.52 for the size M, which is clearly on endurance side of the spectrum. But the 145 mm head tube is quite short. In addition, the wheelbase is relatively long at 1,035 mm. As a result, the geometry should be sporty yet stable.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Top tube	520 mm	535 mm	555 mm	570 mm	585 mm	597 mm
Seat tube	470 mm	490 mm	510 mm	530 mm	550 mm	570 mm
Head tube	110 mm	125 mm	145 mm	160 mm	185 mm	200 mm
Head angle	70.5°	71.5°	71.5°	71.5°	71.5°	71.5°
Seat angle	74.5°	74°	73°	73°	72.5°	72.5°
Chainstay	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm
BB Drop	77,5 mm	77,5 mm	75 mm	75 mm	72,5 mm	72,5 mm
Wheelbase	1,022 mm	1,024 mm	1,035 mm	1,050 mm	1,061 mm	1,076 mm
Reach	375 mm	374 mm	379 mm	390 mm	392 mm	403 mm
Stack	541 mm	560 mm	576 mm	591 mm	612 mm	629 mm

The Parapera Anemos Masterpiece in review

Grabbing the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece and lifting it up for the first time does feel somewhat magical. A gravel bike this light almost seems unreal. The minimal weight can also be felt on the first few kilometres aboard the bike. Not just in the incredibly nimble and fast acceleration, which invites you to get up to race pace in no time, but also in the overall riding experience. The handling of the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece can best be described as manoeuvrable and extremely agile. It just makes fast corners and winding trails a hoot. The steering is so fast that it almost feels nervous. Changing direction requires minimal input. This is convenient on technical climbs and descents, of course. However, you’ll have to acclimate to the playful handling on long gravel roads and high-speed descents.

You’d expect the tubing to be quite compliant considering the thin wall thicknesses. However, most of the bike’s comfort is provided by the seat post and saddle. The frame, on the other hand, feels rather stiff. Admittedly, it’s rather difficult to trust in the slender, almost delicate frame on rough trails at first. But the longer you ride the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece, the more confident you’ll feel. The components perform brilliantly together and are a lot of fun. As the geometry figures suggest, this gravel bike isn’t extremely aggressive. The riding position is rather balanced and centred. Therefore, the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece feels just as comfortable in the drops when you’re on the attack as it does on relaxed gravel tours. It doesn’t feel very racy, though fewer spacers and a longer stem could help.

Who is the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece for?

This question is easy to answer in terms of weight: anyone who likes their bikes to be as light as possible. If you’re looking for a gravel bike that’s optimised for weight and you enjoy lively handling, the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece is the perfect choice. However, the bike is clearly designed for quick jaunts with lots of elevation gain because it makes little sense for anything else. It’s not equipped for bikepacking or commuting. Anyone who values minimal design or everything carbon will also like this bike.

Our conclusion on the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece

The Parapera Anemos Masterpiece is consistently optimised for weight, resulting in an insanely light gravel bike. This is underlined by the bike’s overall subtle and classy look. The lively and efficient handling also suits the bike’s character to a tee. Despite this, the riding position aboard the Parapera Anemos Masterpiece feels too relaxed for a race bike. However, the weight-to-price ratio is hard to beat, and should leave you with enough change to make any desired adjustments.

For more information visit 1bike4life.com

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Words: Martin Staffa Photos: Jan Richter