Specialized Crux

[bryanbanducci]

Thought I'd share a bike of mine on here while I'm browsing builds for inspiration for a frame I just acquired and will be building soon. Bought this Crux complete off Pinkbike, was pricey but I sold my road and cross bikes to offset costs. Goal was to thin the herd and try riding a fat tire road bike for awhile that could also do cross racing. Turns out its a great cx bike but I still like going pretty fast so a new alu roadie is in the works. Components were all spec'd by previous owner but its a great mix of stuff. First time riding electronic shifting and the DI2 GRX shifters are surprisingly comfy even though aesthetically then remind me of 8 speed Campy. Fits me like a glove with a long stem and I was finally able to make a Specialized Power saddle work for me. Rest of the components are a random but comfy mix: Alpinist post, Sworks Power Saddle, Enve AR bars (comfy but ugly), Kalloy 120 stem, Farsports carbon rims with carbonTi hubs, e13 cranks and e13 cassette, GRX DI2.

[br0qn]

I was just comparing the geometry chart of this bike vs my '98 Loa and they're super close. Was late the other night when I was looking but I think the Crux is a tiny bit shorter in the chainstay and a bit lower BB, otherwise nearly the same.

I was comparing them because I'd been hunting/wanting a road bike (I've never had one) to have some variety and I was wondering how different it would be compared to the Voodoo which feels so fast to me coming from riding old 90's 26" rigid mountain bikes.

Anyway, that looks like such a fun/versatile bike. Which renee herse are you running there?

[bryanbanducci]

These are 44mm RH snowqualmie pass extralights. Roll pretty fast and are awesome with low pressure on long gravel stretches

[jdp211]

Looks like such a good "do-all" bike, can't wait to see the new roadie

[Zackus]

I really like this colorway of the crux, and a nice build too.

[livesadventure]

long and low, nice! that build looks super light

[bryanbanducci]

little update after an unfortunate and expensive run in with a delivery scooter in prospect park - new fork and tires. honestly think it looks better! front wheel has a chip and small crack but tires sealed up no problem so just gonna keep an eye on it for awhile. should be good to go for ~200k in the catskills next weekend.

[br0qn]

Looking good but I'm partial to the blacked out wheel/tire.

Let us know how the tires perform in the dirt. I'm running the 33's and they're certainly not good in anything remotely loose though the product copy warns as much so it's not exactly a surprise.

[jambee]

Love this build. Such a great bike.

[skouri1]

ive read it feels plenty fast with road chainrings and slicks. can you confirm? it seems like an awesome two wheelset swiss army knife bike.

[earlfoss]

Love the Coors Lite homage kit you're rocking!

[nalax]

Looks great with the black fork too. Brings more focus to the frame.

[bryanbanducci]

As mentioned, the original primary use case for this bike as thinning the stable. so I sold a carbon rim brake road bike and an aluminum cx bike to get this with the intention of riding it for everything. put a decent bit of road mileage on it after cross season (great cross bike), lots of climbing / park laps / sprints / tempo and threshold and it has performed as good as any road bike ive ever had, just with fat cushy tires. slicks with the right psi are crucial, but you definitely can feel the girth of the tires when climbing on the roads with lower pressure. its fast and comfortable. the newer ultradynamico tires I threw on were incredible for the Rapha Prestige event we just did, route provided by homie @donalrey. Rolled super fast on the road, climbed well on the roads and ripped the gravel descents. So much confidence in this setup going downhill on gravel roads, even some 4x4 jeep track was no problem. Love this bike but I'm ready to have a road bike again, we just ride on the road a lot in the summer here in Brooklyn and the surrounding areas.

[skouri1]

I was in NYC last year, so yea, gravel bike is basically useless there (except for trips out of state and maybe the NYC potholes).
I am in Pottersville (Bedminster) NJ, home of NJ Gravel Grinder among others and so now the equation has been reversed. no super fast group rides ive found and plenty of random dirt /gravel, so I should probably head in the other direction .