Pro bike: Anna Kay's Specialized S-Works Crux
We take a closer look at Kay's S-Works cyclocross machine
Very British conditions made for a technical race at the British Cyclocross Championships in Shrewsbury, with a slip sliding rollercoaster ride of a course laden with gloopy mud.
Anna Kay (Experza Pro CX) raced her Specialized S-Works Crux to a bronze medal in the senior women's elite race, also clocking up silver in the under-23 category – the win going to Hattie Harnden (T-Mo Racing) in both categories.
>>> Hattie Harnden seals British cyclocross title on elite debut
The shortest of the three riders on the podium, Kay rides a size 49. The bike is fitted out with Shimano Di2 Dura Ace shifters, whilst the mechs are Ultegra and the chainset comes from Easton, along with the bar, 80mm stem and seatpost combo.
There's a fair degree of crank rub on the arm suggesting this is a well-loved set up.
Close to the bottom bracket, the downtube has been fitted with a chunk of grip tape, presumably placed to help when shouldering the bike where conditions require a short run.
Kay has chosen a double chainring set up with 34/44 chainrings, then at the rear she uses a 12/27 or 12/30. The frame is shod with Miche SWR hoops, with the grippy Challenge Limus Team Edition S3 tubular tyres, which she rides in a 33mm or 30mm, dependant upon course and conditions.
‘Anna’is written in blue ink on the tan sidewalls. With tyres playing such a crucial role in a ‘cross race, no one wants to get them mixed up.
Kay chooses to keep her numbers on top of the stem instead of in front, keeping the front end tidy with K-Edge Sigma stem computer mount.
The second piece of K-Edge branded bling is the chaincatcher, poised and ready to provide saving grace should disaster strike.
The saddle choice for Kay is the Specialized Romin Evo - a long nosed perched favoured by racers who like to move around on the saddle. Specialized does offer a women's specific version - the Oura.
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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.
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