Cameron Mason’s 2022 Specialized S-Works Crux cyclocross bike

By Jack Evans

Published: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 at 12:00 am

This is the custom Specialized Crux that helped Cameron Mason to finish second in the 2022 British National Cyclocross Championships. He’d already won an Under-23 UCI World Cup CX event in Dendermonde on the bike in December.

The Trinity Racing rider continues to ride the formerly ‘cross-specific Crux now Specialized claims to have repurposed it into “the world’s lightest gravel bike”. Costing more than £10,000, it must also be one of the most expensive.

The mucky course at the South of England Showground in Crawley had a bit of everything – from gravel and tarmac straights to steep climbs and descents, and off-camber quarry sections.

It’s no wonder the talented Scot challenged winner Thomas Mein right to the line on this featherweight speed machine.

"Cameron
New meets old: a freshly released superbike with old-school tubular tyres.
Matt Grayson

The Zipp 303 wheels Mason chose are also very svelte. The ubiquitous Challenge Limus cyclocross tyres in a UCI-compliant 33mm width were fitted to these tubular rims.

Instead of SRAM’s premier Red eTap AXS XPLR groupset, Mason decked out the S-Works Crux with the brand’s Force components, including the rear derailleur, brakes and cranks.

The single 42t chainring and 10-33 cassette he rode saw him spin a noticeably smaller gear than the powerful-looking Mein.

"Cameron
Mason backed up the narrow-wide chainring with a small chain guide.
Matt Grayson

Mason clipped into Look X-Track Race carbon pedals. Much of the rest of the build consisted of similarly feathery Specialized parts, such as a Roval seatpost and S-Works Power Arc saddle. We were told this was Mason’s personal choice.

"Cameron
Weight-saving efforts extended to this carbon saddle.
Matt Grayson
"Cameron
Mason’s Specialized Roval bars are 40cm-wide.
"Cameron
The bike was built with different-sized rotors.
Matt Grayson

His bike has clearance for two-inch tyres on 650b wheels, far over the UCI width limit of 33mm. This should have made the forks less likely to clog with mud in the sloppy conditions.

"Cameron
The Crux has room for full-fat gravel tyres.
Matt Grayson

Mason also appears to have tried to shed weight by running a 160mm disc rotor at the front, with a smaller 140mm rear rotor.

Cameron Mason’s custom 2022 British Cyclocross National Championships Specialized S-Works Crux full spec

  • Frameset: Specialized S-Works Crux
  • Bar: Specialized Roval
  • Wheels: Zipp 303 Tubulars
  • Tyres: Challenge Limus
  • Rear derailleur: SRAM Force eTap AXS
  • Crankset: SRAM Force with 42t chainring
  • Seatpost: Specialized Roval
  • Pedals: Look X-Track