Genesis Croix De Fer Review - BikeRadar

With oversized bars, and those "cross-top" brake levers taking up the only non-tapering sections, you'd struggle to find anywhere to fix most front lights. Which isn't so good for the commuting role mentioned in the review. What is the point of oversized bars anyway, especially on a bike that clearly isn't intended for racing? I guess Genesis just don't want to keep more than one clamp size in their inventory of parts.

Well I love mine. had it for three months. the point of an oversized bar is that you can make a stronger bar with less flex that weighs a bit less due to the thiner wall section of the tube. It also means you have a good choice of after market stems and bars, given that any made after the 70's will probably be 31.8 anyway. I took the sissy levers off anyway so have had no trouble mounting my hope light. Ive commuted on the bike and even taken it on some winter mtb night rides. (dont tell genesis but she jumps medium sized doubles like a dream), the reynolds tubing gives a lovely smooth but supple ride and the disk brakes are a massive improvement over my old cross bike (2011 spesh crux) yea if your after a pure race machine its probably a bit heavy (or you need to m.t.f.u.) but if your buying a pure race bike you probably wont be buying a steel bike anyway. And if your after a pure race bike/amaizing tourer/do it all bike then your asking too much from a bike at this budget, you know? compromises have to be made somwhere.

If your after a really well thought out (this is the third gen cdf so genesis have really had chance to refine it to perfection) do anything bike at a damn good price given the spec, I seriously cant recommend this enough. Its my white swiss army ride and fast becoming one of my favorite two wheeled companions.

It might be heavy for a Cross bike, but its light for a tourer...

I wish they mounted the rear brake inside the rear triangle like others are now doing ... would eliminate requirement for disc specific rear rack.

im a mountain biker so its light to me anyway, I think its about two or three mins slower (on nobblys) over a ten mile commute than my old crux on slicks which isnt bad, and it just rides sooooooooo good! =)

It's heavier than my mid-range hybrid but lighter than my mountain bike... but once past the initial acceleration it's no slouch. The standard 35mm contis do drag a bit and the 25-26lb weight is noticeable climbing but to be honest a few mins longer on a 25 mile run might make all the difference if you're racing but not for the average recreational rider. The extra brake levers do compromise a bit of space but I've got two front lights (and a wireless computer mounted on the stem) on mine. The brakes are great! As expected it's pretty comfortable (apart from the standard seat) and if you're touring laden and travelling through hilly regions a 12-30T cassette will fit straight on (I have a 11-32T on mine and it works fine... but at the limit for the std derailleur and chain.

I have a 2011 bike. Can only repeat the praise of others really. Yes its no lightweight, but I think the wheels are more at fault for that than people realise - they are excessively heavy and the Deore hubs seem to resist accelerating downhill. Will be swapping them out for hope hubs with stans rims soon.

Brakes are ok and reliable, but the Shimano's (Avid for 2012) arent as potent as rim brakes in the dry. Just in the process of fitting Hope V-twin's. Have fitted a Tubus Disco rack which cleanly fits past the calipers, but it would be nice to see them being moved inside the rear triangle for 2013.

Also Genesis will persist with a terrible saddle and cheap bartape. I also found the headset and seatpost clamp to be nasty cheap items as well.