As the name suggests, the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece is out to say goodbye to the mainstream. Thanks to the superlight frame set and clever selection of components, it promises to be fast on all kinds of routes, from asphalt to gravel. Read on to find out if that’s enough to make it the perfect all-road bike.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
6.88 kg in size L | € 9,948 | Manufacturer’s website
Without a doubt, the heart of the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece is its frame, which has been slimmed down by up to 200 g compared to the standard Atmos range, weighing just 790 g in size M. In this case, the frame of the Atmos Masterpiece serves as the basis for a dream carbon build, pairing well with the carbon components of the electric Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset. The gearing of 50/34 t crankset and 11–32 t cassette offers plenty of reserves for steep climbs, though ambitious riders will likely want a faster gear on slightly descending full-speed sections.
For the seat post and handlebar, you get carbon components from Schmolke Carbon’s TLO line. The 420 mm wide handlebar is combined with a 110 mm Parapera Aluminium Super Light stem. Together, you’ve got more of a classic two-piece cockpit setup, relying on external cable routing. The cables only enter the frame behind the head tube. It all seems a little outdated, especially with the Campagnolo junction box attached to the bottom of the stem. For the wheels, Parapera have opted for the Tune Schwarzbrenner 45 Disc Skyline models featuring 45 mm deep rims. Their low weight contributes to the fact that the € 9,948 Parapera Atmos Masterpiece is the lightest bike on test, weighing in at just 6.88 kg in size L, but the internal rim width of 17 mm is very limited for a modern bike.
The Campagnolo Super Record EPS junction box attached to the bottom of the stem looks a little outdated and doesn’t do justice to the exclusivity of the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece. We expect more at this price!
The Selle Italia SLR C59 saddle weighs just 59 g, but it limits the rider weight to 90 kg. Moreover, its comfort is overshadowed by its slippery surface and sharp edges.
The front mech of the Campagnolo Super Record EPS drivetrain limits the tire clearance on the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece. While the Vittoria tires are among the skinniest in the test field, there’s hardly any room to go wider.
Parapera Atmos MASTERPIECE 2022
€ 9,948
Specifications
Seatpost Schmole Carbon TLO 27,2 mm
Brakes Camapgnolo Super Record 160/160 mm
Drivetrain Camapgnolo Super Record EPS
Chainring 50/34T
Stem Parapera Aluminium Super Light 110 mm
Handlebar Schmolke Carbon TLO 420 mm
Wheelset Tune Schwarzbrenner 45 Disc Skyline
Tires Schwalbe G-One Speed TLE
Cranks Camapgnolo Super Record 172,5 mm
Cassette Campagnolo Super Record 12 11–32T
Technical Data
Size XS S M L XL
Weight 6.88 kg
Specific Features
lightest bike on test
bike with the most carbon components
160 mm rotors front and rear with direct-mount callipers
Schmolke and Tune components
The Tune Schwarzbrenner 45 Disc Skyline wheels are a real treat for carbon lovers, and they deliver in terms of performance, too, with their minimal weight and tubeless compatibility. However, the 17 mm internal width just isn’t up to modern standards.
The Campagnolo Super Record brake callipers are paired with 160 mm rotors front and rear and are mounted directly to the frame of the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece – very nice!
The lettering on the top tube leaves no doubt about the bike you’re riding: the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece. And you’re unlikely to encounter another one of these in the wild, seeing as they’re limited to 50 bikes globally.
Carbon as far as you can see – the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece will bring tears of joy to the eyes of weight weenies.
It’s no wonder that the tubeless 700 x 30C Schwalbe G-One Speed TLE tires inflate to just 29 mm on the narrow rims. Moreover, the tires are more balloon- than U-shaped, so they’re not as well supported when cornering. We weren’t that impressed with the Schwalbe tires themselves either, as they aren’t the most efficient and fast rolling on asphalt, and they don’t make up for it with added grip on gravel roads.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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° | 72.0° | 72.5° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.0° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 72.5° |
| Chainstays | 408 mm | 408 mm | 408 mm | 410 mm | 410 mm |
| BB Drop | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm | 70 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 |
Jacket Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Stow Away Gilet
Jersey Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Jersey
Shorts Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Bibs | Shoes Specialized S-Works 7 Lace
Socks Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Socks | Watch Garmin Forerunner 45
Riding the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece
The Parapera Atmos Masterpiece does a great job of converting its low weight into speed. It’s the quickest and most light-footed bike on test, making it easy to accelerate out of every situation. The same applies to the ascents, as the bike is an excellent climber. The kind of terrain you’re on plays less of a role in this case because the above applies to both asphalt and gravel. However, when it comes to speed, there’s a downside to this low weight too. On flat roads and descents, the bike falls behind the other bikes on test in terms of efficiency since it has less inertia and a lower rotating mass, combined with fewer aerodynamic optimisations. Since the frame itself is rather stiff and trimmed more towards pedalling efficiency, the main sources of comfort come from the Schmolke seat post and handlebar, which work excellently for lighter riders. In that case, the vibration damping on the Masterpiece is almost on par with that of the Specialized Aethos Expert and it absorbs bumps almost as well as the Trek Domane SLR 9.
That said, the compliance is very linear. The moment you get near the 90 kg weight limit of the Schmolke seat post, your body weight alone will almost have the seat post flexing as far as it can go, making it less effective at absorbing bumps and vibrations. As such, the bike turns out to be somewhat lacking in comfort with heavier riders on bumpy terrain. It might make sense to opt for the stiffer Schmolke seat post with a weight limit of 110 kg, even if you’re below the 90 kg limit.
Tuning tip: stiffer wheels with a much wider internal rim width
With regards to the handling, the Parapera strikes a good balance between agility and composure, distributing the rider’s weight evenly between the front and rear wheel. This results in plenty of straight line stability while remaining agile enough for quick direction changes, and you’ve got sufficient grip on the front wheel when cornering hard. However, the bike’s precision suffers with heavier riders due to an excessive amount of flex in the wheels, the head tube and the rear end during extreme manoeuvres. Unfortunately, this compliance doesn’t add to the bike’s comfort, though it robs you of confidence when pushing the limits. There’s nothing that might erode your confidence otherwise, as the Super Record brakes work as well as you’d expect from Campagnolo, even though they’re just as incapable of keeping up with the brutal stopping power offered by Shimano’s new DURA-ACE brakes as the SRAM RED eTap HRD models. The use case of the Parapera is just as extreme as its almost complete carbon build, feeling most comfortable on steep climbs followed by steep descents, regardless of the terrain you’re riding on.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Our conclusion on the Parapera Atmos Masterpiece
The Parapera Atmos Masterpiece is a dream come true for all the carbon fetishists and weight weenies amongst us. Its low weight means it’s the best climber on test, which makes it a great all-road weapon for light riders that live in mountainous terrain and have racing ambitions. However, the bike’s all-round characteristics can’t keep up with the best bikes on test, ultimately holding it back from earning a top spot in this year’s all-road group test.
Tops
- very low weight
- carbon as far as you can see
- accelerates very quickly
- light-footed climber
Flops
- lacks precision when things get hectic
- minimal integration around the cockpit
- front mech limits tire clearance
You can find out more about at parapera-bikes.de
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
All bikes on review: BMC Roadmachine X ONE (Click for review) | Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos MASTERPIECE | ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC Red eTap AXS (Click for review) | Sarto Seta Disc (Click for review) | Specialized Aethos Expert (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 9 (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf
