Rumors are just rumors, but several sources reporting:
no longer a Cx bike
Diverge 4 level clearance (stated Diverge 4 clearance = “fits 50mm tires with 8mm of clearance or 2.2” tires with ISO standard 4mm of clearance”)
Aero “SL9” tube profile & design
Roval “Terra” cockpit (spied on Matt Beers bike at Santa Vall in Girona) backswept shape, flared drops
Integrated routing
wide, “mullet” depth Roval Terra Aero wheelset on top builds (have been spied since Big Sugar last year)
Raced at Unbound, dropping in June
Aero Roval gravel wheels have been well-documented, new integrated cockpit is seeing some daylight in the past couple of days, a poster on the linked thread above mentioned that marketing photos were happening in the “Win Tunnel” last week… it should break cover soon I would imagine.
Many close up shots of the cockpit and wheels in this recent video with a bad AI voiceover:
Anyone heard any updates on the new Crux? Surprised we haven’t heard anything or seen spyshots. I heard maybe those new roval wheels will be released this week at least?
To my understanding it is imminent. It’ll be similar to the Tarmac SL8 (or SL9) but with gravel-esque clearance. The launch will be accompanied by new Terra wheels, bars and probably seatpost.
The bike in the video doesn’t look like what the comments imply so I’m not sure what to make of it. Also not sure why they need a different handlebar beyond the Rapide. Regardless: I’ll probably be a buyer just to get away from the crappy headset on my existing Crux!
FYI, both the new Roval Terra Aero CLX and Terra CLX III Wheels have been discussed on an (unlisted) Specialized Podcast episode (https://youtu.be/Mnv6cjX1Onk?si=8b_CmBkgUFvSQhYH). Likely imminent releases:
Roval Terra Aero CLX - ‘World’s fastest gravel wheel’: 4-5 watt advantage over previous gen Terra’s; Carbon spokes (ARRIS Composites) - 84g saving; Deep aero wheels that are optimised for wider tyres and pinch flats (5mm hooks); 4-year development cycle (building off Rapide testing).
Terra CLX III - ‘Lightest production gravel wheelset’: 1060g with values & rim tape for the pair; Carbon spokes; Ride comfort - significant (21%) compliance gains on Terra CLX III.
Some of them (pre-‘25?) tend to loosen up quickly, and that can lead to damage to the carbon steerer pretty quickly, and potentially catastrophically. Some mechanics call it the “ring of death”. I have a 25 model and have not experienced this. Also, as you correctly point out, it can be replaced with a slew of aftermarket options, because it is a standard design.
If they loosen up, it sounds like the headset may not have been adjusted properly? I don’t see how a steel bearing and a carbon crown would deform significantly over time. Where did you hear this?
Not a Crux owner but a former shop mechanic: the headset issue has been widely reported and it’s not user error. It’s the cheap plastic parts used in the top cap etc compressng and flexing. The comments on this video are full of owners with the same problem and shop mechanics who’ve fixed it the same way.
I had initially thought I escaped this Crux headset issue because I rode the bike for circa 1.25 years without issue. Then I did a gravel race that worked in a MTB trail and it came loose on me and I joined the many Crux owners cursing Specialized’s name. It’s truly maddening that in the 2020s, on an externally cabled bike, that there can be headset issues, but there are, somehow someway
Here’s a quick visualisation of the “Crux Aero” I mocked up over lunchtime: literally combining the front-end of a Tarmac with the rear-end of a Crux, slightly pushing out the fork angle, and chucking the new Terra Aero wheelset on for good measure (Was easy to blend thanks to the quite similar colours on offer for both models atm, you’ll notice the slightly different shades of greens though). Thoughts?
It’s a great point, given the aero goals, crux seat stays don’t offer nearly enough benefit versus dropping them - I think the classic lines are the only gain! The question is, do you meld a tarmac with a diverge, or a Roubaix, for clearance + aero? Pushing out a Roubaix to get 45mm + clearance (Aspero 5 figures) could be interesting, though not the 50 mm+ touted. Might play around with a Tarmac+Roubaix mash. This is, of course, presuming they won’t go for a completely new mould…
I can’t vouch for the accuracy, but on Weight Weenies a poster said they’d seen the bike and it didn’t have internal storage. I’d be a bit surprised it it did, that’s what the Diverge is for. I’d expect the trail will be based on slightly larger tires, so handling would get a tiny bit quicker with road tires, but that’s pure speculation. Haven’t seen any rumors about it being 1x only but my personal guess would be that they’ll maintain 2x compatibility. Spec does tend to put the nicest colorways on the S-works but I’ve seen some 10R color ways I actually preferred, hopefully they don’t totally dumb down the 10R colorways.
Building on the weight weenies rumour mill, I’ve mocked up a gravel-tarmac (SL8 with tyre clearance, no downtube storage, dropped seat stays, and only 1x option). Decided on a thicker chainstay and fork, added some wheel clearance cut-outs on the downtube and seat post, and extra bolts on the top tube (aspero 5 offers them + I’m a sucker for a top tube bag).
