Genesis Croix De Fer 30 - Thoughts and Possible Alternatives Please..?
- Thread starter wafter
- Start date
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I did get one in the end; my initial thoughts being in this thread. A few things have changed since but I'm waiting to make a bit more progress before updating the thread.
A few smallish issues aside I'm really loving mine - have done over 400 miles on it so far in about three weeks
Glad you're enjoying yours too - looks grand and I really like the colour scheme!
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
Most of it should be in the thread linked to in my previous post, however in summary I've now covered circa 4k miles on the bike; although most of these back when I was living in Oxford. Having moved back to boomer hell I've lost my mojo for leisure rides and in an effort to incentivise getting out on two wheels have bought a Fuji Touring for utility journeys.
I can barely fault the Genesis - it's only been gathering dust due to my personal circumstances and reluctance to leave something of this value / mintyness locked up outside the shops while I'm inside securing gin and other essentials.
I think the 2019/2020 30-spec model hit the sweet spot with almost full 105 hydro groupset, while the previous year got ergonomically-inferior non-series bits and the later model is cynically crippled with mechanical disks.
I'm running 35mm tyres which is about max - ideally clearance for mid-40s would be nice; later models claim this and I'm not sure if it's the result of a legit change to the frame or a shift in marketing bullsh*t. Currently tyre size on mine seems more limited by the guards than the frame itself.. although I'd not want to get rid of the SKS Longboards as they've done a great job of keeping the sh*te off the bike and myself.
I'm also not overly keen on the gearing; and think that the bike would benefit from a smaller crankset (as later models do with the GRX setup). While I'd much rather have a double than a single chainset, I find myself skipping between them and instead of the standard 105 50/34, think something along the lines of a 44/28 would be better to maximise time in the big ring. Closest you can get off the shelf appears to be the GRX 600 46/30; which I'm considering but am not sure if it's enough of a difference to warrant the cost.
I've also grown increasingly weary of the shouty, "look at me" freehub / the clatter it produces while coasting; but I appreciate that this is, to some extent a matter of personal preference.
Other than that (and the stuff covered in the main thread) I can't fault the bike - build quality seems generally good, I've had few problems if any with the components (quelle suprise, being Jap) and I look forward to a time when I can pile more miles on it. That said, the Fuji has taught me the benefits of much more modest gear and had I bought this bike first (which, used owes me about 20-25% what the CdF does) I'm not sure I'd have chucked the money at the Genesis; as undeniably nice as it is.
All that said I'd definitely recommend a nice steel frame over any of the placcy / recycled-pop-can offerings you might find
Last edited:
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
Most of it should be in the thread linked to in my previous post, however in summary I've now covered circa 4k miles on the bike; although most of these back when I was living in Oxford. Having moved back to boomer hell I've lost my mojo for leisure rides and in an effort to incentivise getting out on two wheels have bought a Fuji Touring for utility journeys.
I can barely fault the Genesis - it's only been gathering dust due to my personal circumstances and reluctance to leave something of this value / mintyness locked up outside the shops while I'm inside securing gin and other essentials.
I think the 2019/2020 30-spec model hit the sweet spot with almost full 105 hydro groupset, while the previous year got ergonomically-inferior non-series bits and the later model is cynically crippled with mechanical disks.
I'm running 35mm tyres which is about max - ideally clearance for mid-40s would be nice; later models claim this and I'm not sure if it's the result of a legit change to the frame or a shift in marketing bullsh*t. Currently tyre size on mine seems more limited by the guards than the frame itself.. although I'd not want to get rid of the SKS Longboards as they've done a great job of keeping the sh*te off the bike and myself.
I'm also not overly keen on the gearing; and think that the bike would benefit from a smaller crankset (as later models do with the GRX setup). While I'd much rather have a double than a single chainset, I find myself skipping between them and instead of the standard 105 50/34, think something along the lines of a 44/28 would be better to maximise time in the big ring. Closest you can get off the shelf appears to be the GRX 600 46/30; which I'm considering but am not sure if it's enough of a difference to warrant the cost.
