Lately, it seems as though 'Cross bikes have had a bit of a falling by the wayside as adventure/gravel bikes take the industry by the throat and shake all the money out of its pockets. That's not a bad thing, and in a way, it makes sense. Most people that want to ride their road bikes off road a little bit aren't racing. They don't need every weight saving advantage and they don't want the ride to be a constant punishment. And I suppose in this way, the Trek Crockett was actually ahead of its time.
The first thing I notice every time I mount up the Crockett is how stable and predictable it feels. Even compared to most 'Cross bikes I've ridden, something about the geometry of the frame makes it feel like it can tackle anything a 'Cross course will throw at you and more. At the same time, the frame gives absolutely no hesitation when you want to put the power down, and this balance is something Trek has always done pretty well with.
The spec gives a similar confidence - Shimano's Ultegra level hydraulics are predictable and smooth. As usual, I found them lacking the kind of modulation that I'd really like to have, but if that's the cost of Shimano's insane reliability, I have no problem with it.
The spec gives a similar confidence - Shimano's Ultegra level hydraulics are predictable and smooth. As usual, I found them lacking the kind of modulation that I'd really like to have, but if that's the cost of Shimano's insane reliability, I have no problem with it.
The wheels are Bontrager's own Affinity line-up, recently introduced to fill the 700c-disc-wheels-shaped hole in their lineup until just last year. They feel stable and have stayed true even after I've bashed them through some rocky corners. Their axle interchangeability for Thru or QR is a nice and convenient touch, and I definitely noticed the added stiffness in the front end thanks to the 15mm thru axle fork.
This brings me to my first major issue with the Crockett. Everything about it screams singletrack. The frame transfers power in an admirable fashion, but the ride isn't punishing, it's fast, smooth, stable, it ticks all the right boxes. So what the hell is going on with that quick release in the rear end?
To me, this seems like a no-brainer. As today's road/Cross/Adventure bikes become the rigid mountain bikes of yesteryear, tackling any terrain short of Whistler, having stiff and predictable wheels has become more important than ever. Thru-axles and the controversy of ever-changing standards that they're associated with are still resisted by some, but in my opinion the benefits of the more efficient power transfer and better ride quality are well worth the minimal weight gains and potential compatibility issues, which is why I have to take issue with Trek being way behind the times on this one.
The wheels also suffer a pretty large weight penalty for a bike at this price point, but that isn't something I'll hold against Trek since they seem to be made of Adamantium or some alternative fictional indestructible material. That said, the wheels are probably a big part of the bike's 9.2kg (20.2lb) weight for a 56cm, which isn't bad for aluminum, but could be better.
An Ultegra drivetrain keeps the bike shifting smoothly, and I have yet to be let down by it. One of the amazing things about Shimano's products is that they offer performance and reliability without much compromise, and as expected the Ultegra doesn't disappoint. The 11-28 105 Cassette paired with a 46x36 in the front is more than enough for any rideable climbs you'll encounter, though I do feel like the FSA Energy crankset is a bit of a letdown, since it feels a bit dull, heavy, and nonresponsive to pedal-stomping, which kind of takes away from the whole quick feel of the frame. Another little issue I personally have with this bike in relation to the drivetrain is the lack of available dedicated ports for Di2 routing should you ever want to upgrade, meaning that you'd need to do some fancy zip-tieing. Not a deal-breaker, but a little disappointing when Di2 has been around for so long and is becoming increasingly common.
Bontrager's CX3 700x32c tyres are fantastic mostly for their ease of use should you want to go tubeless (coupled with the tubeless ready rims), providing plenty of grip, but with a little compromise. They don't feel as fast the lower profile CX0s, and they also don't shed snow or mud as well as you might hope. If you'r thinking of going wider though, be careful with the rear triangle since clearance on the drive side is a little tight. The fork is fine, you can fit a watermelon in there.
Finally, we come to the finishing kit. As usual, Bontrager takes care of all of the little finer points, from the bar tape to the saddle and everything in between. I've never had a problem with any of their parts, and I personally am very comfortable with the relatively shallow drop bars. The stem is equipped with Bontrager's "BlendR" universal accessory mounting system, which I have to admit I never saw the need for, but it's actually a pretty neat little way to keep things consolidated and get rid of bar clutter. The Paradigm saddle is pretty comfy like most of Bontrager's road offerings, but not really anything special. The cockpit feels a little heavy, but a stem upgrade isn't a huge ordeal to go through, so not something that I got hung up on at all.
Overall, the Crockett is a pretty well put together and very capable 'Cross bike. Some nifty features (though a little gimmicky) including optional rack and fender mounts make it any man's bike, but the build is also pretty limited for racers, as its weighed down by some poor component choices and Trek's seeming incapacity to keep up with the best technologies out there. If you're interested in racing it may even be worth looking harder at the Crockett 7 than the 9, since that one at least sports a racey SRAM 1x drivetrain. I'm also wondering where IsoSpeed is, since it's permeated the rest of Trek's lineup but has yet to make an appearance that I think could be beneficial to the Crockett's performance.
Considering all of this, it is with a heavy heart that I have to give the Crockett 3/5 stars. I love the frame, and it's one of the most fun drop-bar bikes I've ever ridden, but unfortunately its value is lacking for what should be a high-end build. With any luck, next year the folks at Trek will wisen up and sell a Crockett fit for its athlete designer, 11 time National 'Cross Champion Katie Compton.
Trek Crockett 9
3/5 STARS
$2750
Considering all of this, it is with a heavy heart that I have to give the Crockett 3/5 stars. I love the frame, and it's one of the most fun drop-bar bikes I've ever ridden, but unfortunately its value is lacking for what should be a high-end build. With any luck, next year the folks at Trek will wisen up and sell a Crockett fit for its athlete designer, 11 time National 'Cross Champion Katie Compton.
Trek Crockett 9
3/5 STARS
$2750