Genesis Croix de Fer?

passout

I'm looking for a new bike with dropped bars that I can use for all day off road trips in summer (bridleways in the North of England & sections West Highland Way etc) and as a winter trainer road bike with full mudguards & 25 or 28mm tyres. Must have frame fittings for guards. Ideally I want something with discs (ideally BB7s) & then can take a relatively chunky 40mm tyre. I'm not planning to do any 'serious' touring but fittings for rear racks adds versatility & may prove useful in the future.

Genesis Croix de Fer (cross bike for MTBers) is top of the list at the moment. Review here: http://road.cc/content/review/73063-gen ... oix-de-fer Genesis website: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cro ... oix-de-fer

The Salsa Vaya is also an option - would be good for touring or off road but less good as a road bike with it s high front end. Review here: http://road.cc/content/review/19695-salsa-vaya Salsa website: http://salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya

So, any other suggestions? looking to spend around 900-1400 quid. Bear in mind most of the miles it will do will be as a road bike in winter.

Also anybody ride a Genesis Croix de Fer or Vaya? Can you tell me general impressions, max tyre clearance and frame size / your height?

And no, I don't want another Mountain Bike - thanks!

Your help is appreciated.

styxd

Try Rose Bikes for a well specced cross bike in your budget, that'll be lighter than both.

If you really want a steel frame, have a look at the Soma Double Cross

cooldad

passout wrote:

And no, I don't want another Mountain Bike - thanks!

I am lost.

ride_whenever

Wait another year for the hydraulic braking sti levers. Even BB7 are an enormous ball ache.

passout

styxd wrote:

Try Rose Bikes for a well specced cross bike in your budget, that'll be lighter than both.

If you really want a steel frame, have a look at the Soma Double Cross

Good shout re Rose. FYI I'm flexible when it comes to frame material.

passout

ride_whenever wrote:

Wait another year for the hydraulic braking sti levers. Even BB7 are an enormous ball ache.

Interesting point. I heard BB7s are better - what issues are there with them other than less stopping power?

ride_whenever

BB7 are much better than most cable discs. But they're still no better than being punched in the crotch.

Generally poor modulation and frankly unacceptable levels of day to day maintenance. Hydraulics are generally fit and forget.

The Rookie

Personally I've found avid BB5 or 7's to be just as good as mid range hydros, however they are heavy and they do need regular fettling to keep them feeling like that.

passout

Thanks all but I'm going to leave it until the technology improves & I can get hydro road disc brakes, as suggested above. On reason is that I hate fettling!

I'll make do with my current stable of bikes for a year or two and then revise the situation again. So I'll spend some cash on my winter tainer & service my hardtail rather than selling. Decsion made!

rockmonkeysc

Shouldn't this be in the road forum?

supersonic

£1150 pounds for the Genesis? Holy crap!

passout

supersonic wrote:

£1150 pounds for the Genesis? Holy crap!

Yes I know. Even if you canfind a discounted one (eg Real Cycles) they are never much less than a grand. They are are very popular bikes - Genesis's best seller I think. Note - The CDF is a different bike.

If anyone one else is interested you can also pick up last years Salsa Vaya for a grand from Triton cycles at the moment - usually about 1350. You could get on cyclescheme with a surcharge apparently.

Apparently theses bike are popular for 'Gravel grinding' in the states. Which just seems to mean riding on gravel roads for quite a long way. Anyway...

cooldad

'Mericans are funny.

dmorton

Kinesis Decade Tripster?

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/decade/tripster

Available as just a frame too.

I think that would make a better road bike than the Genesis Croix de Fer

Giraffoto

Specialized Tricross Disc?

BB5s do a fair job of stopping, but my experience was that after a couple of rides they needed to be adjusted to stay at their best, Nothing major, you wind the pads in to the point where they just skim the disc, and back them off a bit: but their replacement (Shimano M596s) have been genuinely fit and forget - all I do is check that the mounting bolts are torqued down.

BB7s are said to be better stoppers than the BB5, and the adjustment looks to be even easier

b_real

+ one for the Specialised Tricross... I've had the Tricross Comp from 2010, it's a carbon frame and without discs but it's a phenomenal bike. Strong, fast and light. Came with 32's but I've stuck on 28's and it's decent on the road. I don't think there is a carbon frame on the newer disc models however, although the disc brakes will be ten times better.

supersonic

Would building your own be better value?

chrisvanderkaap

my friend (who rides any day any weather all year around) just bought a Croix de Fer and he's pretty chuffed with it. I had a spin at it and I really like what it is and appreciate what it can do. Above listed comments about cable actuated disc brakes are justified but it's a good if not great on a bike like this. TRP recently launched their Spyre which (along with their hy/rd) should be a game changer for many.

One thing I didn't like where the wheels and their weight. I would advise people any day to upgrade their along with the bike wheelset, but on this bike I wouldn't wait more than a week before changing at least the rims. They weigh an absolute ton which just really makes the ride unenjoyable. Anything else should suit you just fine reading listed requirements.

passout

Thanks for info one and all. I'm going to wait on see what these new discs brakes look like & not rush into a purchase.

Supersonic - I build is a possibility, but so is cyclescheme...we'll see.