Genesis trickles Zero carbon tech, updates Datum, Fugio & CdF 853 adventure bikes

For the most part Genesis’ 2019 updates to the Zero, Datum, Fugio & Croix de Fer are minor but welcome updated thru-axles. But there is also an all new Zero SL Disc road bike, plus a new 853 steel version of the do-it-all Croix de Fer. The highlights of British bikemaker Genesis’ next model year lineup are starting to trickle out, and with them come a whole host of updates to their dropbar road, gravel & adventure bikes.

2019 Genesis Zero affordable carbon road race bike

We first saw the updates to the Genesis carbon Zero road bike when they made their way onto the Pro Conti Madison Genesis Team last spring as the new Zero SL. When we heard a couple of weeks ago that the team edition bike was now available, Genesis also teased that a more affordable version was on its was too.

Enter the 2019 Genesis Zero carbon road bike. With a more affordable carbon layup that will add a few grams, the new Zero is the third generation for the Genesis road bike, and shares the same mold as the more pricey SL version. What’s new is a lower front end with a more integrated headset design and quicker handling geometry.

The new Zero also joins the SL in moving to direct mount brakes for more powerful braking, and the side benefit of additional tire clearance up to 28mm. The bike also moves to fully internal cable routing, a braze-on front derailleur mount, and gets a small rear wheel cutout to allow for compact chainstays.

The updated 2019 rim brake Zero will only be available as a single complete bike build with a complete Ultegra groupset & 28mm tires for £2300.

2019 Genesis Zero SL, national championship winning road bike

That team edition Zero SL bike on which it was based, is available now as a frameset exclusively. For £1600 you get the Madison Genesis Team paint, and its more advanced 30/40T hi-mod carbon construction – the same frame ridden by Connor Swift to a British National Championship.

2019 Genesis Zero SL Disc carbon disc brake road bike

Kind of snuck in with the Zero and the Zero SL, is a new version of the disc brake carbon road bike as well. The Zero Disc actually already got much of the same updates that made it only this year to the new Zero SL, with the same revised headtube design and updated front derailleur mount.

Now that bike gets the SL treatment with a hi-mod 30/40T carbon layup to shed some weight and boost stiffness, as well as standard flat mount discs & 12mm thru-axles. The 2019 Zero SL Disc will be available both as a 1600g frameset for £1700,  or a complete bike for £2700 with new Ultegra and 28mm tires.

2019 Datum carbon gravel bike gets modernizing updates

The Datum carbon gravel bike has been in the Genesis catalog for several years, but had stuck with a 15mm thru-axle up front and hold over QR axles out back. That thankfully will change for 2019, as Genesis moves to give all of their disc brake dropbar bikes industry standard 12×142 & 12x100mm thru-axles and flat mount disc brake tabs.

The carbon 2019 Datum gravel bike will be available as a now cheaper £2500 complete build in olive green thanks to the move to a SRAM Rival 1x drivetrain, and the same £1600 price for the updated frameset in two-tone blue.

2019 Croix de Fer adventure bike family updates in steel & titanium

The top of the Croix de Fer family gets those same modernizing updates too. Out are the open flat plate QR dropouts. Instead, the CdF Ti & CdF 30 adventure bikes also get 12mm thru-axles front & rear with replaceable alloy derailleur hangers, plus flat mount disc brake tabs. With the change comes a slight price hike. The complete Croix de Fer Titanium bike rises to £3700 with a full Ultegra groupset, or £2300 for the frameset.

The Reynolds 725 steel CdF 30 now will sell for £1900 for its complete with a new Shimano 105 groupset, a steel fork, and the updated dropouts.

The more basic steel Croix De Fer 20 at £1350, CdF 10 at £1100, and standard CdF 725 steel frameset at £500 keep quick release axles at both ends. New for 2019, there will also  be a Croix De Fer flat bar complete bike for just £1000 with that same entry-level steel frame.

The premium CdF 853 frameset that we got a sneak peek at back in March is finally ready though, for sale at £900 for frame and lugged-tip fork, and using the new 12/12mm thru-axles and flat mount discs.

2019 Fugio steel road plus 650B adventure gravel bike

For next year the fat tire 650B steel Fugio gravel bike finally commits to 1x with its 50mm+ clearance for big 650B tires. Gone is the option for a 105 double, instead replaced by a couple of SRAM versions and new colors.

The top Fugio 30 gets SRAM Rival 1 and 47mm WTB Byways for £2200, while the slightly more affordable Fugio 20 gets an Apex 1 group and 50mm Donnelly MSO tires for £1550. A £800 Fugio frameset is also available with the same double butted seamless MjÖlnir chromoly frame & carbon fork with its tapered alloy steerer.

The new 2019 bikes are already trickling in, and Genesis expects many of them to be available through their dealers starting later this month.

GenesisBikes.co.uk