First ride review: Parapera Atmos – Weight weenie gravel heaven?

Speed-gravel, that’s what the Parapera Atmos is intended for. To keep weight to a minimum, it’s also fitted with components from the road segment. Does it have what it takes? Is it still a gravel bike? And where do you draw the line between road and gravel? To answer these questions, we put the bike to the test.

Parapera is the third bike brand to come from Kirschner Fahrradmanufaktur. Since the company was already building titanium and steel bikes under the Falkenjagd and Rennstahl brands, the German company is now entering the carbon bike market with Parapera. While the ranges of the two sister brands also include mountain bikes and, above all, touring bikes, Parapera is all about road and gravel.

The name Parapera means further in Greek, or in a figurative sense, going further when the asphalt ends. There are three models in the Parapera portfolio. With clearances for 45 mm tires, the Anemos is probably the most versatile option and should also provide the ideal basis for extended tours or daily commuting. As an allroad performance bike, the Aeras should cover a wide range of applications. And then there’s the Atmos, a so-called speed-gravel bike, available in a disc and rim brake version. We tested the disc version of this bike for you.

The Parapera Atmos in detail

Atmos means steam and the name should reflect the bike’s purpose. As a speed-gravel bike, it is made to race along asphalt and easy gravel stretches like a steam train. Its agile handling promises to be fun while offering a respectable climbing performance thanks to its low weight. The frame features classic lines, matching the externally routed cables at the front and the traditional external seat clamp. According to the manufacturer, the bike strikes a good balance between stiffness and comfort thanks to the skinny tubes that provide flex and a corresponding carbon layup. The matte black paintwork and glossy black logos give it a classy finish.

On the other hand, the maximum tire clearance of 33 mm specified by the manufacturer seems very narrow on a bike destined for the gravel segment and raises some questions. Sure, gravel is what you make it, but there are hardly any gravel specific tires on the market with a width of 33 mm. Of course, you can also ride on gravel with skinnier tires developed for use on asphalt, but don’t be fooled by the term speed-gravel. We see the intended use of the Parapera Atmos clearly focused on different kinds of asphalt, though there is nothing wrong with the occasional gravel detour. As such, we would rather call the Atmos an allroad bike. To put things into perspective, Parapera tries the feat of applying a bespoke service to series production as well. This means that each bike is configured individually together with the customer according to his wishes. This is to ensure that everyone gets exactly the bike that is suitable for the individual requirements – beyond discussions about terminology between allroad and gravel.

The Parapera Atmos is available in five sizes from XS to XL. You can find all the geometry figures in the table below. Our size L test bike weighs 6.64 kg and is available for € 8,581. To promote the speed character of the bike, the Atmos relies on a slightly stretched top tube and a slightly shorter head tube. The complete geometry can be found in the table.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Rider height	155–167 cm	165–171 cm	168–179 cm	178–186 cm	185–201 cm
Seat tube	470 mm	490 mm	520 mm	550 mm	580 mm
Top tube	520 mm	535 mm	550 mm	575 mm	595 mm
Head tube	114 mm	129 mm	149 mm	174 mm	199 mm
Head angle	71.5°	72°	72.5°	73°	73°
Seat angle	74.5°	74°	73.5°	73°	72.5°
Chain stay	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm	410 mm	410 mm
Wheelbase	975 mm	982 mm	988 mm	1,004 mm	1,019 mm
Reach	378 mm	383 mm	387 mm	399 mm	406 mm
Stack	513 mm	529 mm	550 mm	575 mm	599 mm
Bottom bracket drop	70 mm	70 mm	70 mm	70 mm	70 mm

Tech-Talk – The components of the Parapera Atmos

To equip the Atmos, Parapera rely on traditional Italian brand Campagnolo. Our test bike came fitted with the electronic Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset. Other build options allow you to choose from the mechanical Super Record, Campagnolo Chorus and the gravel specific Camapgnolo EKAR groupsets. We weren’t convinced of the latter on other test bikes and so we would also refrain from using this groupset on the Atmos. The Super Record EPS, on the other hand, shifts smoothly and delivers a high level of ergonomics once you’ve gotten used to the Campagnolo shifting logic.

