What happens when you...
- Take the world’s best cyclocross bike
- Apply the breakthrough technology used to create the lightest disc road bike ever produced (the Specialized Aethos)
- Give it massive tire clearance
- Optimize the gravel race geometry
You get the all-new Specialized Crux! It's the world’s lightest, fastest, and most responsive gravel bike on the market.
Aethos Gives Rise to Specialized Crux
When Specialized created the Aethos, they reimagined tube proportions and shaping. This breakthrough led to the creation of a bike with the lightest frame ever produced. The new design allowed every carbon fiber to be better at carrying a load, which meant fewer carbon layers to support that load.
The Specialized Crux uses that same Aethos technology, making it the lightest gravel bike frame in the world. This bike is made to do one thing: go fast and crush gravel and dirt! It also has the stiffness to climb like a dream. Whether you’re on singletrack, double track, or old roads, the Specialized Crux is a gravel machine!
Lightest Gravel Frame EVER
Specialized created the two lightest gravel race bikes on the market. The 12R S-Works frame is 725 grams (1.65 lbs.) and the Pro/Expert/Comp level frames are 825 grams (1.8 lbs.). In other words, these frames weigh around the same as your filled 24 oz. water bottle!
More Tire Clearance
The Crux has tire clearance for up to 47c tires or 650b x 2.1″ tires. This amount of clearance is on par with the more laid-back Specialized Diverge. Such massive tire clearance lets the rider fine-tune their tire choice for any terrain that lies ahead.
The Crux has a straight-shot, hollow drive-side chainstay. It’s a notable achievement on the frame design because it allows for more weight savings but with massive tire clearance. We’ve seen drop stays or other weird designs from competitors that are heavier. The Crux frame allows for tire clearance while still being super lightweight and clean-looking.
Versatile Set-Up
The Specialized Crux can be run with a 1x or 2x set-up for more versatility to create your ultimate gravel machine. All Crux models feature 1x SRAM drivetrains, but the Crux is compatible with 2x drivetrains as well. The Crux shares the bolt-on FD mount with the Aethos and is compatible with 2x electronic GRX and eTap drivetrains.
You can also run some 2x mechanical drivetrains on the new Crux. This depends on the chainring size due to chainstay or FD mount positioning limitations.
What About Ride Quality?
The Crux is made for fast tracks. It's ready for quick line adjustments at full speed!
This bike is responsive at the pedals and supple in the saddle. It takes its geometry and race inspiration straight from the Crux’s iconic history in the cyclocross world. Combining the lightweight frame and a compliant seat post allows for a smooth ride at the saddle.
With Specialized’s Rider-First engineering (size-specific frame construction), the ride quality translates across every frame size.
The Crux also has a reach that's 10mm longer to allow more weight distribution. It puts the rider into the bike more, which creates a feeling of confidence as you fly over gravel roads.
The shorter stem on the bike creates more responsive steering. Mixing a low stack with a 72mm bottom bracket drop also reinforces weight distribution on the bike.
For the Win
The goal of the Specialized Crux is simple: Go fast and win races.
It doesn’t have rack, fender, or bag mounts to keep this bike focused on racing. Specialized minimized the dropouts, thru-axles, seat post clamp, and derailleur hangers to drop weight and keep the bike simple.
They did keep the bottle cage mounts, 27.2 seat post (with internal dropper post compatibility), and threaded bottom bracket to keep the reliability and customization that riders demand.
So, What’s the Catch?
This lightweight and minimalistic design has to come with a catch, right? Maybe you can’t take it on MMR roads or there’s a 100 lb. weight limit for the rider?
Nope.
The Specialized Crux endures and exceeds all the same testing and safety criteria that all gravel bikes need to pass.
The new Crux has been ridden, raced, and tested to the extreme by Specialized athletes all over the world. They have ridden this bike off the beaten path, down dirt tracks, over broken pavement, and up steep gravel climbs of all different kinds.
The conclusion: this bike holds up! The Crux was made to rip gravel as fast and as hard as you can push it.
Want to Learn More about the Crux?
Check out the Specialized Crux online for specs and store availability, then head to ERIK’S for a free test ride and see for yourself why this is the lightest, fastest, most responsive gravel machine on the market!
Specialized Crux Models
S-Works Crux
- Frame: S-Works Crux FACT 12r Carbon
- Fork: S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc
- Handlebars: Roval Terra Carbon, 103mm drop x 70mm reach x 12° flare
- Stem: S-Works SL, 6° Rise
- Saddle: S-Works Power Saddle
- Seat Post: Roval Alpinist Carbon Seat Post
- Wheels: Roval Terra CLX
- Tires: Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss, Transparent Side Wall, 700x38c
- Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA
- Drivetrain: SRAM RED eTAP AXS, 40T Chainring, 12-speed 10-44t Cassette
- Brakes: SRAM RED eTap AXS Hydraulic Disc
Specialized Crux Pro
- Frame: Crux FACT 10r Carbon
- Fork: FACT Carbon, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc
- Handlebars: Roval Terra Carbon, 103mm drop x 70mm reach x 12° flare
- Stem: Specialized Pro SL Alloy, SL, 6° Rise
- Saddle: Power Pro saddle
- Seat Post: Roval Terra Carbon Seat Post
- Wheels: Roval Terra CL
- Tires: Pathfinder Pro 2BR, Transparent Side Wall, 700x38c
- Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA 68
- Drivetrain: SRAM Force eTAP AXS, 40T Chainring, 12-speed 10-44t Cassette
- Brakes: SRAM Force eTap AXS Hydraulic Disc
Specialized Crux Expert
- Frame: Crux FACT 10r Carbon
- Fork: S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc
- Handlebars: Specialized Adventure Gear, 118.9mm drop x 70mm reach x 12° flare
- Stem: Specialized Pro SL Alloy, SL, 6° Rise
- Saddle: Power Expert saddle
- Seat Post: Roval Terra Carbon Seat Post
- Wheels: Roval Terra C
- Tires: Pathfinder Pro 2BR, Transparent Side Wall, 700x38c
- Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB BSA
- Drivetrain: SRAM Rival eTAP AXS, 40T Chainring, 12-speed SRAM EXPLR 10-44t Cassette
- Brakes: SRAM Rival eTap AXS Hydraulic Disc
Specialized Crux Comp
- Frame: Crux FACT 10r Carbon
- Fork: S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc
- Handlebars: Specialized Adventure Gear, 118.9mm drop x 70mm reach x 12° flare
- Stem: Specialized 3D Forged Ally, 7° Rise
- Saddle: Power Sport saddle
- Seat Post: Roval Terra Carbon Seat Post
- Wheels: DT Swiss G540 Disc
- Tires: Pathfinder Pro 2BR, Transparent Side Wall, 700x38c
- Drivetrain: SRAM Rival, 40T Chainring, 11-speed SunRace 11-42t Cassette
- Bottom Bracket: SRAM GXP
- Brakes: SRAM Rival Hydraulic Disc
S-Works Frameset
- Frame: Crux FACT 12r Carbon
- Fork: S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc
Crux 10R Frameset
- Frame: Crux FACT 10r Carbon
- Fork: S-Works FACT Carbon, 12x100mm Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc