Genesis bikes have enjoyed a successful first year's racing by the Madison-Genesis squad who have been using the stainless steel Volare 953 team bike.
Direct influence and feedback from the team has seen the 953 stainless frame go through three revisions this year. The geometry changes – it now has a more sloping design – and the need to reduce weight on the steel frame have been fed back into the rest of the range.
We’ve got a full team spec 2014 machine on the way to us, so we though we'd concentrate on the rest of the new season's bikes.
Genesis Volare 20, a classy steel road racer
Looking every bit the jewel in the crown thanks to its polished finish, the new for 2014 Genesis Volare 20 sits just below the 953 team bike. The frameset is built using Reynolds 931 steel. Like the 953, it's a stainless steel tube so far less prone to corrosion than standard chromoly. Genesis’ head honcho Albert Steward told us that 931 has very similar strength-to-weight figures as 853 tubes, but with the added durability – not to mention great finish – of stainless steel. The 20 is decked out with the new Shimano Ultegra 11-speed mechanical groupset, Shimano WH-RS61 tubeless compatible wheels, 25c Continental Grand Sport race tyres and a Selle San Marco Concor saddle. The complete bike retails for £2,999.99.
The second bike in the range is the Genesis Volare 10, finished in Reynolds black and green and using 853 steel for the frame. The Volare 10 comes with full Shimano 105 groupset and Shimano RS21 wheels for £1,699.99.
Bringing up the rear is the Volare 00, finished in the team colours and using 631 steel instead of 953 stainless for those who can’t stretch to the team bike's £4,999.99 price tag. It comes with a complete Shimano Tiagra group and Shimano WH-R501 wheels for £1,199.99.
Genesis Equilibrium Ti loses weight
This popular range has had a major revamp with the flagship Equilibrium Ti being given a revised frame. The new Ti has smaller diameter tubing for increased comfort and a drop in weight. On the spec front, the Tektro brakes have been swapped out for Shimano’s long-drop (mudguard compatible) BR-R451 units. The cockpit has lost some grams too, thanks to a new double-butted aluminium bar from Genesis and a better quality stem too. The fork is a slimmer and more curved carbon unit and even the wheels have slightly lighter rims saving 15g per rim over the old model.
To finish things off, an improved saddle and better headset have also been specced. They've saved the best for last, however, with the Equilibrium Ti’s price tag losing £50 for the 105-equipped machine, which now costs £2,249.99.
Genesis Equilibrium Disc - new road bike for 2014
Brand new for 2014 is the addition of a disc-specific Equilibrium. The frame is based around the 631 tubeset but Genesis have reworked the stays to handle the forces of a disc calliper. Up front they developed – with Reynolds – a 631 steel disc fork that’s designed for the slender road tubeset, so it's not just an off-the-peg steel 'cross disc fork.
The bike runs on Shimano 105 paired with Hayes CX Expert cable disc brakes and the rolling stock is an impressive pairing of Shimano XT disc hubs and H Plus Son Archetype 32-hole rims laced using double-butted spokes. The Equilibrium Disc is priced at a great value £1,499.99.
Rounding out the range is the 725 steel Genesis Equilibrium 20, which gets lighter wheels, Shimano brakes, and a lighter cockpit over last year's model. The Shimano 105 equipped 20 remains priced at £1,299.99.
The Equilibrium 10 is £50 cheaper at £1,099.99 and now gets full Shimano Tiagra (and long drop Shimano brakes), better bar, stem, seatpost plus Continental tyres. The base model 00 gets a carbon fork to match the 520 steel frame, long drop Shimano brakes and full Shimano Sora. Like the rest of the range it's also seen upgrades to bars, stem, seatpost and saddle.
Genesis Volant entry level road bike
The entry-level priced, sportive style Genesis Volant has seen massive changes. The first and biggest is an all-new triple butted aluminium frame. The previous model was a simple plain gauge affair and weighed significantly more. The new frame uses both 6061 and 6069 aluminium grades to lower the weight and, claim Genesis, improve the stiffness where needed. Individual models have also seen big improvements.
The base model Volant 00 has had £50 cut from its price so it now dips in under £600. It also features a carbon fork for the first time. Gearing is handled by Shimano’s impressive budget group Claris (complete with proper STI shifters). The brakes have been upgraded to Tektro R325 from 320 and a better, Madison Prime saddle. The 00 comes in Madison-Genesis team colours and has a sportive and beginner-friendly 50/34 chainset and wide 11-30 cassette.
Genesis Day One gets new top model
The ever-popular singlespeed cyclocross-style Genesis Day Ones now have a new flagship. The Day One Shimano Alfine Di2 replaces the now discontinued Alfine 11 model, but it does cost more at £2,199.99. That’s down to its unique drivetrain which combines the tough, slick and very robust 8-speed Alfine hub gear with electronic shifting courtesy of Shimano’s Di2 technology.
The Day One frame has been modified to take full internal wiring for the shifting, with the battery hidden inside the seat tube. Charging is taken care of by plugging into the bar mounted LCD display. The frame has also been changed to a pressfit bottom bracket design (to allow clearance for the internal wiring). Other improvements include lighter wheels, better brakes (Hayes CX Expert) and fatter but slicker Continental Sport Contact tyres with puncture protection.
Genesis Vapour now under £1000
The Vapour has had a decent overhaul and now looks closer than ever to a pure cyclocross bike. Alongside the existing triple-butted aluminium frame, the first thing to change is the wheels. Shifting to an Alex XD-Lite rim from the old G2000 means a saving of 110g per rim. These are now built with lighter double-butted spokes onto Shimano Deore M525 hubs, again a big step up from the previous M475’s. The Vapour’s discs also step up to Hayes CX Experts and it also uses the cross specific 46/36 CX50 chainset matched to a 12-30 cassette.
The best thing about the new Vapour however – and no, it's not the new bold colour scheme – is that the price has been chopped by £200 making it a now cycle to work scheme-friendly £999.99.
Genesis Fugio steel cyclocross bike
With Genesis seeing so much success with steel road bikes it was only a matter of time until they applied Reynolds stock to a cyclocross bike. So for 2014, they will offer the 853 tubed Genesis Fugio. It comes with a 44mm oversized head tube (like the Equilibrium) designed to house a full carbon disc-specific 'cross fork (included). The frame is finished in Reynolds' green, yellow or black schemes and is available in 52/54/56/58/60cm sizes for £749.99.
Genesis also had a surprise package in the form of the new Col Du Glandon, which is based on the popular Croix de Fer. The Glandon is actually a 650b based 'cross/all-road bike designed for kids and is available in a single 47cm size. It is based around a double-butted aluminium frame and decked out with a full Shimano Claris groupset using 46/34 chainrings and an 11-32 cassette. It has big clearances for off-road tyres (although it comes with 35c Michelin World Tour tyres) and Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes. The Glandon is priced at £599.99.
Saracen Hack 1: well priced all-rounder
Whilst we were taking a look over the Genesis range we couldn't help but notice this interesting machine from sister brand Saracen. The new Saracen Hack 1 at £799.99 features a neatly finished 6061 butted aluminium frame (complete with rack and guard mounts) mated to a carbon disc fork, ProMax Render cable discs, and Shimano Sora. The stealthy finish and fat Schwalbe slicks make it a stunner, and one at a really good price too.
For more information, visit www.genesisbikes.co.uk
