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Specialized unveils 2019 CruX cyclocross race bikes - with 1x and fade paint jobs

Ready for the upcoming cyclocross race season is the new 2019 range of CruX race bikes

Specialized’s CruX has been a very popular bike with the cyclocross racing fraternity, and for those gearing up for the race season which starts in a few months time (yes I know it's still summer), the US company has just launched its 2019 range of models.

But first, let’s talk about the paint jobs. Colour fades are used predominantly throughout the range which we think looks fabulous. Specialized has really livened up its palette in recent years with some brilliant paint jobs, refreshing after the years of fairly mundane colours. But what do you think? Hit us up with your feedback in the comments section below.

- Review: Specialized Crux 

Specialized Crux Sport 2019 Cyclocross Bike
The CruX E5 Sport - £1,700

Underneath the paint, there aren’t any fundamental changes to the CruX platform. If it ain't broke etc... It’s still available in a choice of FACT carbon or E5 aluminium, with disc brakes only - there is no rim brake option - using the now common 12mm thru-axle standard, with a 142mm rear axle, and flat mount interface.

It’s a small range, featuring just four models. There’s one aluminium bike, the E5 Sport which is the most affordable pick of the bunch, and then you have three carbon bikes, the Elite, Expert and S-Works. Here are the prices:

  • CruX E5 Sport £1,700
  • CruX Elite £2,800
  • CruX Expert £4,000
  • S-Works CruX £8,000

Each of the carbon models uses the exact same FACT 11r carbon fibre frame and fork, tapered head tube, full internal cable routing and OSBB bottom bracket. Frame weight is a claimed 900g and 400g for the fork.

Last year Rider-First Engineering was introduced to the CruX for the first time. It is the company’s attempt to tune the frame for each frame size, so the layup and tube shapes are refined across the size range to account for the different requirements of different height and weight cyclists.

Specialized Crux Expert 2019 Cyclocross Bike

The £4,000 Specialized Crux Expert 2019 Cyclocross Bike

Due to the development of the Diverge and it full-filling the versatile do-everything role that the CruX, and most cyclocross bikes, did for many years, the CruX is much more race-focused than before. So there are no mudguard or rack mounts, and the geometry is all about agility and speed. There are two bottle cage mounts still, just in case. 

- 12 of the best cyclocross bikes — drop-bar dirt bikes for racing and playing in the mud

All bikes are specced with 1x groupsets, there's not a sniff of a double. It does look like the aluminium frame has a front mech mount though, and a clamp-on front mech would probably fit the carbon frame.

Specialized Crux Elite 2019 Cyclocross Bike

The £2,800 Specialized Crux Elite 

It's clear Specialized has committed to 1x and it must feel the cyclocross market is moving in this direction. Based on my cyclocross racing experience it's clear 1x is hugely popular.  It’s simple and there’s one less thing to go wrong, and there’s all the range you need for a typical cyclocross course, which by and large are flat.

While some of the models use SRAM's Force and Rival 1 groupset, a dedicated 1x11 setup, Specialized hasn't been afraid to mix-and-match Shimano components to create its own 1x drivetrain. The S-Works model combines an XTR M9050 Di2 rear mech with S-Works Power Cranks and a single Praxis chainring, with Dura-Ace hoods.

More at www.specialized.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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8 comments

Avatar
Jimthebikeguy.com | 5 years ago
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I race cross and the crux is the weapon of choice round my way. I would love that sworks.

Avatar
kil0ran | 5 years ago
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Well, the Crux has never been subtle, but this takes it to a new level. Part of me is all fingernails on blackboards because I'm old enough to remember Global Hypercolor t-shirts and the last time tie-die was in fashion but they're all preferable to black. Elite the best of the bunch for me.

Avatar
TonbridgeJon | 5 years ago
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Not usually a fan of the big brands but that S-Works is a beaut

Avatar
TonbridgeJon replied to TonbridgeJon | 5 years ago
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TonbridgeJon wrote:

Not usually a fan of the big brands but that S-Works is a beaut

colour reminds me of a fluo pink Muddy Fox Courier Comp (?) I had around 1990 that got nicked outside a newsagents in Bermondsey  2

Avatar
Jimthebikeguy.com | 5 years ago
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Excellent. That s-works model with the xtr di2, i wonder if they may move it to an Ultegra rx mech; maybe a late design decision. Unless it runs a big rear cassette that needs the mtb type mech...?

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to Jimthebikeguy.com | 5 years ago
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jterrier wrote:

Excellent. That s-works model with the xtr di2, i wonder if they may move it to an Ultegra rx mech; maybe a late design decision. Unless it runs a big rear cassette that needs the mtb type mech...?

No reason why not, that bike only has an 11-32t cassette which the RX can cope with. More likely to lead times and Shimano delivering products than anything else. I wonder what the weight difference is between the two?

Avatar
Jimthebikeguy.com replied to David Arthur @davearthur | 5 years ago
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David Arthur @davearthur wrote:

jterrier wrote:

Excellent. That s-works model with the xtr di2, i wonder if they may move it to an Ultegra rx mech; maybe a late design decision. Unless it runs a big rear cassette that needs the mtb type mech...?

No reason why not, that bike only has an 11-32t cassette which the RX can cope with. More likely to lead times and Shimano delivering products than anything else. I wonder what the weight difference is between the two?

Is there an Ultegra rx di2 version? Can't remember.

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to Jimthebikeguy.com | 5 years ago
0 likes

jterrier wrote:
David Arthur @davearthur wrote:

jterrier wrote:

Excellent. That s-works model with the xtr di2, i wonder if they may move it to an Ultegra rx mech; maybe a late design decision. Unless it runs a big rear cassette that needs the mtb type mech...?

No reason why not, that bike only has an 11-32t cassette which the RX can cope with. More likely to lead times and Shimano delivering products than anything else. I wonder what the weight difference is between the two?

Is there an Ultegra rx di2 version? Can't remember.

 

Yes

 

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/news/ultegra-rx--bringing-bac...

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