HOPE RX2 Gravel / CX Brake Calipers & Rotors update on Specialized Creo 2

 

If you have been following my blog since I bought my Specialized Creo 2 in January 2024 you will have probably read about how much I hate the Sram Apex brakes from factory. At first they were rubbish, I thought they would scrub in but no still crap. I then changed the cheapo Sram rotors to some Shimano Dura Ace rotors which I had from another pair of wheels and it was slightly better braking performance. Then I decided to swap to Absolute Black pads and that made a huge difference. Still no where near the feel or power of any Shimano brakes I have ever used but better. When my front pads needed replacing I opted for DT SWISS Exotherm pads which I have in the Shimano road version and are excellent. Well again it turned back to crap. I scrubbed them in as per instructions and after several weeks I just could not live with them any longer. 

I had two options either change the shifters & calipers as complete sets to the new Sram Force or Rival or get some Hope calipers and use the existing levers. 

I opted for the cheaper option of Hope calipers. There are two different options RX4+ and the newer smaller RX2. After some consideration and the type of riding I do I went for the RX2 2 pot version rrp £100 each. 

They were ordered and fitted to the bike to then realise that the Shimano ICETECH rotors are not deep enough for full pad coverage. The other problem was the SRAM front disc mount was not 100% working with the Hope caliper. 

So he ordered a pair 160mm Hope RX rotors and the correct Hope front mount. Then onto the next problem, the rear brake would not bleed correctly, the mechanic tried a couple of different methods and still not getting the pressure / bite same as the front brake. So the Apex levers were stripped off the bike and sent back to Zyro, a couple of weeks later they come back with a comment "some internal parts replaced". They were then refitted to the bike and the front brake was ok, same as before the lever was sent away. The back brake just the same, no bite. The mechanic then decided to fit the front caliper to the rear and guess what it worked. 

So the rear calliper was sent back to Hope for new seals to be fitted and refitted back onto the bike again. 

So now I have my second wheelset with no Hope rotors and it would have worked out cheaper to fit a new pair of Sram Rival shifters and calipers. Lesson learnt! 

Bike dropped off Jan 13th and collected 23 days later. I will do a follow up blog once I have used the new bikes over the coming month or so to see how they perform. 

The RX2 caliper is a compact version of our RX4+, designed specifically for drop bar bikes.
Optimized for tight rear frame clearances, especially on smaller sizes.
Features a new bleed nipple for easier, cleaner maintenance

Key Features

// 2 piston version of our renowned RX4+ road/gravel calipers 
// Smaller caliper footprint allows fitment on frames with restricted space 
// Similar power to the RX4+ 
// New bleed nipple design for easier/cleaner bleeding 
// DOT and Mineral oil compatible versions 
// Flat Mount Standard only 
// Compatible with our Flat Mount X, Y and Z brackets 
// Machined in one piece for increased stiffness, reduced weight, better brake feel and increased power 
// Available in Black, Silver, Smoke, Blue, Red, Purple & Orange
// Specific bleed syringe available separately Ø
// Weighs 94g with pads

RX2 FM STD Caliper Mount options:

FRONT 140/160 mount: Ø140 rotor with X mount / Ø160 rotor with Z mount
FRONT 180/160 mount: Ø160 rotor with X mount / Ø180 rotor with Z mount

REAR 140/160 mount: Ø140 rotor direct / Ø160 rotor with Y mount
REAR 180/160 mount: Ø160 rotor direct / Ø180 rotor with Y mount

Compatibility - RX2 MINERAL CALIPERS

Shimano models Dura Ace Di2 R9270 / R9170 / R9120 / R9200 Ultegra Di2 R8170 / R8100 / R8070 / R8170 / R8020 / 105 Di2 R7170 / R7020 / Di2 R785 / RS685 / GRX RX820 / RX810 / RX600 / RX400 / RX815 Di2 / RX817 Di2

Campagnolo models Ekar / Super Record / Record / Campagnolo H11 

RX2 DOT CALIPERS

SRAM models Sram Red eTap AXS / Sram Red / Sram Force eTap AXS / Sram Force / Sram Rival eTap AXS / Sram Rival / Sram Apex / Sram S900 

Back out on my Creo 2 with the new Hope brakes fitted in a total slop feast

 

Welcome back to the blog and also welcome back my Creo 2. If you live in County Durham I don't need to explain the weather we have had every single day apart from last Sunday afternoon and yesterday morning / early afternoon - RAIN! On top of the rain we have had freezing cold winds, fog, mist, cloud, and some sleet. Last Sunday afternoon was the first sort of sun I have seen for what feels like forever and we had to drive to Corbridge for it. When we driving back home and crossed back into Co Durham it clouded over again. 

