The original Crux was designed for the rigors of cyclocross racing, with road-like geometry tailored to navigating sharp corners and narrow chicanes. In 2022, Specialized redesigned the Crux to better suit the needs of modern gravel racers – the wheelbase got longer and the tire clearance increased. Not nearly as “slacked out” as the more progressive Specialized Diverge, the Crux carefully rides the thin line between gravel and all-road disciplines.

There are many similarities between the Aethos – Specialized's ultralight road frame – and the Crux. You can see really the inspiration in the seatstays, visible front-end cable routing, classic seatpost collar, and threaded bottom bracket. Like the Aethos, the Crux is incredibly light – with a 56cm frame coming it at around 725g (excluding the fork). Though unlike the Aethos, the Crux’s geometry is slacker and the headtube is higher – a better configuration for gravel. 

Capable of riding over nearly any terrain, the Crux can clear a whopping 700 x 47mm tire. This gives you the choice of nearly any gravel tire – whether you want treads, slicks, or something in between. For even chunkier terrain, you can use a 650b wheelset with up to 2.1” mountain bike tires.  

If you’re looking for one bike that can handle road, gravel, and even a bit of singletrack – the Crux is the ticket. We’ve seen Crux’s equipped with all kinds of gear – from carbon aero bars and slick road tires to MTB dropper posts and suspension forks. This bike is perfect for anyone looking to keep it simple and just have one bike that can be used regardless of the terrain.  

Many riders who use their Crux for everything will purchase a second wheelset (along with an extra cassette and rotors). That way one wheelset can be set up with slick tires for road and the second wheelset can have some larger volume tires for gravel.