Just in: Specialized Crux Elite X1

Specialized is firmly committed to disc brakes on cyclocross bikes, as for 2016 the four models available in the UK only come with disc brakes. We’ve just taken delivery of the range-topping £2,500 Crux Elite X1. However, if you were viewing the full Crux range, only available in the US, this model is actually six pegs down from the top-end S-Works build.

Make no mistake, this bike, with its blue and yellow paint job, grabs your attention. Also catching your attention is the lack of a front mech; it’s specced with a SRAM Rival 1x11 drivetrain, which combines a single 40t chainring and 11-32t cassette. You can read all about the Rival groupset in our first ride review here.

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Underneath that marmite paint job is a frame constructed from FACT 10r carbon fibre, with a FACT carbon fibre fork. Conventional quick releases are out and in are thru-axles, 15mm at the front and 12mm a the rear. How very modern.

The frame has a tapered head tube with a 1 3/8in lower bearing and an OSBB bottom bracket. All cables and hoses are routed inside the frame and fork. While the bike has no front mech, there is still a mech hanger. It's a bit of an eyesore. As this is a bike built purely for racing, there are no concessions to versatility, so no eyelets for mudguards or a rack. There are two bottle cage mounts however, handy if you want to use the Crux for some adventuring or gravel racing.

We’ve already mentioned the Rival 1 groupset, but you also need to know that the Crux Elite 1 has SRAM’s hydraulic disc brakes as well. There are 160mm rotors at both ends, mounted to Specialized’s own Axis 4.0 Disc SCS wheels usuing Shimano's CentreLock standard. The rims are tubeless-ready, and fitted with Specialized Terra Pro 33mm tubeless tyres. I’ll definitely be setting these up tubeless.

It’s a swathe of Specialized branded kit elsewhere, with a Body Geometry Phenom Comp saddle with chromoly rails and a 27.2mm aluminium 2-bolt seatpost. Handlebars are aluminium too with a shallow drop (125mm) and short (70mm) reach. A 10cm Comp Multi stem is fitted with a 12-degree rise, with a 4-bolt faceplate. The whole bike weighs in at 8.8kg (19.4lb).

This is the only carbon fibre Crux available in the UK - the other three models are each based around an E5 aluminium frame. You can, however, buy the Crux Pro Disc frameset (£1,600) if you wanted to build your own bike using your favourite parts. Be warned, it comes in an even more daring colour combination of green, red and black.

The Crux E5 X1 (£1,800) has an almost identical SRAM Rival 1 build to the Crux Elite X1, save for a few differences in the Axis 2.0 Disc wheels and Tracer Sport tyres. The most affordable model is the entry-level Crux E5 (£1,200), which comes with a Shimano Sora and Tektro Spyre drivetrain.

With all that out of the way, I’m going to hit the trails and, as it’s a bike clearly made for racing, do some cyclocross races and see how the Crux Elite X1 performs. Full review soon.

More at www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/crux/crux-elite-x1