Having spent its formative years planted in the cyclo-cross category, the Specialized Crux has branched out to the ‘gravel and adventure’ range. While the cynics out there may suggest it’s merely a rebadging exercise by the brand, the truth is somewhat more complex.
The Crux is dead, long live the Crux
The previous 2018 Crux had nailed its colours to the CX mast. As such it was only ever capable of running 37mm tires max, while the new Crux has been reworked and now can skip along with a pair of 47mm, or 2.1 if you pop in a 650b wheel. While this does align with other gravel/adventure bike offerings, it belies the fact that the 2022 Crux is still very much a race weapon.
The bike heavily borrows from the Specialized Aethos. Specialized says its fluid tubing shapes, which do away with angular butting, and reinforced stiffness requirements allow for longer carbon thread, less of it and less glue to hold it all together. As such, the S-Works Crux is the lightest ever gravel frame at a crazy 725g for a size 56. To put that into context it’s 225g lighter than the 2018 iteration.
The geometry has had a sweep of tweaks rather than a total rework, with key numbers for a size 56 on old versus new delivering a slightly lower stack (582 v 578), longer reach (388 v 397), lower bottom bracket (69 v 72) and ever so slightly longer wheelbase (1026 v 1033). It’s a gentle nudge in the direction of increased stability but doesn’t lose its racing DNA.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 02, 2021-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 02, 2021-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.
A Saturday in Hell
It's the most brutal race of the year - 29.2km of the worst cobbles northern France has to offer, over 17 agonising sectors, starting in Denain and finishing in the iconic Roubaix velodrome. For the men, it's referred to as a Sunday in Hell, but for us, hell comes a day early.
Gitane - Tour de l'Avenir
Classic French brand's homage to a revered amateur race
6 WAYS TO THINK YOURSELF FASTER
However flawless your physical preparation, the mind has a tendency to throw a spanner in the works come the big day. James Witts offers six ways to keep the brain onside with the body
MAURICE BURTON'S - SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
9 life lessons from Britain's first Black cycling champion
PEAKS PRACTICE
The Peak District is home turf for Manchester-based British pro riders and has been the formative terrain of top domestic riders for decades. Adam Becket finds out why it's so effective
Zeb Kyffin: stepping out of the fish bowl
TDT-Unibet's British rider tasted the team's first World-Tour event at the Amstel Gold Race. Adam Becket finds out how the day went
Thomas to go for 'very top step' at Giro
Welshman and Ineos ready for duel with Tadej Pogačar, reports Adam Becket
Brown and Niewiadoma beat Vollering
SD Worx-Protime are far from unbeatable in 2024, as team misses out in Ardennes Classics
Pogačar lays down marker for Giro d'Italia
Liège win signals Slovenian's readiness for clash with Geraint Thomas, reports Adam Becket