Pro bike: Todd Wells' Specialized CruX E5 OSBB
Custom aluminum racer for US national champion
This article originally appeared on BikeRadar
Todd Wells told Cyclingnews earlier this year that he wasn't at all upset about not getting a custom stars-and-stripes bike to celebrate his status as US national cross-country champion. He arrived at late October's back-to-back UCI cyclo-cross races in Boulder, Colorado with his Specialized CruX bikes sporting stock livery – only they were far from stock beneath the paint.
For starters, Wells' alloy CruX has custom geometry to suit his lanky 1.88m (6ft 2in) build. The rear end is essentially borrowed from a standard 58cm production model but the front end is both longer and lower than a stock 61cm for an extra-aggressive position.
The frame may be all-alloy but there's plenty of carbon fiber to be found elsewhere in the Zipp 303 Cyclocross tubular wheels, the SRAM Red DoubleTap levers, the ultralight and remarkably rigid Specialized FACT integrated cranks, and the Specialized S-Works two-bolt seatpost. Wells is clearly confident in the material's strength and durability, as his bike is also fitted with a carbon-railed Specialized Phenom Pro saddle and a Specialized S-Works semi-anatomic bar.
Specialized doesn't provide Todd Wells with a custom red, white and blue bike to celebrate his national championship win but the colored housing gets the point across
The Specialized brand name is also found on the angle-adjustable forged aluminum stem, the limited-edition 'Republic of California' bar tape and the 33mm-wide Terra tubulars – one of three models in the company's new comprehensive 'cross tubular range. The rest of the build is rather straightforward, with SRAM Red Black derailleurs (including a steel front cage), a SRAM PG-1070 cassette and PC-1091 chain
Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes are retrofitted with road cartridge holders to better accommodate the ultra-wide Zipp rims, and Wells uses CrankBrothers Eggbeater 11 pedals and Gore Ride-On sealed cables and housings. Total weight as pictured is 7.90kg (17.42lb) but if our hunch is correct, we expect that figure to drop substantially once Specialized replace this alloy version with a full-blown carbon flagship.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Specialized Roval carbon-specific pads (made by SwissStop) are fitted to Avid Shorty Ultimate cantilevers. Note the road pad holders instead of the stock units to better fit with the extra-wide Zipp rims
Complete bike specifications:
Frame: Specialized CruX E5 OSBB, 58cm
Fork: Specialized FACT w/ carbon legs, alloy steerer
Headset: Integrated tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2"
Stem: Specialized S-Works Pro-Set, 120mm x -13°
Handlebars: Specialized S-Works Carbon, 44cm (c-c)
Tape/grips: Specialized 'Republic of California'
Front brake: Avid Shorty Ultimate w/ Roval carbon-specific pads
Rear brake: Avid Shorty Ultimate w/ Roval carbon-specific pads
Brake levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap
Front derailleur: SRAM Red Black w/ steel cage
Rear derailleur: SRAM Red Black
Shift levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap
Cassette: SRAM PG-1070, 11-25T
Chain: SRAM PC-1091
Crankset: Specialized S-Works FACT, 175mm, w/ 39/46T SRAM chainrings
Bottom bracket: Specialized OSBB
Pedals: Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11
Wheelset: Zipp 303 Cyclocross tubular
Front tire: Specialized Terra tubular, 33mm, 30psi
Rear tire: Specialized Terra tubular, 33mm, 30psi
Saddle: Specialized Phenom Pro
Seat post: Specialized S-Works Carbon
Bottle cages: n/a
Computer: n/a
Other accessories: Gore Ride-On sealed cables and housing
Critical measurements:
Rider's height: 1.88m (6' 2")
Rider's weight: 79.4kg (175lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 800mm
Saddle setback: 95mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 580mm
Seat tube length, c-c: 520mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 596mm
Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 95mm
Head tube length: 170mm
Top tube length: 595mm
Total bicycle weight: 7.90kg (17.42lb)
Two charges relating to death of Melissa Hoskins dropped as Rohan Dennis pleads guilty to new lesser charge
Junior track and road standout Joelle Messemer newest signing for 2025 Canyon-SRAM Generation
Decathlon AG2R refresh and rebuild for 2025 with new racing kit, new bikes and generational teenage talent