Croix De Fer 40

For road bikes, the speed score favors setups that waste less energy at higher speeds. The strongest influences are wider mixed-surface tires that add some drag, aerodynamics that help it hold speed once you're rolling, a solid drivetrain that supports efficient riding, and a more tucked riding position that cuts wind resistance. This means it prioritizes confidence and everyday riding over outright pace.

If your rides include hills, it rates 4.4/10 for climbing. Within Road bikes, this comes out around the middle. The easiest gear is very spin-friendly on hills. The easiest gear works out to about 23.8 gear inches. Compared with similar bikes, this low gear is easier than about ~86% of them. Gear inches is basically “how easy is the easiest gear”. Lower numbers help you keep your legs spinning on steep bits. This kind of low gear helps you stay smooth on long or steep climbs. Different builds can shift the feel a bit, and some manufacturer specs aren’t always publicly listed, so consider this a helpful direction.

Category-wise (gravel), scoring 4.5/10 on aero, it’s built to be well-rounded in the wind so you get some benefit when the wind matters. What that means on the road is: it’s a balanced middle ground: some streamlining, but not an extreme aero setup. Its gravel label helps explain the balance between speed, comfort, and versatility. The fit looks fairly neutral, so aerodynamics depends more on the overall design and components than on an extreme position. That tyre width leans toward grip and stability first, with a small aero penalty at speed. That typically means solid everyday speed without forcing an aggressive position or race-only parts.

Balanced fit - a neutral road posture that suits most riders. It feels this way because the bar sits about 67 mm below the saddle (a moderate drop), and you'll be stretched forward about 554 mm in total (long). You'll likely be near 33 degrees of lean. Gravel setups typically avoid an extreme tuck for stability.

What affects adjustability on this bike: Standard cockpit parts make it simpler to fine-tune your position over time; Less routing complexity makes swaps and adjustments more practical. Net result: Adjustable. In practice, it is about how easy fit changes are with normal parts and service work.

Comfort comes out to 5.9/10, which usually translates to a fairly neutral ride. That’s why it’s labeled Balanced. It’s running about 40 mm tires on 700c wheels, and wider tires let you drop pressure a touch, which smooths out rough pavement on rough lanes and gravel patches. The posture is neutral (posture 5/10, torso ~33°), which balances comfort and responsiveness pretty well.

This sits around the normal range for similar bikes. Value is scored 1–10: higher is better value, lower means you’re paying more than similar bikes. Uses MSRP as a baseline; real-world prices can be lower (discounts can change the value). Based on the spec estimate, it’s about 12% above the typical level for similar builds. Among comparable bikes, it sits around the middle on price (cheaper than about 52% of listings). To anchor it: price €3.044 versus an estimated €2.709 for a similar build. Put simply: you’re paying roughly what similar bikes tend to cost.

This setup is built for mixed rides where gravel is a normal part of the route. The tire size is around 40 mm, which gives grip and control on loose gravel. The wheel setup (700c) supports that direction.