Specialized S-Works Crux

The S-Works Crux is a true race-ready bike that is comfortable over long distances and snappy enough to handle the tight nature of cyclo-cross courses. If you’re after an uber-compliant gravel bike to bludgeon through some natural trails, then you’re in the wrong place.

An incredibly light, incredibly sharp climbing machine that feels just as happy eating up road miles as it does tearing up dusty fire tracks and gravel paths. It’s a dream, bucket list bike, but you’ve either got to have deep pockets or a deep love for bashing gravel to commit.

The immediate impression when riding this bike is its lightness… when you are climbing those beautiful, steep, cobbled burgs or lifting up the rear and hopping over obstacles, it really is quite effortless. On the cracks, on faster terrain and the descents, the bike is very predictable and calm.

It uses the FACT 12r carbon layup… that means it’s supposed to be stronger, stiffer, and lighter. My bike is definitely all of those things. It hits the climbs just like any climber would love it, corners amazingly and out-of-the-saddle sprinting, it accelerates very fast.

Anyone looking for an ultra-minimal stable may find their gravel, ’cross and road needs all met in the Crux. It delivers speed and enjoyable handling on just about any terrain. Not the most adventure-ready gravel bike out there.

It’s genuinely grating to me how much I’ve enjoyed this bike. It makes me want to go farther, more often, and harder. It goads me into pretending to be a better rider than I actually am. It’s therapy on two wheels – or maybe more like a drug that I have zero interest in giving up.

With the S-Works Crux we experienced a hitherto unknown, seductive combination of lightness and playful handling on gravel.