We were so focused on the prototype cyclocross tubular tires in this video that we didn’t even look at the bike they were on.
Fortunately, Nick Legan at VeloNews snapped these and a lot more photos of a prototype test rig being raced by Todd Wells this past weekend in CO.
Rather than go through the expensive and time consuming process of testing a prototype using new carbon molds, Specialized has been giving Wells an aluminum version to work out the geometry and frame tweaks that will ultimately end up on the next generation of their carbon fiber Crux ‘cross bike. Based on this mule, the new bike will have easily serviced internal cable routing, a fork-mounted front brake hanger (which reportedly reduces brake shudder), BB30 bottom bracket, a flattened top tube for easier shouldering and a tapered headtube.
A couple more pics after the break with our own assessments, or check VeloNews for the full spec list…
While the final bike (at least the top end models) will be in carbon, the prototype is made from aluminum tubes to speed development. You can see the flattened, arching top tube here, along with the internal brake cable routing that uses a removable cable boss to ease installation. You may also note the rather large 31.8 diameter seatpost, which we’d suggest perhaps trimming down to a smaller diameter to add a bit of butt-and-spine-friendly compliance into the bike. Sure, the eventual high end model will be carbon and likely keep the Zertz inserts to damp vibration, but still.
Keep it simple, stupid: Rather than complicate things with brake bosses and housing, the shifter cables simply run through the downtube and pop out the bottom directly into a plastic guide. We’d move the whole thing slightly closer to the driveside to put the cable further from the tire, but otherwise it looks like a solid solution. Running the front shifter cable this way eliminates the need for a pulley wheel on the seat tube, too.
All photos here from Nick Legan.
