New upcoming gravel frames. Current market is so boring..

[eucalyptus]

What do you think. With the new Spez Crux 5 arrived, out of stock everywhere of course, do you think the asian manufacturers will start producing something similar? They did copy the SL7 in so many different versions.

Evolva cima GR, nice, but paint jobs is by far the worst of any brand on any market and they cheaped out without CeramicSpeed headset that is included in road Cima. If the bike is from China I think either custom paint jobs or raw frames should be mandatory

I want, I need the Crux 5  Hope China steps up soon!

[FlorianS]

With the raging success of the Crux 5, I'm very optimistic that we'll see a very similar frame design popping up with many vendors. It'll probably take a bit longer than with other frames, given that Specialized is not happy with the counterfeit market in China. They need to adjust the frame so that it doesn't quite look like the Crux, otherwise they'll probably get seized again. They'll probably even add in-Frame-Storage and - of course - custom paint options.

[carbonMad]

No CeramicSpeed bearings?! How will I deal with the inertia of much heavier, metal bearing balls in my poor-person headset?
Also, love that your 'cure' for boring frames on the marker is Chinese brands making knock offs of an existing, popular (as soon as they ship) frame

[gribs]

What's special about it? It looks built for Professional American gravel racing but limited over technical terrain or even for just normal people.

If you want SLT headset bearings they're easily available aftermarket and you don't need to pay the CeramicSpeed marketing premium.

[lidation]

I just compared the Crux 5 to my 2012 Specialized Crux, not much change in geometry, just a few mm longer reach and a few mm lower stack.  They put in the Tarmac aeroshapes but when you are on dirt trails, MOST people are not doing 30MPH so the aero doesn't really matter. The 55mm tire clearance is the single biggest change.  But actually I don't see why people would put 2.2" mountain bike tires on. When you need this wide tires, go ride a mountain bike already.

[akira11]

> current market is boring
> picks the most boring gravel bike of 2026 as reference

[eins4eins]

Don't think the market is boring at all. New bikes popping up left and right and there is something for everyone.

[jfcb]

when you look at the Evolve Cima GR and the tavelo Grow, you basically already have two great alternatives for aero gravel frames to the Crux5.
When it comes to aero gravel frames, I would even dare to say its the first time the chinese brands were ahead of the western brands. This was already the case with wheels, now gravel frames and soon 32" bikes?

[eddiecycle]

But actually I don't see why people would put 2.2" mountain bike tires on. When you need this wide tires, go ride a mountain bike already.

Because drop bars put your upper body in a more relaxed position throughout the ride and get you a lot more aero for any paved sections you might hit. As someone who rode MTBs on gravel roads for years back in the day, these newer big-clearance gravel bikes have made my dreams come true. Speed+capability=having it all

[Lotnik]

Current wetern market is boring. I agree. Most boring one is Crux 5 which looks like 2020 Tarmac SL7. Already mentioned Evolve and Tavelo, LC and Mondice poping some more intersting frames than the Crux.
Wait a month or so you will get your Crush from Yoho XD

[eddiecycle]

when you look at the Evolve Cima GR and the tavelo Grow, you basically already have two great alternatives for aero gravel frames to the Crux5.
When it comes to aero gravel frames, I would even dare to say its the first time the chinese brands were ahead of the western brands. This was already the case with wheels, now gravel frames and soon 32" bikes?

Those two bikes only have 50mm clearance, which is a couple years behind the curve compared to the western brands. Specialized was also behind the curve but corrected that by jumping to a modern 55mm clearance. The Tavelo and the Evolve are also kinda pricey compared to western brands outside of Specialized. The upcoming XMCS looks more appealing to me with 57mm clearance. Hopefully the price ends up being competitive

[jfcb]

Those two bikes only have 50mm clearance, which is a couple years behind the curve compared to the western brands. Specialized was also behind the curve but corrected that by jumping to a modern 55mm clearance. The Tavelo and the Evolve are also kinda pricey compared to western brands outside of Specialized. The upcoming XMCS looks more appealing to me with 57mm clearance. Hopefully the price ends up being competitive

Ide Schelling fitted a 2.2 tire in his grow and fits a 50t chain ring, so all you need.
Remarkable you find them pricey compared to western brands, they are still 1k to 2k usd cheaper than a default western brand. Looking at xmcs current frame pricing, you will likely end up more expensive than evolve or tavelo.

[eddiecycle]

Once you're up to $2k shipped here, three are lots of western brand options to compete with. Specialized is always one of the more pricey brands (though they arguably earn it with some of the best riding frames, wind tunnel testing, etc). Then there's always last-year closeouts from established brands that can often be found for under $1500.

My understanding was that the Grow was a true 50mm frame with 6mm clearance all around. You can squeeze a 2.2 into most 50mm frames if you ignore the clearance (or if it's a tire that measures undersized). I've had that much clearance for a couple years now, want more on the next bike