Anyway enough of that crap I have my Creo 2 back with some shiny new black Hope brakes fitted. I picked it up on Thursday and all the bling parts have been fitted. I had to fit some new bar tape yesterday, charged up the main battery, charged up the Sram battery, pumped up the tyres and it was ready for its first voyage out. 

Last night is chucked down again and on top of the wall to wall rain last week the old railway lines of Co Durham are a total and utter shit feast to say the least. I did a 20 mile loop this morning to bed / scrub the brakes in and there there was plenty of cutting paste! Yes I finally have some sort of braking power now, first time ever on this bike from new. The levers were far too far away from the bars so I could not get a real good handful of them but they slowed me down to a stop from 35mph coming down the hill from Stanley Crook to Crook. 

More on the braking front in a blog tomorrow night hopefully but below are a few snaps from todays loop - 20 miles, 1hr 31min with 1050ft of climbing. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Cheapo Deda bar tape fitted 

Hope RX2 brakes 

Shitty slop feast 

Fresh Goodies - Assos Trail Jersey, MILLE GT Jersey & TACTICA Socks

 

I have been meaning to upload this Fresh Goodies blog for a while as I bought them all back last December 2025. 

I have not started to wear anything yet but will post a Fresh Goods Sunday blog's later in the year after some use. 

First up is some Tactica socks in two colours, they are not winter or summer (warmer temperatures) socks, somewhere just in between. The black series colour I got from Westbrook Cycles for £10.92 inc 24hr p&p and the Foundation Green pair from BikeTreks for £19. 

Next up is the Assos MILLE GT Jersey S11 Black Series, I was not really after another short sleeved jersey but it was in the sale so thought why not. RRP £115 and I paid £63.88 from Westbrook Cycles inc 24hr p&p. 

Last but not least yet another short sleeved top but this a more casual top with no pockets or zip etc. This is the Assos Trail Jersey T3 in Schwarzwald Green colour. RRP £85 and I paid £33.61 inc 24hr p&p from Westbrook Cycles. 

Hopefully we get some sort of summer where I can wear the top on the tracks n trails around Co Durham. 

Fresh Goods Sunday - USE EXPOSURE Lights - Handlebar Bracket Set - EXPQRBKSET

 

I bought this USE Exposure bracket a few years ago as when I was using my Zenith light on my mtb the plastic mount with rubber band was not keeping the light in place on my handlebars. The Zenith light is a lot heavier than my Sirus model so this metal fixed bracket was the answer. As I say I have been using this for a while now and my Zenith light does not move at all now when it is clipped into the bracket. The quality is superb and I have never had to remove or adjust it since fitting it to my carbon handlebars. I leave it on all year and does not get in way when I don't have a light clipped into it. The rrp has never gone up, this is the only downside as its nearly £30 but should last for years. As ever shop around and you might get a little discount. 

RRP £28.00 and I paid £21.76 from Tweeks inc 24hr p&p (Now £25.20 exc p&p) 

Manufacturers Blurb - 

Genius bracket that brings to life the Cable Free design of Exposure Lights. Quality Forged Alloy parts. Compatible with all cleated Exposure Lights since 2005. Forged alloy with moulded clip. Weighs 32g. Includes shim for bar diameters 35, 31.8 and 25.4mm.

Product Compatibility:

Axis BOOST Diablo Diablo SYNC Joystick Link DB Link Plus DB Sirius DB Zenith

Back out in the freezing cold sloppy gloom of County Durham's trails

 

Yet another ride in the gloom and cold of County Durham. Still not seen any real daylight and there was a savage headwind on part of todays loop making it feel even colder than it was. The Garmin was just hovering above 0 degrees at the top of Stanley Crook and was not much warmer at lower level of Willington. It was one of my regular loops with a small road loop section added on near the end. The old railway lines were back to slop conditions again after the heavy overnight rain along with some massive puddles. 

Still no news on my Creo 2, hopefully hear something back by the end of next week. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Another manky ride out on my Specialized Creo 1 gravel bike on 650b/27.5" wheels

 

What a shit weekend of weather we had and I did not get out on my bike or even over the door on Sunday! Just a short local mainly gravel loop since the weekend as it has finally stopped raining for a few hours and fog/mist has lifted, do not worry though still no real daylight as such to speak of. It was that dark I had to put my spare front and rear led lights on my Creo 1, on the plus side the temperature was nearly 5 degrees, better than freezing, more of that next week by all accounts. The old railway lines of Co Durham has dried up a little and was not a total slop fest as I thought it wold be. Loads of others out with 10's of dogs everywhere so it was a very stop / start ride. All in just over 19 miles with 800ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon inc an up date on my Creo 2 Sram / Hope nightmare.