For 2015, Genesis has launched four new bikes built for adventuring. From 29+, to full fledged fatty, and all the bike touring/gravel grinding/cyclocross capable things in between, there’s a little something for anyone seeking to enjoy the outdoors.
First up is the fatty. Developed for all season abuse, the Caribou excels in conditions like mud, sand, powder, and is fun just about everywhere else. For this year, they’ve also introduced a smaller 16″ frame size, more competitive pricing, and a beautiful new Orange color scheme.
The complete build is now dressed up with 26″x4″ VeeRubber Mission tires, which are easier to get rolling now that the gearing has been lowered via a 30T chainring, that is paired with an 11-36T cassette.
Also new is a wider 720mm “Alt” housebrand handlebar and the TRP dual piston Spyke mechanical brakes that Zach fawned over at Frostbike.
Croix de Fer 20
Last year the Croix de Fer was the most popular model in the Genesis line up, so this year they’re offering the rider favorite at a multitude of price points. Prices range from £849 through £2499, and include a much improved product spec at the top of the range.
This year, they’ve also spec’d a taller axle to crown fork, in order to improve mud clearance, and (in conjunction with a taller headtube) produce a more comfortable riding position.
They’ve also added forward facing dropouts to “eliminate disc brake wheel ejection,” and cleaned up the routing by running the cable stops along the downtube, which eliminates cable rub.
The Reynolds 725 frame also has internal Di2 compatibility, because the high end models with ship with electronic shifting and hydraulic stoppers, but base models will feature good old fashioned cable actuated brakes. More details on the Croix de Fer 10, 30, and Stainless build specs have yet to be announced.
Tour de Fer
The Tour de Fer starts from the same great base point as the Croix, but has been subtly altered to create a better long distance touring bike.
While it’s not immediately obvious, the chainstays have been lengthened to provide better heel clearance with panniers, and afford more room for a kickstand plate behind the bottom bracket. They’ve also beefed up the wall thickness of the downtube to improve stiffness, dropped the BB by 5mm to improve stability, and increased the fork offset so the bike handles better with front loads (and isn’t too twitchy without).
