Horse for the Course: Specialized CruX for the Dirty Kanza 200

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The Dirty Kanza 200 has become the crown jewel of gravel racing, drawing nearly 1,000 racers who test their mettle against 206 miles of rough and rocky Kansas gravel roads. I built up a Specialized CruX to see me through 14 hours and 23 minutes of gravel racing through heat and headwinds.

• Horse for the Course: Moots Routt 45 for the Dirty Kanza 200
• Horse for the Course: Raleigh Roker Race for the Dirty Reiver

• The course: The Dirty Kanza 200, a 200+ mile gravel race through the Flint Hills of central Kansas
• The equipment goal: A race-ready gravel bike that balances performance, reliability and comfort
• The horse: A Specialized S-Works CruX with a gravel-centric build including a 50/34t compact crankset, 700x38 tubeless tires and lots of water bottles

A long and rocky relationship

This wasn’t my first attempt at the Dirty Kanza 200. Far from it, in fact. I toed the start line at the inaugural event back in 2006, when race participants numbered in the dozens. Since year one, I’ve had two more finishes and three spectacular failures. Equipment, nutrition, hydration — you name it, I’ve probably screwed it up at this race.

I took those hard-earned lessons and used them to refine what I think is the most capable set-up for this particular gravel race. The sixth time was the charm for me. This was the first year I felt like I cracked the recipe for success at the Kanza.

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More than just a cyclocross bike

The first piece of this gravel puzzle was the frameset. Some folks deride the term “gravel” as a descriptor of a breed of bicycle. I know better. Growing up in the Flint Hills of Kansas, I’ve spent many hours riding the rocky, rolling hills and understand that the Dirty Kanza places unique demands on the bike and rider.

While there are an increasing number of gravel bikes on the market, few check all the boxes I was seeking for this event: lightweight, clearance for wide tires and nimble handling. Many gravel/all-road/adventure bikes tick the first two boxes, but not necessarily the third.

While I wasn’t in contention for the win, it’s nice to know that when piloted by a fitter rider, the CruX can deliver

Gravel-ready gear

Creature comforts

Food and water. So much water…

I kept my food in my jersey pockets and in Speedsleev’s Endure Top Tube Case

Other essentials 

When the dust settled 

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