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Photo c. Specialize/Alex Quesada
How early is too early to start thinking, “cross is coming?” You may be asking yourself that question soon as new cyclocross rigs like the Specialized Crux start popping up. Launching on the same day as the all new Diverge, Specialized is showing off a new pure cyclocross race bike that is meant to get you to the top step of that podium…
Like the best cross racers honing their skills in the off season, the new Crux is full of incremental improvements to make it the best Specialized cross bike yet. Having already moved to a standard 142 x 12 thru axle on the rear for the previous bike, the new Crux keeps the same axles with a 100 x 12mm set up out front (aluminum Crux models use QR front and rear). Following almost every other road and dirt road bike out there, the Crux also moves to flat mount brakes front and rear. All of the carbon frames get a small boost from FACT 10r to FACT 11r carbon with their Rider First Engineering design which customizes the layup and tube sizes to create what they feel is the ideal ride for each frame size.
Carbon frames are paired with FACT 11r carbon forks with a 1 3/8″ lower bearing.
For bottom bracket duties, Specialized sticks with their OSBB which is essentially a narrower version of a PF30 bottom bracket. Shaving a few grams and adding a cleaner look, the seat post binder gets integrated into the top tube for the 27.2mm seat post. In case you’re wondering – yes, you can put the same Command Post XCP from the new Diverge on your Crux as well (either 35mm or 50mm drop).
Photo c. Specialize/Alex Quesada
Since this is a pure race bike after all, the new Crux is no longer compatible with the SWAT box, though it does have two bottle cage mounts for longer training rides. Specialized wanted the bike to be as versatile as possible, so it still has the ability to run a 2x drive train with the use of a clamp on front derailleur.
Along with the Crux, Specialized is launching two revised cyclocross tires with the Terra and the Tracer, both gaining reworked tread patterns. The Terra shown above is the mud tire while the Tracer is considered the intermediate or dry conditions tire, both of which will be offered in 2Bliss Ready clincher or tubular versions in 700 x 33c.
After going on a diet, the new Crux is lighter with a 56cm Expert complete weighing in at 17.64lbs (8kg). Someday, it may even stay lighter out on course thanks to a new hydrophobic paint which Specialized is working on that will help keep mud from sticking to the frame (very interested to see how well that works). The 2018 bikes will not have the hydrophobic clear coat, but may at some point in the future.
Another shared platform, men and women will be on the same bikes with 46 to 61cm frames available in both carbon and E5 aluminum.
Pricing is as follows, though is subject to change.
CruX Pricing for U.S.
S-Works – $7500
Frameset – $2800
Expert – $4200
Elite – $3200
Sport – $2800
Sport E5 – $2200
Base E5 – $1500
Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.
Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.
SCS does not affect the axle. SCS is a hub standard for short chainstays that improves chain line. The Hub had different spacing. A Derailleur hanger was the only part needed to use non SCS wheels on any Specialized Frame
Yes is does I’m afraid, the thru axle is 7mm shorter. 2016 carbon SCS bikes are 135 x 12 (the E5 was 135QR with funny chainline). If you machine down hub end caps of a 142 hub to fit between the dropouts of a SCS frame but dont do anything with the cassette then you’ll have no clearance between the chain and the frame so while you’ve got your end caps in the lathe taking 3.5mm off each one you may as well take 2.5mm off the back of your cassette spider and the end of the freehub.
Woody
7 years ago
Trail measurements from 78-56mm?! Where’s the second fork offset for smaller sizes?
DRC
7 years ago
D*mn, just put TA on the aluminum version already. I guess that’s their way of forcing people to spend more money on the carbon frame?
When you use a carbon bike as your main race bike and the E5 as your spare then yes. Its really annoying as I need to have spare wheels for each version.
Woody
7 years ago
78-55mm trail range?! Where’s the second fork offset for the smaller sizes? #cheapedout
Steady Eddy
7 years ago
What’s the advantage of flat mount disc brakes vs the post mount that everyone is moving towards?
VeloKitty
7 years ago
This might just be my next road bike.
Thumbs up for Specialized supplying detailed geometry specs.
chain stays are average. BB drop semi average. internally routed front cable is dumb as it ever was. internal seatpost binder just adds weight and complexity. through-bolt saddle clamps suck for off road. what benefit does OSBB have over BB386 or PF30 again (it’s narrower???!!) ?
no mention of front rotor size, though looks like it wont take a 140mm on front. Lame.
if this wasnt a specialized, it would offer nothing to the market really (it still doesnt). But because it is, you will see way too many of them.
nvm..i get it. you flip the mounting plate. flat mounts are good for something after all.
Craig
7 years ago
That’s the cleanest looking cross bike I’ve ever seen. I don’t like the Specialized brand and would never buy one but this bike raises the bar for the entire cross bike market.
Tyler Durden
7 years ago
Meh. I’ll stick with my Stigmata.
Greg
7 years ago
the aluminum CruXes get two different fork rakes but the carbon ones get just one.
2mm difference? What a waste of time. I bet the manufacturing tolerance is +/- 1mm.
Haromania
7 years ago
Looks pretty badass to me.
joel w pontbriand
7 years ago
are these finally the same framesets the pros get to ride?
Heavy Metal
7 years ago
“a narrower version of a PF30 bottom bracket”
PF/BB30 already had narrow bearing spacing .. how is making it narrower again helping anything that a BB needs to do, like not creak and not wear out too fast?
Looks like a true adventure bike with the band clamp 2x option. You could throw on a 36/22 sram or shimano XC crankset with a 32 or 40 on the back and be ready for anything.
