@ Genesis Equilibrium riders

nigglenoo

UndercoverElephant wrote:

menthel wrote:

silverpigeon wrote:

What mudguards are other users putting on their Equilibriums for winter. I know SKS is the obvious choice but I'm reading very mixed reviews.

Chromoplastics have just gone n mine and seem fine.

I think the reviews either say, "these are great" or, "I'm too inept to fit them". The latter ones would say the former if they could get someone else to fit them.

Maybe the latter people should buy Bontrager NCS mudguards, which have a kind of telescopic stay design which you don't have to cut: https://www.thebikefactory.co.uk/produc ... ctid=70020

For everybody else Wiggle are doing SKS Chromoplastics for £23.99 at the moment, which with free postage is pretty good value IMO: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sks-chromoplast ... 5360081521

I have 26x2" SKS guards on another bike, and on my tourer I have Gilles Berthould stainless steel mudguards, which are a bit more challenging to fit, but worth it for the ultimate durability they offer. Shame they don't come narrow enough for the Equilibrium.

EDIT: the main problem for competent people buying the chromoplastics will be choosing the colour: black is often smarter but will generally show the dirt more easily compared to silver.

thegibdog

There are a couple of issues with SKS Chromoplastic guards. The metal fixings that attach them to the brake bridge and forks can wear away the plastic they are holding, which means you end up with rattling guards - curable with bits of rubber.

They also don't come with a rear mud flap so you have to mod them if you want decent coverage for following riders. I have bought some of the SKS Matt Black Bluemels to replace my broken Chromoplastics (rear guard snapped due to damage from a bike rack - I don't think the additional weight of the light I attached to them helped!), the matt black version of the Bluemels come with the long mud flaps like of the Race Blade Longs so I won't have to do any modding.

nigglenoo

thegibdog wrote:

There are a couple of issues with SKS Chromoplastic guards. The metal fixings that attach them to the brake bridge and forks can wear away the plastic they are holding, which means you end up with rattling guards - curable with bits of rubber.

They also don't come with a rear mud flap so you have to mod them if you want decent coverage for following riders. I have bought some of the SKS Matt Black Bluemels to replace my broken Chromoplastics (rear guard snapped due to damage from a bike rack - I don't think the additional weight of the light I attached to them helped!), the matt black version of the Bluemels come with the long mud flaps like of the Race Blade Longs so I won't have to do any modding.

Re the rear brake bridge attachment, don't use the metal bracket, just screw through into the bolt hole in the underside of the brake bridge, which will give a neater appearance and maximize clearance as well as avoiding rattles.

menthel

UndercoverElephant wrote:

menthel wrote:

silverpigeon wrote:

What mudguards are other users putting on their Equilibriums for winter. I know SKS is the obvious choice but I'm reading very mixed reviews.

Chromoplastics have just gone n mine and seem fine.

I think the reviews either say, "these are great" or, "I'm too inept to fit them". The latter ones would say the former if they could get someone else to fit them.

What are you saying? I was not man enough to fit my own mudguards? How very dare you!!!

(Ok, so I paid the guy at the LBS to fit them and quite frankly for the £20 he charged to do that, fit my new brakes and blocks and give the bike a quick clean and lube as well as truing the back wheel just for the hell of it was money well spent- I don't have the time or the tools!).

Anyway, the guards are great as are the R737 brakes fitted with swisstop greens. The bike now stops and everything and the brakes are black so match my bike- what a tart I am!

markysparks

My new 20 arrived today - finished all the adjustments and setup tonight, test flight tomorrow!

I wasn't sure if I would like the cream colour but in real life it looks very classy set against the black components. I've kept the stock Shimano BR451 brakes but have fitted Swissstop green pads so we'll see how this combination works.

The P35 SKS chromoplastic guards seem to be fine with Schwalbe Durano 28c tyres. I inverted the stem to give me a higher front end which I prefer for long distance Audax rides. Also changed the bar tape and saddle for my favourite items.

menthel

markysparks wrote:

My new 20 arrived today - finished all the adjustments and setup tonight, test flight tomorrow!

I wasn't sure if I would like the cream colour but in real life it looks very classy set against the black components. I've kept the stock Shimano BR451 brakes but have fitted Swissstop green pads so we'll see how this combination works.

