Just to play devil’s advocate, an argument could probably be made that 48/11 is enough for many people on many non-race road rides.
I don’t necessarily want to pick that fight myself, but an argument *could * be made…
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In the hunt for my gravel race bike here is the information I have generated on frames I have considered (the Diverge Aluminum being my current)
| Cervelo Aspero 5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 920 | $860.00 |
| Fork | 450 | $860.00 |
| Stem (ST32) | 0 | $860.00 |
| Bars (AB09F) | 0 | $860.00 |
| Seatpost (SP19) | 209 | $860.00 |
| Total | 1579 | $4,300.00 |
| 3.48109498 |
| Giant Revolt | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 1193 | 664.44 |
| Fork | 453 | 664.44 |
| Stem | 0 | $- |
| Bars | 0 | $- |
| Seatpost | 196 | 664.44 |
| Total | 1842 | $1,993.32 |
| 4.06091004 |
| Scott Addict Gravel | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 930 | $- |
| Fork | 395 | $- |
| Bars | 0 | $- |
| Stem | 0 | $- |
| Seatpost | 166 | $- |
| Total | 1491 | $- |
| 3.28708842 |
| Ridley Kanzo Fast | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 1190 | 600 |
| Fork | 490 | 600 |
| Bars | 0 | 600 |
| Stem | 0 | 600 |
| Seatpost | 175 | 600 |
| Total | 1855 | 3000 |
| 4.0895701 |
| Specialized S-works Crux | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 725 | $1,833.33 |
| Fork | 400 | $1,833.33 |
| Bars | 0 | $- |
| Stem | 0 | $- |
| Seatpost | 195 | $1,833.33 |
| Total | 1320 | $5,500.00 |
| 2.9100984 |
| Specialized Diverge Aluminum | ||
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 1450 | $875.00 |
| Fork | 455 | $875.00 |
| Bars | ||
| Stem | 0 | |
| Roval Terra Seatpost | 195 | $250.00 |
| Total | 2100 | $2,000.00 |
| 4.629702 |
My aspero and my kanzo both came in at 19lbs with GRX and quarq power meter in a 58 frame
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I am not sure if that was directed at me or not, but this is only frame/fork and seat post values. IMO when analyzing the market (I build all my bikes from frame) the Scott is the best choice for aero/weight etc. I ultimately went with a Kanzo fast however as it is by far the best value (it includes frame, fork, seatpost and bars at that price).
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It was, I misunderstood your chart it appears. I like my kanzo fast hope you like yours
I was tending to want more of a gravel/bikepacking gravel bike, but then I see this and it looks like a great replacement for my road bike that would do gravel etc. This + my mtb hardtail, and I would be pretty happy.
BUT, only SRAM options, and the comp being rival 1x at $4200 … no thanks. I want GRX, so that means $3200 frame and have to build up, so it’d be $5-6k.
So it’s on my consideration list, but not high enough to get me to go drive down to order one anytime soon. Maybe in the Spring (if they’re even available then), I’ll look into it more, but probably not.
Now, time to go yell at the kids making noise on the lawn and complain about gas prices.
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Agreed, that’s an excellent review. I usually turn to CyclingTips first for these bike reviews, but the fact that he (Dan at Bicycling Mag) actually did some cross races on the new bike really puts this review on top.
I am having a really hard time deciding if I want one bike or two. Cross and gravel are my main avocations. In cross my strength is power in heavy conditions, and handling/tight cornering is a weakness. In gravel I love long climbs but fast steep descents scare me. I’ve been looking for bikes that mitigate my weaknesses rather than enhancing my strengths. I’m afraid that the new Crux is not quite far enough into the gravel side of things to give me the descending confidence that I’m looking for, and not quite CXy enough (longer wheelbase primarily) to help my poop cornering. But on the other hand it’s attributes might actually help me, especially if I put on a dropper and 45mm tires.
I dunno, what would you all do?
Other than a slightly higher BB, what aspects of the geo make you think it won’t give you confidence descending? As noted, the geo is very similar to the Aspero and my bike is fantastic on descents.
I think a lot of the trend going on in gravel geo is typical of the bike industry product patterns - they borrow something form one aspect and adapt it to another discipline. So in the case of gravel, they are going more towards MTB geo while forgetting that many / most riders simply aren’t hitting trails that technical and are just riding dirt / gravel roads.
Heck, there is even some recognition in some quarters that the push in MTB geo has gone too far and people who once rode a given size (i.e. Med) are on bikes that are now too big for them.