However, the gear range is limited in both directions. The 50 t chainring is too small for high-speed asphalt descents while there is no gear small enough on the cassette to save you on long and steep mountain passes with luggage. The Campagnolo disc brakes with 160 mm rotors front and rear are in a league of their own in terms of stopping power, modulation and reliability. For the stem and seat post, Parapera rely on an in-house solution which blends inconspicuously with the rest of the bike thanks to its classic black finish. The Syntace Racelite 2014 handlebar detracts somewhat from the otherwise very high-quality spec. Despite being 440 mm wide, its narrow cross-section looks a little too delicate. Especially on bumpy or technically demanding terrain, we would wish for a bit more grip on the handlebars here.

Groupset Campagnolo Super Record EPS 2 x 12, 50/34 t
Cassette Camapgnolo Super Record 11–29 t
Brakes Campagnolo Disc Brake 160/160 mm
Wheels Camapgnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45
Tires Schwalbe Pro One TLE SK 700 x 28C
Seat post Parapera Carbon extralight 27.2 mm
Handlebar Syntace Racelite 440 mm
Stem Parapera Aluminium Super Light 100 mm
Weight 6.94 kg
Price € 8,581

The wheels of the Parapera Atmos: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45

For the test, the Parapera Atmos rolled on stylish Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheels. Our first ride review of the new flagship model of the Bora series delivered a convincing performance and some exciting features. Most noticeable are the recessed spoke nipples that can still be tensioned from the outside without having to remove the tire. Since the nipple seats are moulded into the carbon layup, it isn’t necessary to drill holes for the nipples, which is claimed to increase the stiffness of the rim. It also means the wheelset is tubeless-ready even without rim tape – a real plus! The Bora Ultra WTO make use of ceramic bearings as well as Campagnolo’s iconic G3 spoke pattern, promising to improve power transmission when sprinting and braking.

During our test of the Parapera Atmos, the wheels didn’t reveal any weaknesses. Their stiffness ensures direct acceleration, reliable braking behaviour and precise cornering. With their 45 mm deep profile, they’re aerodynamic enough to efficiently hold their momentum on flat terrain and light enough to allow for fast climbing. Having an inner width of 19 mm, the rims are optimised for 25 mm tires. That may be sufficient for thoroughbred road bikes or racing but it is rather narrow for use on a modern allroad bike. It raises the question of what this high-performance road wheelset is doing on a bike like the Parapera Atmos, claiming to be a speed-gravel bike. In any case, it shifts the bike’s character much further in the direction of allroad or even a pure road bike.

The Parapera Atmos in review

During the test, we quickly said goodbye to the idea of racing along gravel roads with the Parapera Atmos. Unless you’re riding on perfectly smooth and compact gravel highways, the bike will quickly feel out of its depth on loose terrain with this wheel and tire combination. However, if you stay on asphalt, the Atmos performs without fault. With its low weight and stiff frame and wheelset, the bike accelerates quickly from a standstill, easily picking up speed and maintaining it with efficiency. It also climbs lightly as long as you’re not hauling any luggage. The Parapera is equally comfortable at the front and rear, reliably dampening vibrations and having no problems with small bumps either. Only big impacts are noticeable at the contact points. This could be remedied by wider rims and tires that make use of the bike’s maximum 33 mm tire clearance. Overall, the comfort is sufficient for poorly maintained asphalt or the groomed gravel highways mentioned above.

The handling is direct and precise, though the dainty looking handlebar simply doesn’t invite you to trust the bike and go for it. Due to this, you’ll usually find yourself cruising along rather than pushing the bike and your limits. However, that contradicts the bike’s intention of being a high-speed gravel bike. As such, we must question the concept and ask ourselves if gravel – be it trail, racing or anywhere in between – go together with light, skinny and delicate? We don’t think so! That said, it doesn’t make the Parapera Atmos a bad bike. On the contrary. All you should do is opt for a wider wheel and tire combination that can take full advantage of the frame’s tire clearance, and order the optional Selle Italia gel pads available at Parapera so that it looks the part and feels more comfortable in your hands. Once you’ve done that, the Atmos delivers as a fast allroad bike on asphalt and moderate gravel routes.

Conclusion

Where do you draw the line between allroad and gravel? You have to answer this question for yourself. However, in the configuration we tested, the Parapera Atmos feels much more comfortable on asphalt. If you’re not planning to push the limits and want to ride an unusual bike, the Atmos is a nimble and comfortable alternative. For those with a need for speed, we recommend a wider wheel and tire combination for improved gravel performance and a handlebar upgrade for more confidence.

For more information, visit parapera-bikes.de

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