Specialized today unveiled its new aluminum "Crux DSW" gravel bike, said to weigh 1399 grams for the 56cm frame and 9.37kg for the complete bike. Specialized also says it has created its highest-performance, lightest, most balanced, and most responsive alloy gravel bike to date.

According to Specialized, this is made possible by Dalusio's Smart Weld technology. Smart Weld" is a term most people have heard of in reference to Specialized bikes, but the DSW process uses hydroforming (forming materials by injecting high-pressure fluid), which is also used in the Allez Sprint, to precisely align the joints between the tubes for a By aligning them, the welds are made with superior strength, ultimately resulting in a lighter and more durable frame. According to Specialized, the tubes in the frameset intersect exactly as the engineers need them to, with no "mitering or fudging. Then, material is added to the ends of the tubes to be welded.

In the case of the Crux DSW, a one-piece down tube and (threaded) bottom bracket are made, and the remaining tubes of the frameset are welded to this bottom bracket/down tube section (photos of which can be seen below).

According to the brand, the extra material needed can be put in the welding area where the most stress is applied. This eliminates the need to use "overbuilt" tubing designed to be strong enough to withstand older welding methods and achieve the desired ride characteristics.

According to Specialized, the Crux DSW maintains the same performance gravel geometry and race-inspired fit as the carbon Crux, with an extended reach and lower stack. The bottom bracket drop is 72mm, which is said to be the sweet spot between nimbleness and stability. The alloy frame is paired with a Fact 12R carbon fork, and tire clearance is 47mm, as on the carbon Crux, and up to 2.1 inches when fitted with 650B wheels.

The Crux DSW is available as a frameset in two color options. Gloss Amber Glow and Satin Metallic Spruce, both priced at £1,500.

The complete bike will also be available in Gloss Birch/Clay and Satin Smoke/Oak Green for £2,300. The complete bike will be equipped with 12-speed SRAM Apex gears (40T x 11-44t), DT G540 wheels, and Specialized Pathfinder Pro 38mm tires.

International pricing has yet to be determined.