I've also grown increasingly weary of the shouty, "look at me" freehub / the clatter it produces while coasting; but I appreciate that this is, to some extent a matter of personal preference.
Other than that (and the stuff covered in the main thread) I can't fault the bike - build quality seems generally good, I've had few problems if any with the components (quelle suprise, being Jap) and I look forward to a time when I can pile more miles on it. That said, the Fuji has taught me the benefits of much more modest gear and had I bought this bike first (which, used owes me about 20-25% what the CdF does) I'm not sure I'd have chucked the money at the Genesis; as undeniably nice as it is.
All that said I'd definitely recommend a nice steel frame over any of the placcy / recycled-pop-can offerings you might find
Should I keep an eye out on the for sale then?? 😀
Falsesummat
Active Member
I bought a 2021 model Genesis CDF frameset, it has the steel fork not carbon and takes flat mount hydraulic brake calipers. I built it up using components from a 2019 Cube gravel bike that had been fitted with a Shimano 105 50/34 chainset. I bought and fitted a Shimano GRX 46/30 chainset, this gave a bottom gear of 30/32 which i thought would be ideal for an upvoming LEJOG tour.
In September 2021 my son and i cycled LEJOG, we carried around 10 kg gear each, so not particularly heavily laden. The chosen route through Cornwall meant climbing numerous 20% rural roads and my bike gears were not low enough and i ended up pushing my bike up some hills.
I have since fitted the bike with a SPA Cycles 42/26 chainset with a square taper bottom bracket. This choice is ideal for me. Ive fitted an 11/34 cassette so bottom gear is 26/34. The top gear of 42/11 is more than adequate for a touring bike.
Manufacturers take note. With the benefit of hindsight i ought to have bought a SPA tourer and specced it with low gearing. BUT along with many other i was caught up with the " id like a gravel bike". I imagine Shimano 105 hydraulic was cheap and plentiful pre covid, so manufacturers titted it on just about anything.
In September 2021 my son and i cycled LEJOG, we carried around 10 kg gear each, so not particularly heavily laden. The chosen route through Cornwall meant climbing numerous 20% rural roads and my bike gears were not low enough and i ended up pushing my bike up some hills.
I have since fitted the bike with a SPA Cycles 42/26 chainset with a square taper bottom bracket. This choice is ideal for me. Ive fitted an 11/34 cassette so bottom gear is 26/34. The top gear of 42/11 is more than adequate for a touring bike.
Manufacturers take note. With the benefit of hindsight i ought to have bought a SPA tourer and specced it with low gearing. BUT along with many other i was caught up with the " id like a gravel bike". I imagine Shimano 105 hydraulic was cheap and plentiful pre covid, so manufacturers titted it on just about anything.
Jameshow
Veteran
Problem is what you need at the start of a day/tour and the end are two different gears! I had a good mile climb to my first b+b Oakhampton on my lejog which I could do in the big ring on a usual ride but need the 34-36 to get me home!🤣🤣🤣
Nope 👍
You make reasonable points, however it must be remembered that the CdF is marketed as a gravel bike rather than a tourer - by contrast the TdF comes with a triple; although I believe the lowest gear is still 30t.
I absolutely agree that the std 34/50 is too large for mixed "gravel" and have long-considered changing to the GRX 30/46 crankset.. personally I reckon this would do well for general duties, however can appreciate how loaded touring would benefit from something lower (as is corroborated by the 48/36/26 on my Fuji when I need to haul a particularly large score of gin, tonic and eggs up a 10%+ grad
)
Sorry it's a cdf 50. My mistake, don't know what bike i own !!
Jameshow
Veteran
A few miles!!!!
Are you sure? IIRC the 50 didn't come out until MY2021 or thereabouts; the 30 being the top end alloy steel offering until this point.. got a photo?
Purchased Dec 4 2020.
That explains it then - MY2021 bikes would have been released around the back end of 2020.
Looks nice
