Gear Reviews

Components SRAM Force

Wheels Bontrager Race Lite

Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm

MSRP $3,999

Trek has had a line of aluminum cyclocross bikes in its lineup for years. But among the bikes it gained when it brought the Gary Fisher brand under the Trek name was a carbon cyclocross bike. The Cronus CX rounds out Trek’s cyclocross lineup with a high-end race bike, but it also retains many features that make it very functional off the race course.

The Cronus CX comes either as a complete bike equipped with a SRAM Force drivetrain, Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes and an assortment of Bontrager parts, or as a frameset only. We tested the complete bike in the larger of two medium sizes, roughly a 56 cm frame. Taking full advantage of carbon fibre construction, the frame uses a pressfit BB90 bottom bracket which mates a massive asymmetrically-shaped downtube to large chainstays. All of this ensures maximum drivetrain stiffness. Also made possible is fully-internal cable routing, which has the potential to be a massive headache, but was executed extremely well on the Cronus CX. All of the entry and exit points were well positioned and shouldn’t cause any problems with water and dirt getting into the frame and changing cables won’t be too difficult.

Other Trek Gary Fisher Collection features include a tapered headtube, the Fisher Control Column fork with integrated fender mounts and a matching front wheel from Bontrager. The fork’s E2 steerertube is designed to maximize front end stiffness for steering while still allowing some front to back compliance. The front wheel is part of the package and uses large diameter axle endcaps to create a stiffer connection to the fork. The compliance was not particularly noticeable and it is hard to attribute ride quality to these features specifically, but the front end was solid over a variety of rough terrain. The Fisher Fender mounts will certainly be appreciated off the race course, as they plug into hidden bosses on the frame, turning a full-on race bike into a useful trainer or commuter in the winter. Combined with bottle cage mounts not always found on high-end ‘cross bikes, this makes the Cronus CX extremely versatile.

The SRAM Force drivetrain and Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes performed flawlessly while testing the bike on and off road. Hot laps around the local cyclocross course were enjoyable and the bike handled well. The geometry of the Cronus CX is suited to the cyclocross racer who likes a fairly-stable bike still agile enough to handle the tightest courses. The sloping top tube creates a bit of trouble as it reduces the space in the front triangle for shouldering - which could be even more troublesome on smaller sized bikes.

Our biggest complaint with the bike as configured was its weight. For a bike in this price range that is configured with racing in mind, it’s surprisingly hefty at around 7.9 kg (17.4 pounds) without pedals. The wheels account for a lot of that weight, but even adding high-end carbon tubular race wheels won’t make this as light as other top-end cyclocross racers.

Still, the Cronus CX completes the puzzle in Trek’s lineup of cyclocross bikes and should suit the racer who also needs to repurpose their bike for riding in the off-season. With some minor improvements and a bit of weight loss plan, it could be a market leader given its strong performance and smart component specifications.