Thanks for the question, I appreciate it. It’s really a combination of things. I’ve always been a nervous descender, so in reviews I always look for things that are over the top. You know, “This bike is a supremely confident descender”, or “It is impossible to crash while going downhill on this bike.” I’m also one of those people you mention above who rides an MTB with progressive geo (I always used to ride a med and now I’m always on a large) and I love it. I get along better with my “big” trail bike (Ibis Ripmo) than any MTB I’ve ever owned. So I’m always doing this calculus of “Okay, the Crux is not quite as progressive as the Aspero, but the Checkpoint is more progressive than both, so I should get that one.” I know that’s silly, but that’s the direction I always go. Also many of the trails that I train on can get fairly steep and occasionally chunky.
I spent the summer racing gravel (and doing pretty well) on my Boone. 68mm BB drop, 1020mm wheelbase. I really figured out the differences between CX and gravel geometry, and I know that any of these bikes is going to be a big step up in stability. I’ve just never ridden an off-road bike of this type, so I don’t know what 4mm of drop is going to feel like vs 8mm.
There’s a good few comments in the articles about the crux in how it’s less stable than diverge, but then quicker handling. So I think you’re right that it’s not going to feel as stable in the higher speed descents.
However, it will likely feel better on paved roads than a diverge for the same reason.
I have ridden an older Crux, and it was quite a shock how it rode on paved roads, and I thought it wasn’t a great bike (I’d borrowed someones to try), but then I got onto wet heavy sand/gravel paths (sort of like decomposed granite … hard to describe), and it was awesome.
We really need a continuum of riding types from TdF smooth new tarmac through to baseball sized rocky single track, and you then place each bike on that contiuum where they’re best suited. I accept that a 2022 Crux is more towards the road side of the spectrum than say a Ritchey Outback, but what sparked my interest was that very thing (which was then dashed by only SRAM groups and the price and also the ugly paint options for the 10r frame only).
All in all though, I view the release of the 2022 Crux as a great signal of what sorts of bikes we’re going to see going forward. I cannot imagine ever buying a “road” bike again, and something like this Crux would likely be my next road through to modest gravel bike.
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I was curious how the geometry compared to my canyon inflite, it seems more companies are going with the hybrid CX/gravel bikes. As you can see the crux is damn near the same bike as a inflite. The crux is a tiny bit slacker but the big thing is the ability to run 47c tires. That’s the one thing my bike lacks. i don’t want to take anything away from the crux but I just find it interesting companies are going with a more aggressive CX/ gravel bike that fits big tires. I’m still happy with any CX bike being a “one bike to rule them all”.
I have a Canyon Inflite as well (aluminium, 2017) but when I compared with the Crux I did get some differences - reach is 14mm shorter on the Inflite and wheelbase is 19mm shorter. The comparison is between a M Inflite and a size 56 Crux.
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Yeah that’s interesting maybe it’s because the smaller frames can have a little bit different geometry. I’m just a tall individual, 6’3”.
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Forgetting BB drop. That’s what is setting off plenty of pure cx’ers like Adam Myserson. Plenty of people who aren’t as skilled, some as skilled, will be clipping pedals, feet/pedals in mud etc in areas you wouldn’t on a true cx bike. That’s the other side anyway.
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The difference in BB drop between the old Crux and new one is only 4mm….but the difference between the Infinite and the new Crux is 8mm, which is substantial.
I missed this. Myerson is complaining about the new crux having too much drop and thus not being a true cross bike?
I’m sure it’ll be marketed as good for both, they already have other frame sets released for Gravel specific riding
I can’t be the only one who’d prefer (well, I’d only consider) GRX. Has anyone calculated (with current COVID limited availability and higher prices) what a 10r frame only would cost to build up?
I’d be replacing my road bike, so could borrow some parts off it (although could just sell road bike complete any maybe get more money for it), but curious if anyone’s looked for instock (available to USA) GRX, bars, stem, post, saddle etc and written up a spreadsheet.
Thanks
I have not calculated the cost, but my understanding (from my shop) is that most Shimano stuff will be basically non-existent until summer.
Mechanical or Di2? Mechanical probably easier to find / cobble together.
Brifters / caliper combos
Rear Derailleur
You can use any crank you can get your hands on, depending on your BB configuration, but here is a GRX 1x.
So roughly $1200 for a mechanical grouppo. (Not including cassette / wheels)
Note - I did not check availability on the stuff above. Just used the links for pricing reference.
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