Pro bike: Todd Wells' Specialized S-Works CruX Carbon

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Todd Wells (Specialized) made the switch to a carbon fiber frame this season.

Todd Wells (Specialized) made the switch to a carbon fiber frame this seaso🃏n. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes are used front and rear. Todd Wells (Specialized) has experimented with disc brakes in the past but he says he's waiting for hydraulic systems to be developed.

Avid Shorty Ultimate🎃 brakes are used front and rear. Todd Wells (Specialized) has experimented with disc brakes in the past but he says he's waiting for hydraulic systems to be developed. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Clearance through the carbon fiber fork is impressively generous.

Clearanc✃e through the carbon fiber fork is impressively generous. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Standard road pad holders are used instead of the standard Avid Shorty Ultimate ones in order to clear the wide-profile Zipp 303 rims.

Standa𝓰rd road pad holders are used instead of the standard Avid Shorty Ultimate ones in order to clear the wide-profile Zipp 303 rims. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The signature of Todd Wells' (Specialized) mechanic, Joe Devera.

The signature of Todd Wells' (Specialized) mechanic, Jo🌱e Devera. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells' (Specialized) Zipp hubs feature adjustable bearing preload.

Todd ﷽Wells' (Specialized) 💧Zipp hubs feature adjustable bearing preload. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells (Specialized) uses a Specialized Phenom saddle (143mm width) and a carbon fiber seatpost.

Todd Wells (Speciali🅘zed) uses a Specialized Phenom saddle (143mm width) and a carbon fiber seatpost. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The Specialized FACT carbon fiber crankarm is fitted with SRAM 46/39T chainrings.

The Specialized FACT carbon fiber crankarm ✃is fitted🐲 with SRAM 46/39T chainrings. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells (Specialized) puts the power down though a set of Shimano XTR pedals.

Todd Wells (Specialized) puts the power down though a s�🤡�et of Shimano XTR pedals. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells' (Specialized) bike is fitted with a previous-generation SRAM Red front derailleur and a steel cage instead of the stock titanium one.

Todd Wells' (Specialized) bike is fitted with a previous-generation SRAM Red front derailleur and a steel cage instead of the stock titani🎀um one. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The SRAM Red rear derailleur moves the PC-1091 chain across a PG-1071 cassette.

The SRAM Red rear derailleur moves the PC-1091 chain across a PG🙈-1071 cassette. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells (Specialized) has his choice of three different Specialized 'cross tubulars, all glued to Zipp 303 carbon fiber tubular rims.

Todd Wells (Specialize🌜d) has his choice of three different Specialized 'cross tubulars, all glued to Zipp 303 carbon fiber tubular rims. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells' (Specialized) Specialized Phenom saddle sports carbon fiber rails.

Todd Wells' (Specialized) Specialized Ph๊enom saddle sports carbon fiber rails. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Stout carbon fiber fork legs, a tapered steerer, and a crown-mounted housing stop all work together to combat brake shudder.

Stout carbon fiber fork legs, a tapered steerer, and a crown-mounted housing stop all work together to combat brake shudder🎃. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Textured Specialized handlebar tape offers a little more grip when things get wet and muddy.

T🌃extured Specialized handlebar tape offers a little more grip when things get wet and muddy. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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A Specialized S-Works classic-bend carbon fiber handlebar is clamped in a forged aluminum stem.

A Spec🌼ialized S-Works classic-bend carbon fiber handlebar 🧜is clamped in a forged aluminum stem. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Unlike Specialized's previous carbon fiber CruX (which was just a rebadged TriCross), the current CruX Carbon has proper cyclo-cross race geometry.

Unlike Specialized's previou🔜s carbon fiber CruX (which was just a rebadged TriCross), the current CruX Carbon has proper cyclo-cross race geometry. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Internal routing helps keep the lines clean on Todd Wells' (Specialized) Specialized S-Works CruX Carbon.

Internal routing helps keep the lines clean on Todd Wells' (Specialized) Specialized S-W♛orks CruX 🅘Carbon. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The bottom of the down tube features a slight indentation that's designed to provide a firm grip.

The bottom of the down tube features a slight indentation that'ౠs designed to provide a firm grip. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The curved top tube is very flattened on the underside to ease the pain of shouldering.

The curved top tube is very flattened on the underside to ease the pain of shouldering𝕴. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Specialized skips over fancy seat stay shaping in favor of a more straightforward setup.

Specialized skips over fancy seat stay shaping in favor of 🔥a more straightforward setup. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Tire clearance is generous through the seat stays.

Tire clearance is generous t꧙hrough the seat🅺 stays. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells' Specialized S-Works CruX Carbon frame includes ports for electronic drivetrains.

Todd Wells' Specialized S-Works CruX Carbon frame includes ports for electronic drivetraꦗins. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The rear Zipp hub is secured in between carbon fiber dropouts.

The rear Zipp 🦩hub is secured in between carbon fiber dropouts. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The seat tube starts out round up top but ends up rectangular down below.

The seat tube starts out rou꧒nd up top but ends up rectangular down below. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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The tapered head tube sports the same hourglass profile as Specialized's Tarmac road range.

The tapered head tube sports the same hourglass profi🎶le as Specialized's Tarmac road range. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells (Specialized) uses a classic-bend handlebar on his CruX Carbon cyclo-cross bike.

Todd Wells (Specialized) use🍒s a▨ classic-bend handlebar on his CruX Carbon cyclo-cross bike. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Todd Wells' (Specialized) Specialized S-Works CruX Carbon is fitted with a SRAM Red group.

Todd Wells' (Specialized) Specialized S-Works CruX Carbon is fitted with aﷺ SRAM Red group. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
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Specialized team mechanic Joe Devera's nickname is 'Spider Monkey'. As far as we're aware, he doesn't have a prehensile tail.

Specialized team mechanic Joe Devera's nickname☂ is 'Spider Monkey'. As far as 🗹we're aware, he doesn't have a prehensile tail. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)

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] and now that they have the CruX in the carbon version with the aluminum geometry from the previous years that we've developed, that's the biggest difference for me."