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Owns both a Crux 4 and a Crux 5 and has demoed a Mog. The Crux 5 is their favourite: it improves on the Mog in every way by a small margin and feels stiffer and more 'in the bike' than the Crux 4.
“I have a crux 4 and a crux 5. I’ve demod the mog. Crux 5 is my favorite but I might be biased since it’s new a shiny and I like new and shiny.”
Rode a Crux 4 for almost four years and has been on the Crux 5 since launch day. The Crux 5 is all gravel: super stable and planted, smooths out rough terrain and is a beast off-road, pretty good on the road but 1x only; the Crux 4 rides a lot better as a road bike.
“The Crux 5 is all gravel. Super stable and planted. It smooths out gravel and rough terrain. 1x only.”
Rode their new Crux 5, their first Specialized, in the Girona mountains and absolutely loves it, both for racing and for casual road riding on slick tyres. The 44t chainring they fitted turned out a little too big for some of the climbs there.
“Recently invested in my first Specialized bike and absolutely love it. Perfect weapon for racing and even casual road riding with hard tyres.”
Owns a Crux 5 Comp in Satin Amethyst Frost and finds the blue-purple paint layer shockingly poor next to the seven other Specialized bikes they have owned: it arrived chipped at the seatpost clamp and peels easily, though the silver base coat is fine and they are not too worried.
“I have it and the blue/purple layer seems shockingly low quality compared to every other Specialized bike I've had (like 7 at this point).”
Inspecting their new Crux 5 on delivery day, their first carbon frame, they found paint adhesion problems near the front axle and worry it may peel or flake, which they had not seen on mountain bikes.
“I took delivery of my crux 5 this afternoon and I was doing an inspection on it and noticed some paint adhesion issues near the front axle.”
A 47-year-old rider calls their Crux 5, now on Enve G 4.5 wheels and road tyres, the favourite bike they have owned. It is not as fast as their old Tarmac SL8 but far more comfortable and holds speed easily; they only miss the punch when jumping onto fast wheels in group rides.
“It’s not as fast as my Tarmac SL8 was but it is way more comfortable and holds fast speeds easily.”
Rides a Crux 5 as a road bike alongside a 2026 Cervélo S5, on the same 60 mm wheels with 32/34 mm road tyres. Does not feel slower than on the S5, only less twitchy and slower to turn; is waiting for a narrower Terra cockpit to match their road position.
“I have an 2026 S5 and now the Crux 5 as well. Riding both with the same wheels. I don’t feel any slower, but just reaction-wise it’s less twitchy.”
Sold an Allez Sprint and runs a Crux 5 with two wheelsets, 45 mm gravel tyres and 40 mm road tyres. Just rode a century with 4,000 ft of climbing, still keeps up with 20 mph group rides, and finds it faster than the Allez Sprint; very happy with the purchase.
“I can still easily join a group ride averaging 20mph. Overall, I’m very happy with the purchase. For some reason, my crux is faster than my Allez sprint.”
A lifelong mountain biker who has ridden gravel for four years owns a Crux 5 Comp with upgraded cranks, bar and seatpost. Has run it on 2.1-inch tyres and loves it, would change nothing on the frame, and plans a road wheelset so it can replace their Allez Sprint.
“Have been running 2.1 thunderburts on this bike and it’s been phenomenal. Genuinely love this bike and will be keeping it for along time. Really can’t think of anything I’d change to the frame.”