At first glance, the "S-Works Tricross" is just a very light cross bike. The scales show 7.4 kilos for the size 56 test bike - a record-breaking weight for a standard crosser. However, a closer look reveals that the bike can do even more. Thanks to the threads for mudguards and pannier rack, the "Tricross" could also be used as a winter racer and even as a touring bike. Of course, all-rounders are one thing. If you try your hand at many disciplines, you run the risk of not being able to do anything properly.
Not so the "Tricross": it is a sports bike through and through, the geometry is steep, the wheelbase short, and the bike is correspondingly agile and manoeuvrable around tight bends. Thanks to the suspension weight, it gets up to speed impressively quickly. This is complemented by the stiff carbon frame, which stays on track even when the going gets rough and can't be rattled downhill. The bike surprises with noticeable comfort. Compared to other crossers, the "Tricross" rides noticeably softer on rough surfaces, sparing your spinal discs and nerves. The measured values from the TOUR laboratory confirm this: With the seatpost belonging to the frame, we were able to determine very good suspension travel (176 Newtons per millimetre), and the fork at least provides decent suspension. The in-house "Phenom" saddle, which should suit many riders, emphasises the comfortable design.
Unlike most crossers, the "Tricross" does not use cantilever brakes but short V-brakes that match the gear ratio of the Force brake levers from Sram. This eliminates the annoying vibration of the fork that is often felt on this bike, and the brakes are easy to fit and adjust. Despite the somewhat undefined pressure point, the brakes are impressive; they decelerate well and are easy to modulate. The multi-adjustable handlebar stem emphasises the versatility of the bike: with the help of an eccentric sleeve between the stem clamp and the steerer tube, the handlebars can be adjusted up or down by several degrees. As the stem can also be rotated by 180 degrees, there are numerous handlebar positions between very sporty and upright comfortable.
Another interesting equipment detail are the carbon cranks - the same ones that Specialized also uses in the "Tarmac SL2" road racer. The combination of ball bearings pressed into the frame and an axle that can be split in the centre saves around 150 grams compared to other common variants. The 48/34 tooth gradation is fine, although we would have preferred a 46 tooth chainring - the difference of 14 teeth when changing chainrings often forces you to readjust by two sprockets.
The "Tricross" parade discipline is racing along forest tracks and winding single trails. The 32 millimetre wide, folding Houffalize studded tyres grip the ground well, but roll a little sluggishly on asphalt. Switching to specialist tyres such as Schwalbe's "Racing Ralph" would improve both road and off-road performance.
Conclusion: The "Tricross" is a fantastically light, beautiful all-rounder with interesting details. However, as with all crossers with a carbon frame, the same applies here: Crashes are inevitable on a cross bike, and carbon is sensitive to hard impacts. It is almost impossible to judge from the outside whether the frame is damaged.
PLUS: very light frame for a crosser; stable ride; comfortable; durable paint; versatile
MINUS: expensive
Price: 4,499 Euro
Reference/Info: Specialised Europe, telephone 0031/314/676660, www.specialized.com
Frame sizes*: 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61 cm
Seat/steering angle: 73°/73°
Seat/top/head tube: 613/565/153 mm
Wheelbase/caster: 1,030/57 mm
Frame height/camber**: 613/130 mm
EQUIPMENT
Fork: Specialised Tricross Carbon
Steering bearing: Specialised 1-1/8 inch
Brakes/gears: Tektro mini V-brake/Sram Force
Bottom bracket: S-Works FACT Carbon, 48/34 t.
Wheels/tyres: Roval Fusee E5/ Specialized Houffalize CX, 32 mm
Handlebar/ stem: S-Works SL FACT/S-Works
Saddle/post: Specialised Phenom SL/S-Works SL FACT Carbon
MEASURED VALUES and INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Weight of complete wheel: 7.4 kilos (without pedals)
Frame/fork/steering bearing weight: 1,324/553/44 g Standard. Weight frame set***: 1.953 g .. 2,5
Steering head stiffness: 95 Nm/° - 1.0
Lateral stiffness fork: 42 N/mm - 3.0
Bottom bracket stiffness: 56 N/mm - 3.0
Comfort frame: 196 N/mm - 1.0
Comfort fork: 72 N/mm - 2.3
* The tested frame height is printed in bold.
** Projected dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top edge of the head tube/ saddle/ head tube rise at 75 cm seat height (centre of saddle frame to top edge of head tube.
*** Adjusted weight for frame size 57 and fork steerer length 225 mm.
**** The individual grades are included in the overall grades with different weightings, only some of which are given for reasons of space.
(Photos: Daniel Simon)
