Genesis Equilibrium V Charge Mixer ?

bloomboy

Hi
I am looking to buy a new bike.
I havent had chance to test ride either of these bikes but I am looking at either the Charge Mixer 11speed http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/detail.php?id=25 or the Genesis Equilibrium 20 http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/equilibrium/equilibrium-20
I live in london and am looking for a bike that will get me out of town for the weekends, but will also be good enough for me to skirt through the city . . I like the thought of the Alfine hub on the mixer and i am fairly sure 11 gears would do me, what do you think this bike would be like if I changed its bars to drop bars? I also wonder if its going to be as comfy as the genesis on the long runs, they are both steel framed, the weights havent been released but I imagine the mixer will be the heaviest. I also find paint jobs a pain to preserve and I like that the mixer has no paint job and is galvinised steel.
. . But the genesis looks so tempting, any suggestions to help me on my choice folks?

calvjones

bloomboy wrote:

Hi
I am looking to buy a new bike.
I havent had chance to test ride either of these bikes but I am looking at either the Charge Mixer 11speed http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bikes/detail.php?id=25 or the Genesis Equilibrium 20 http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/equilibrium/equilibrium-20
I live in london and am looking for a bike that will get me out of town for the weekends, but will also be good enough for me to skirt through the city . . I like the thought of the Alfine hub on the mixer and i am fairly sure 11 gears would do me, what do you think this bike would be like if I changed its bars to drop bars? I also wonder if its going to be as comfy as the genesis on the long runs, they are both steel framed, the weights havent been released but I imagine the mixer will be the heaviest. I also find paint jobs a pain to preserve and I like that the mixer has no paint job and is galvinised steel.
. . But the genesis looks so tempting, any suggestions to help me on my choice folks?

No way you'll be changing gear on an alfine hub with drop bars. Choice made!

bloomboy

Thanks Calv
what do you reckon the big difference in riding will be between the Genesis Aether 20 with 6069 triple butted Ally frame or the Equilibrium 20 with 725 double butted cromo ?
I am keen in getting a frame which doesnt chip!

bloomboy

I have just seen the genesis day 01 has an Alfine hub and drop bars . . whats to say I cant do this to the charge mixer with the alfine 11 set up ?

Stuey01

bloomboy wrote:

Thanks Calv
what do you reckon the big difference in riding will be between the Genesis Aether 20 with 6069 triple butted Ally frame or the Equilibrium 20 with 725 double butted cromo ?
I am keen in getting a frame which doesnt chip!

Can't comment on the Equilibrium as it was out of my winter bike budget (I so wanted one...), but I have just picked up a Genesis Aether 20 (2010 model). It's pretty comfy with 25mm tyres on it.

The geometry is the same so no difference there.

moonshine

what about on-one?
£799 - http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPETV ... mine-versa
or
£999 - http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPVER ... -versa-pro

FransJacques

Steel bikes at this level are as heavy as sin. Why make these bikes out of steel? Bottom rung el-cheapo steel tubing doesn't ride any better than alu - esp with 42c tyres on them - which mute the feel. The whole idea of "steel is real" gets lost. A closer comparison to the charge mixes is the Genesis Day 1 Alphine. It looks really nice in the flesh but also is a boat anchor.

I've suggested before, if one has another bike which is a carbon racer then by all means go for it b/c you're training heavy and eventing/ racing light, but you might feel cheated if you're looking for the sheer joy of cycling from one heavy steel bike.

The Trek District uses the Aphine hub and a belt drive (which is really cool) and has an alu frame. For a lark I test rode one and loved it. With 6 bikes already it would have ended my marriage to buy it but it was a better execution of the ultimate all round city bike by weekday and 80-100 km country ride bike at weekends. Check it out...

calvjones

bloomboy wrote:

I have just seen the genesis day 01 has an Alfine hub and drop bars . . whats to say I cant do this to the charge mixer with the alfine 11 set up ?

There is not yet an STI shifter that's 11 speed & suited to the Alfine hub (is there?).

I guess you could muck around with bar-end shifters, twist shifters etc, but cmon!

calvjones

calvjones wrote:

bloomboy wrote:

I have just seen the genesis day 01 has an Alfine hub and drop bars . . whats to say I cant do this to the charge mixer with the alfine 11 set up ?

There is not yet an STI shifter that's 11 speed & suited to the Alfine hub (is there?).

I guess you could muck around with bar-end shifters, twist shifters etc, but cmon!

Sorry, my bad. That didn't take them long!

Not sure about those shifters though. Anybody have any experience?

calvjones

calvjones wrote:

calvjones wrote:

bloomboy wrote:

I have just seen the genesis day 01 has an Alfine hub and drop bars . . whats to say I cant do this to the charge mixer with the alfine 11 set up ?

There is not yet an STI shifter that's 11 speed & suited to the Alfine hub (is there?).

I guess you could muck around with bar-end shifters, twist shifters etc, but cmon!

Sorry, my bad. That didn't take them long!

Not sure about those shifters though. Anybody have any experience?

No, I was right that's 8 speed. God it's been a long day.

calvjones

FransJacques wrote:

Steel bikes at this level are as heavy as sin. Why make these bikes out of steel? Bottom rung el-cheapo steel tubing doesn't ride any better than alu - ..

725 is hardly bottom rung steel surely?

bloomboy

Thanks for the wealth of info Calv.
I am working my way round to the idea of the Genesis Alfine Day 01.
It looks more punchy than the Equilibrium, I like the paint work and it has the drop bars which the Charge lacks.. Going to test ride it later on this week, I just hope to god it isn't TOO noticeable on the heavy side.

godders1

Evans say just shy of 12kg (58 cm frame without pedals).

eh

Equilibrium looks the better choice of the 2, but why steel it makes no sense. I'd recommend you look at a Cannondale Synapse or something similar as it'll be a far nicer ride.

bobinski

the versa pro is just under 25lbs if that helps.

i have just ordered the alfine 11 pompie on the basis i can change the bars and shifters later in the year when shimano or versa bring out sti units..