Specialized Crux Elite X1

£3000 › In the pink?

Thanks to the financial markets and some welcome improvements, the 2018 CruX Elite X1 costs £700 more than last year’s. The frame has upgraded to Specialized’s FACT 11r carbon, weighing a claimed 900g in 56cm, over 400g lighter than before, and the S-Works FACT 11r carbon fork is new too.

Redesigned for flat-mount disc callipers, the frameset has been streamlined with neat universal cable routing ports. The down-tube is slimmer and vaguely triangular to reduce mud build up. The third bottle cage mount and the front mech mount have gone too, asserting the CruX’s status as a ’cross racer.