The newest update to the alloy Genesis CdA delivers all of the versatility of the popular steel Croix de Fer at a fraction of the cost – almost half the price of even the most affordable steel all-road & adventure builds. Swapping aluminium for ferrous metals in the frame and getting a geometry update, the 2020 CDA looks like a great value to get hooked on mixed-surface gravel & all-road adventure riding, or just a killer 4-season commuter…
2020 Genesis CDA affordable alloy all-road adventure bike
Genesis call’s their Croix de Fer “The Original Adventure Bike” offering mixed surface road, gravel & trail riding capability with all the braze-ons, since 2009. It’s always been a high-value ‘go anywhere’ type of bike, with varying steel frame specs and the odd titanium option too. Now, its budget younger sibling the CdA (aka Croix de Aluminium) that has been around for around five years, finally gets a much-needed overhaul to bring it to the same level as the CdF.
For years the CdA was just an entry-level, oversized aluminum cross bike, repurposed for more versatility. But now it gets the same modern geometry & comfortably stable versatile handling as the very popular Croix de Fer, plus a comfortable steel fork and Shimano’s reliable entry compact road double drivetrains.
New CDA – Tech details
The latest CDA is built from a double-butted 6066/6061-T6 alloy tubeset featuring only moderately oversized road tubes for a more forgiving ride that what we’ve come to expect from overly shaped, ultra-stiff aluminum frames.
Plus, the chromoly steel 1 1/8″ unicrown fork is likely to soak up some bumps as well.
The frame sticks with quick release axles, a threaded BB, 27.2mm seatpost, external routing, and a straight steerer. But is does get full front & rear rack & fender mounts, a third bottle cage mount under the downtube, flat mount rear brake compatibility, and clearance for up to 700c x 42mm tires.
2020 Genesis CDA – Pricing & availability
The CDA is available in two complete build specs.
The higher of the two, the 2020 Genesis CDA 20 features a Shimano Sora 2×9 groupset (that looks much like the last generation of 105) with budget Promax mechanical disc brakes, a claimed 11.68kg weight, and a £700 pricetag.
The even cheaper 2020 Genesis CDA 10 drops back to a Shimano Claris 2×8 group, the same Promax disc brakes, a claimed 11.83kg weight, and only £600 pricetag.
Either is gravel & all-road adventure-ready with 37m WTB Riddler tires, and in five frame sizes. Or just put them to work as a daily commuter with 0% financing available from Genesis retailer Freewheel.co.uk.
