The Culprit Croz Blade aero road bike was an early adopter of disc brakes, but tucked some very incognito rim brake mounts onto the frame and fork just in case you weren’t ready to make the jump but wanted a future proof frame. We were ready; check our review of the original here.
This latest update to the bike sees plenty of frame mods to improve performance and serviceability, but it keeps the aero tube profiles and multiple brake options. It also gets some spec updates with new wheels from Token and a new cockpit from upstart component brand Blktec (who will debut at Eurobike). Perhaps the most impressive update is the One Bike Arsenal build package, which bundles both disc and rim brakes with an Ultegra Di2 group, aero bar ends with Di2 shifter ends and precut cables and housing ready for either type of brake. So, whether you wanna run the lighter rim brakes for a triathlon or pop the discs on for a day in the mountains, you’ve got everything need right outta the box…
In addition to the disc brake version, you’ll be able to set the bike up for road riding (above) or crits (below) with standard rim brakes. The bottom bracket changed from BB30 to BB86, which made the BB section stiffer. All cables/hoses/wires run internally the whole way, and the extra BB width let them open it up to run them all under the bottom bracket without leaving the frame.
The downtube shape was better optimized to fit a water bottle, and a revised layup made the entire frame a bit lighter. Out back, the seatstay shape changed to accommodate 160mm rotors. using a direct mount standard on both frame and fork, make for a much cleaner look and compatibility with virtually every disc brake caliper and system on the market.
The difference between the two is only the rear wheels, of which you get two as part of the package, plus a single front:
- Rear Token C90
- Rear Token C50
- Front Token C50
All three are carbon clinchers, and these are new depths and rim profiles from Token, and they’re disc and rim brake compatible.
Both triathlon builds use the deeper 90mm rear wheel, and again can be set up with either rim or disc brakes. The rear rim brake is hidden behind the BB, under the chainstays. Front brake is a TRP TTV caliper and the rear uses Shimano’s Ultegra Direct Mount caliper.
The Blktec aero extensions bolt directly onto the aero road drop bar, and their new stem hides the Di2 junction box inside it to keep everything tidy.
The complete bike will come prebuilt in whichever configuration you want with all the parts to switch it around. Retail is $5,850 plus shipping. Here’s the full spec list:
- Frame – Culprit Croz Blade
- Fork – Croz blade fork with dual brake system
- Headset – Token Omega C1
- Handlebar – Blktec R1 road bar with carbon extension bars and riser kits
- Stem – Blktec M1*
- Bar tape – Lizard Skin 2.5mm bar tape
- Seatpost – Culprit Croz blade carbon with 3 position mount
- Saddle – Prologo Nago Evo TS
- Front Derailleur – Shimano Ultegra Di2 RD-6870
- Rear Derailleur – Shimano Ultegra Di2 FD-6870
- Shifters – Shimano ST-6870
- Crankset – Shimano Ultegra
- Bottom bracket – Shimano BB86 press fit
- Cassette – Shimano CS-6800
- Chain – Shimano Ultegra CN-6800
- Wheelset – Token C90 Carbon clincher rear, Token C50 Carbon clincher rear wheel, Token C50 carbon clincher front wheel
- Tires – Maxxis Mamushi 700x25C
- Brakes – TRP HyRd Disc brakes, TRP TTV front rim brake, Shimano ultegra direct mount rear brake rim brake
* Riders ordering smaller frames with a stem shorter than 100mm will receive a different stem – Blktec’s needs at least a 100mm to hide the Junction Box A inside it.
