Specialized Crux Review - Gravel Bike or Road Bike - Or Both - The do it all gravel bike - ALMOST

[@2_Pedals]

If you are located in Utah and have a gravel bike that you would like to see a review on hit me up. In need of some gravel bikes for the channel.

[@luisgarcia22]

Riding at dawn on a clear day and the road all to yourself has to be the best feeling.

[@2_Pedals]

One of the true joys of being out in the middle of nowhere on a bike. Nothing better!

[@trickyself]

I ride some pretty gnarley gravel & single track in uk, I put some 650b wheels with 50mm tyres setup tubeless on my crux & rides awesome around 30psi. I can still manage to keep up on pretty fast road group rides with this combo but tend to push psi up to about 45. It's a good compromise for me as still weighs in at only 7.6kg and feels alot of fun.

[@2_Pedals]

That sounds like quite the tire setup. Sometimes though I feel like it would be easier to take my mountain bike out when the roads get really rough.

[@dmitryliashko78]

Will it fit 2.2 or 2.1 650b tyres?

[@hansschotterradler3772]

​@@dmitryliashko782.1 in 650b according to Spec's website. 2.2 might be pushing it.

[@absandlittleabs1952]

I've had the same bike for a year, just swapped the tyres out. The Pathfinders are brilliant and super fast in dry conditions, but add some wet mud however and you will be spinning the back wheel and have no grip due to the slick centre line of the tyre. I've put on some 45mm Panaracer Gravel Kings which I can run at less than 30 psi. I now feel much more confident on all types of terrain but particularly going down hill on the rough stuff. They are probably not as quick on the road but I still have no problems cruising along at 30 km ph on flat roads. I would still like to get an extra wheel set for just pure road riding though, some nice 50mm carbon wheels with a set of 30/32mm GP5000 tyres on and then I think this bike can do everything and do it really well.

[@2_Pedals]

This is great info thanks. I do think tire choice is the main separator on these bikes. If you have the wrong tire for the wrong type of riding it will make all the difference.

[@norcalchrismeister]

Nice vid. I'm considering getting a Crux or the new Aspero. I've read some posts from Crux owners that say it feels 'noodly' and sketch off road. If I get one, I'll just ride it on road and smooth gravel roads. I'm 6'2" so a 58 should be perfect for me.

[@2_Pedals]

The Aspero is next on my list of bikes to try. The Crux hasn't ever felt noodly for me off road, it does have a smaller bottom bracket which gives a little bit more flex off road but overall I feel like its a pretty predictable bike on dirt. I think the Roval wheels help with this they are stiff and provide great feedback on the dirt, I find some of the cheaper aluminum wheels can be less predictable

[@norcalchrismeister]

@@2_Pedals yeah I don't know if I trust those posts I read. it seems most Crux owners really like their bike. I think I'll get a Crux comp and upgrade to Terra CL or Reserve 40 wheels. I currently ride a Roubaix which I love but also want a fast gravel bike

[@2_Pedals]

@@norcalchrismeister Ya if you currently have a Roubaix I would definitely recommend the Crux, much stiffer and quicker version of that. However I would start with tires at least larger than 40s for a fun experience

[@norcalchrismeister]

@@2_Pedals Thx! Appreciate the advice

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Well, the Crux has a very shallow bottom bracket drop compared to more hardcore gravel bikes - by several mm in fact. So yeah - it’s going to be a squirrelly ride in technical terrain.

[@rolffuchs2737]

You can ride 47mm or with 27,5 even 2.1 tires. That will make it much more comfy

[@2_Pedals]

Thanks, I always feel weird putting huge tires on a very light fast gravel bike, but I will give this a shot see how it goes.

[@chrismoore1182]

I just put 47m tires and road or gravel it added confidence and comfort. Love it.

[@shininngg]

How is the comfort of the Specialized Crux? Specifically on longer rides?

[@2_Pedals]

On the road amazing. On longer gravel rides your hands start to notice that stiff frame and the vibrations going up through the handlebars. Overall very similar experience to a longer ride on a road bike. If the road is super rough obviously your are going to suffer quite a bit more.

[@chrismoore1182]

Go 47m and run lower pressure. Possibly look into a redshift stem if you want to soften it up a little.

[@2_Pedals]

Ya gotta try wide tires next the 38s are pretty small for any type of Gravel riding. I look into the redshift as well. Thanks for the tip.

[@shininngg]

@@2_Pedals How about the geometry? Do you think it is too aggressive to daily or do you get used to it?

[@2_Pedals]

@@shininngg No not at all. I actually think this is one of the more comfortable road/gravel bikes I have ridden. I pitch the handlebars up a bit more than normal to get a nice comfortable seating position.

[@andarenbici]

What tires and pressures do you run?

[@2_Pedals]

My current tires are the Specialized pathfinder 38s. I run between 50-60 PSI I am about 180 LBS. I will probably switch to at least a 40MM going forward for a softer ride.

[@mrcha0s]

​@@2_PedalsProbably won't feel much of a difference unless you can fit like 48

[@CA-ub6pf]

@@2_Pedals I'm using the Schwalbe 2.1 Thunder Burt mtb tyres. Faster than any gravel tyre and very fun and comfortable. But a very narrow fit as I even had to trim down part of the knobs on the left backside. I used this set up for Badlands ultra race in Spain and it was amazing. I rode Badlands before with 40mm gravel tyres and at the time even had redshock suspension stem and seatpost but was less comfortable then this year when I did not use any suspension. So all the comfort came from the 2.1 tyres with low pressure

[@convivator]

I have tribal on my Orbea Terra. The breaks suck and the drivetrain gets noisy when it is dusty. Going for sure for grx next time for the breaks alone.

[@2_Pedals]

Ya the GRX seems to be a favorite of a lot of riders. The Orbeas are really pretty bikes though nice ride

[@rolffuchs2737]

I just rode it at a Specialized Store. It really feels like a road bike on the road. Don`t know how it feels on gravel.

[@2_Pedals]

Ya love this as a road bike, depends on the type of terrain you will be riding gravel on but overall really great bike.

[@bazejponoc2058]

How tall are you ?? What size of frame ??

[@2_Pedals]

Im 6,1 and fit perfectly on a 58

[@Amerigo73]

Try the Shimano GRX - no problem with dirt, dust, whatever. Also, you may have to put new brake pads, I guess yours are glassy now. I had a chain guard included, a black one that I don't use because I made my own, transparent. Good review, thank you.

[@2_Pedals]

Thanks this is great advice, im gonna try sanding the pads before I get new ones. We will see how it goes.

[@Amerigo73]

It’s possible that it works. I’ve done this on my motorcycle‘s pads. Make sure to release the brake every now and then when doing long downhills. The heat can turn the pad‘s surface to glass. Make sure to properly break in the pads again after sanding them. They need to be seated with the disc again.

[@2_Pedals]

Will do, thank!

[@hansschotterradler3772]

I think you need 2 wheelsets for this bike. One to run 700c x 47 or 650b x 53 gravel tires and another one to run 32 mm road tires.

[@2_Pedals]

Ya thats what I am thinking as well. Time to break into the piggy bank for a nice second set of wheels and tires. Thanks for the recommendations.