The P35 SKS chromoplastic guards seem to be fine with Schwalbe Durano 28c tyres. I inverted the stem to give me a higher front end which I prefer for long distance Audax rides. Also changed the bar tape and saddle for my favourite items.

Looks good and also comfy! I really need to change the stock saddle on mine, its too bloody slippery! I might go for a Charge Spoon, I found the one on my previous commuter quite good.

DownandOut

What width do people go for on the sks mudguards for stock set up?

Also p.s.

nigglenoo

DownandOut wrote:

What width do people go for on the sks mudguards for stock set up?

35mm is the only width of SKS mudguard that is narrow enough to fit in the Equilibrium frame, this is either the P35 size in their Chromoplastic model or B35 size in the Bluemels.

Mixi

hi!

i'm about to buy an equilibrium frame and i was wondering if some of you could give me advice on the frame size. I'm 5"10 (178 cm) and I currently ride a cotic x size 56. The cotic fits just fine. I'm wondering I should go with a size 54 or 56 equilibrium frame. any thoughts?

many thanks!

menthel

Mixi wrote:

hi!

i'm about to buy an equilibrium frame and i was wondering if some of you could give me advice on the frame size. I'm 5"10 (178 cm) and I currently ride a cotic x size 56. The cotic fits just fine. I'm wondering I should go with a size 54 or 56 equilibrium frame. any thoughts?

many thanks!

I am 5' 9" and happily ride a 54. I may have short legs though!

the_fuggler

I'm the same height and tried a 56 and it seemed fine, but it's all going to come down to the length of your limbs! Best to swing a leg over each size I'm afraid.

jonny_trousers

Mixi wrote:

hi!

i'm about to buy an equilibrium frame and i was wondering if some of you could give me advice on the frame size. I'm 5"10 (178 cm) and I currently ride a cotic x size 56. The cotic fits just fine. I'm wondering I should go with a size 54 or 56 equilibrium frame. any thoughts?

many thanks!

I'm 5'10 and have a 56cm frame. I wish I'd gone for a 54, however. Like the others have said, fit comes down to more than height.

nigglenoo

Mixi wrote:

hi!

i'm about to buy an equilibrium frame and i was wondering if some of you could give me advice on the frame size. I'm 5"10 (178 cm) and I currently ride a cotic x size 56. The cotic fits just fine. I'm wondering I should go with a size 54 or 56 equilibrium frame. any thoughts?

many thanks!

According to this very useful thread on the CTC forum: http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=73840 the best way for getting a good fit starts with setting the position of the saddle in relation to the BB, both height and set back (the horizontal distance of the saddle behind the BB, considered very important for comfort) and then you sort the position of the bars in relation to the saddle.

From the relevant websites I see that the 56cm Cotic X frame has a 'top tube length' of 548mm and the 54cm Equilibrium has a 'horizontal toptube length' of 545mm so that looks to have a similar reach, however for one thing the Cotic frame dimension given does not state whether it is the horizontal equivalent or the actual length of the sloping top tube, plus the Equilibrium's seat angle is a degree steeper in similar sizes, which means the seat post will be further forward at the same height, thus reducing the saddle set back so all bets are off basically...

As others say you could try a built Equilibrium for size, but also I suggest you go armed with measurements from the current bike to compare, i.e. the saddle set back and the distance from the saddle nose to the steerer (not the bars as that depends on the stem length fitted, which is variable). You should then be able to work out whether a specific size Equilibrium frame can be made to fit like the Cotic, including varying the stem length as necessary. Stem lengths range from around 50mm to 130mm.

Mixi

thanks for your replies!

i guess taking both sizes for a ride would be the best option. unfortunately there's no genesis dealer in austria so i guess i'll have to decide on the size without riding either one :-(.

i know that there's more to proper bike fit that just body height - i was just hoping for some pointers. @jonny trousers: why are you not happy with your 56 frame? too long?

i guess I shouldn't rely on comparing it with my X either since the X and the Equilibrium are designed for different types of riding ...

jonny_trousers

Mixi wrote:

thanks for your replies!

i guess taking both sizes for a ride would be the best option. unfortunately there's no genesis dealer in austria so i guess i'll have to decide on the size without riding either one :-(.

i know that there's more to proper bike fit that just body height - i was just hoping for some pointers. @jonny trousers: why are you not happy with your 56 frame? too long?

i guess I shouldn't rely on comparing it with my X either since the X and the Equilibrium are designed for different types of riding ...

