This 12 months Specialised launched the primary alloy model of the Crux at a much more accessible worth level than its carbon siblings. Our North American editor has already had an opportunity to journey and write about it, now it’s time to see the way it performs on British gravel and towards 5 different bikes, as examined for CW’s 2024 Gravel Bikes of the Yr.
The Crux grew to become the ‘Greatest for Pace’ class winner in our Gravel Bike of the Yr 2024 Awards, with its fast journey making it probably the most appropriate for these in search of off-road tempo.
The Crux DSW is quick…and lots of enjoyable
(Picture credit score: Future)
The body
In growing the DSW alloy body, Specialised have stayed true to the design and goal of the carbon Crux. It is a bike designed to be ridden laborious.
The outcomes of intensive R&D within the body design and manufacturing have allowed Specialised to provide – it claims – “lightest alloy body on the earth” (claimed weight 1,399g). Crucially for a gravel bike, Specialised declare the expertise additionally produces a body that’s way more sturdy than different alloy bikes while nonetheless having an “improved journey high quality”. A clearly seen instance of the place this all comes collectively is the single-piece down tube and backside bracket which eliminates weight and undesirable rigidity on the coronary heart of the body.
The Crux’s body design utlises superior manufacturing strategies to maintain the burden down
(Picture credit score: Future)
There are six sizes out there from 49cm by to 61cm frames. Head (71.25) and seat tube (74.0) angles are virtually equivalent to the opposite race oriented bikes in our group take a look at, the Ridley Kanzo and Canyon Grail. To maintain the again finish tight and quick chainstays are a minimal 425mm and the wheelbase 1014mm. At 462mm the body attain is similar to the opposite two race bikes and stack falls within the center (547mm).
The body itself is able to housing full mechanical and Di2 wiring however solely as 1x arrange. There’s the scope to run tyres as much as 47mm on 700cc wheels or swap to 650B as much as 2.1” for shorter time period consolation.
True to its heritage, just like the carbon model, there isn’t a extra on the DSW with simply commonplace bottle mount bosses slightly than a number of rack and guard mounts.
The Crux DSW isn’t fully alloy. For weight saving and luxury the DSW is provided with the identical S-Works carbon fork as the total carbon bikes.
The construct
Probably the most hanging function of the Crux DSW is its simplicity: straight tubes, easy semi-internal cabling, commonplace bar and stem: nothing to cost, nothing to spend hours fiddling to arrange, no proprietary components that require specialist instruments. This feels fairly a distinction to numerous different race gravel bikes the place design is being slowly drawn in direction of the fickle nature of one-piece carbon aero and all its awkwardness.
A conventional bar and stem means the Crux is simple to regulate and preserve
(Picture credit score: Future)
The DSW Comp is provided with full mechanical SRAM Apex XPLR 1×12 drivetrain and hydraulic brakes. Wheels are DT Swiss rims on Specialised hubs fitted with Pathfinder Professional tyres. The remainder of the ending equipment – bars, stem and seatpost – is Specialised branded alloy.
The Crux DSW isn’t fully alloy. For weight saving and luxury the DSW is provided with the identical S-Works carbon fork as the total carbon bikes.
The Crux DSW used SRAM’s 12-speed mechanical 1x Apex groupset
(Picture credit score: Future)
Our 52cm bike was kitted out with 170mm cranks, 400mm extensive bars and an 80mm stem. The element sizing progresses with growing body sizes as much as 440mm bars and 175mm cranks. It’s pleasing to see the smaller body sizes geared up with elements that really feel a greater match for smaller riders.
The journey
The DSW could also be a 3rd of the worth of the carbon Professional model we examined final 12 months however we’d describe the journey in a lot the identical method. It’s an extremely reactive bike and actually wills you to push it laborious.
The Crux’s sprightliness makes it a pleasure to journey. I discovered myself sprinting into each flip and transition and making an attempt to place down an increasing number of energy on the straights. It’s quick and nimble on technical trails and descents, it’s a motorbike that makes driving really feel prefer it the enjoyable it ought to be.
Whereas the Crux DSW’s body is aluminium, the forks are carbon
(Picture credit score: Future)
The important thing factor holding again the Crux is its wheels and tyres. The alloy wheels are comparatively heavy and really feel a bit uninteresting however, given the bike’s worth, that’s commonplace or stunning. The Pathfinder tyres are designed for straight line, laborious packed gravel and so simply not properly suited to UK situations, there’s simply not sufficient chunk or grip to deal with our non-premium gravel, not to mention CX mud.
While designed as a race machine, there’s loads of scope throughout the geometry and elements to mean you can tweak to suit your personal match and obtain a extra upright place for longer rides. Merely switching a number of steerer tube spacers round allowed me to swap between all-day gravel endurance driving and CX racing. The power to simply alter the match of a motorbike at low or no value is changing into more durable these days with built-in cockpits changing into extra commonplace, it actually improves the flexibleness of the Crux compared to the opposite gravel race bikes.
The Pathfinder tyres are finest suited to hard-packed gravel
(Picture credit score: Future)
On the draw back, I discovered it a lot more durable to tempo longer rides on the Crux because it encourages you to journey laborious (consider me, nobody will thanks for bike packing at CX tempo). The race tuned stiffness of the body and fork can even add some fatigue into longer stints within the saddle.
Regardless of its racing geometry, the Crux handles driving with bike packing gear fairly properly. I wouldn’t wish to carry equipment for a number of days however fortunately managed the additional load of in a single day equipment in a tail pack and bar bag with out sacrificing an excessive amount of dealing with.
Beneficiant clearance permits for 47mm extensive tyres
(Picture credit score: Future)
Worth
With its alloy body and mechanical drivetrain the $2,600 / £2,300 Crux DSW Comp is available in on the decrease finish of our Gravel Bike of the Yr worth bracket and properly under the carbon Crux bikes. As many bikes at this finish of the vary, there are some upgrades you could plan as financial savings permit beginning with the wheels.
Sadly there’s just one DSW construct out there so the one approach to spec digital shifting is an costly improve or an equally costly full construct (frameset $1,700 / £1,500).
Specs
- Frameset: Crux DSW body with Reality carbon gravel fork
- Groupset: SRAM Apex XPLR 12-speed mechanical
- Wheels: DT Swiss G540 aluminum
- Tyres: 700 x 38mm 2Bliss prepared Pathfinder Professional tyres
- Ending equipment: a group of Specialised’s personal alloy stem, handlebars and seatpost
- Saddle: Physique Geometry Energy Sport, metal rails
- Value: $2,700 / £2,300
- Weight (52cm as examined): 9.5kg