Too long for me, yeah, but I'm unusual. Although I'm tall enough to fit the classic '56' profile I have sloping shoulders and have learnt, since buying my Equilibrium, that I'm happier with a shorter reach. Right now I have a 56 with a 90mm stem and I still feel overstretched.

Like Nigglenoo says, compare the sizes of your Cotic X and the Equilibrium 54 and 56 and see which gets closest.

Good luck!

nigglenoo

Mixi wrote:

thanks for your replies!

i guess taking both sizes for a ride would be the best option. unfortunately there's no genesis dealer in austria so i guess i'll have to decide on the size without riding either one :-(.

i know that there's more to proper bike fit that just body height - i was just hoping for some pointers. @jonny trousers: why are you not happy with your 56 frame? too long?

i guess I shouldn't rely on comparing it with my X either since the X and the Equilibrium are designed for different types of riding ...

In this situation it would help if you could take the measurements on your Cotic, i.e. saddle set back and reach to the headtube centre, plus note the position of the saddle rails in the seat post clamp, i.e. how much room for adjustment fore and aft.

Personally I set all my bikes up to the same dimensions of saddle set back, reach to and height of the usual hand position, regardless of usage and including flat bars or straights.

guerilla

What's the going rate for one of these second hand? I have the old red 20 version that needs to go.

samsbike

I am a little like JT. I find the equilibruim odd for me with too short seat and head tube.

mpatts

I have just joined the horde!

Looking forward to getting it ridden

Origamist

What's the max tyre clearance, without guards? Will 32s squeeze in?

menthel

Origamist wrote:

What's the max tyre clearance, without guards? Will 32s squeeze in?

I have 25's on mine and there is quite a bit of clearance without guards. I would imagine that 28's would fit fairly easily. Not sure about a 32 though.

redhanded

I've just joined the club!

UndercoverElephant

Just joined the club at the very top-end! How does the 853 ride?

Oh, and just heard it confirmed that cherry-red is the new cream for the frameset and 20, available by the end of January.

markysparks

Well I've had my 2014 20 for a few months now and have done quite a few 100km+ rides. I can report that I'm very pleased with it. The most striking feature for me is its comfort on long rides and over poor road surfaces, really does seem to take the pot holes in its stride.

I fitted 28c Schwalbe durano tyres and haven't had a puncture or slip yet despite riding on some pretty filthy, wet roads. With P35 SKS Chromoplastic guards clearance is tight, just about OK. When these tyres wear out I'll probably move to 25c as the bike is comfortable enough.

Perhaps I would like a slightly longer head tube for 400km Audax rides and there is toe/mudguard overlap on my 54 frame, but these are only very minor points. The Shimano BR451 brakes stop me fine but I did fit Swissstop green pads which I can thoroughly recommend. Wheels have been very good - only needed very minor truing after the first few rides and seem to have settled down now.

wastegate86

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Just joined the club at the very top-end!

Id admit the 853 is nice but its hardly 'very top end' lol

bendertherobot

It's the top end of that club, just not the racing one. Superb looking thing

wastegate86

What about the equilibrium Ti?



Unless you mean the top steel version
The 853 is still a lovely bike though plus what an awesome colour scheme!

bendertherobot

What about it? Different again, carbon fork etc.

The 853 really is a do it all bike. Ti really more Sunday best.

wastegate86

bendertherobot wrote:

What about it? Different again, carbon fork etc.

The 853 really is a do it all bike. Ti really more Sunday best.

Am i missing something here?
Im aware the Ti is different to 853 but their both part of the same Equilibrium club.
If the carbon fork puts the Equilibrium Ti in a different class like you say then what about the 10 and 20 models???
So my previous statement stands the 853 although great is not the 'very top of its club' the Ti is lol

And IMO Ti is made for commuting.....just need deeper pockets, thats why i bought my lynskey disc

thegibdog

The titanium is the same but made out of different materials. Reynolds 853, 725 and 531 are different materials too, they're still all Equilibriums though.

The Volare? That's a completely different bike.