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Spotted: Genesis’ first flat mount 853 steel Croix de Fer everything road bike

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The Croix de Fer is UK bike maker Genesis’ do-it-all adventure road bike, and always one of their most popular models. With chromoly, Reynolds 725, and even titanium versions on standard offer, this new premium Reynolds 853 frameset looks set to be the first to adopt thru-axles and flat mount disc brakes.

Croix de Fer 853 steel adventure road bike frameset

courtesy Genesis

In a time of specialized road bikes, the Croix de Fer is a long standing jack-of-all-trades, with enough braze-ons to build into a touring rig (or commuter), clearance to fit up to 40mm+ tires, and quick enough handling to still make for fun road riding. Genesis calls it their ‘original gravel bike’.

In their 2018 catalog, Genesis’ standard CDF bikes have stuck with quick release axles & IS brake tabs in the interest of affordable builds and backwards compatibility. But the times are a changin’. And the industry has finally settled on 12mm thru-axles and flat mount disc brakes going forward on the road. So Genesis was happy to adopt the new standards for a frameset built from Reynolds’ premium 853 tubing.

The idea for the £900 steel frameset, is to give customers a platform to build up their own modern custom road bike to tackle any surface.

Tech details

The core of the new steel bike frame is a new set of extended, forged flat mount dropouts out back….

And at the front a new set of lugged, thru-axle fork tips that also incorporate part of the brake mount, plus the extra braze-ons. Genesis say they kept a straight 1.125″ steerer as the steel fork doesn’t need to go oversized to achieve the desired level of strength, stiffness & ride quality. They also stuck with the same welded unicrown style construction, as it delivers the best balance of meeting their testing standards without adding extra weight.

The  Croix de Fer 853 will come only as a frameset for 2018, with availability and more concrete details expected in the coming months.

GenesisBikes.co.uk

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14 Comments
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Seraph
Seraph
6 years ago

Neat, I guess? Would love to see a tapered head tube for those of us who want to ride a carbon fork.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
6 years ago
Reply to  Seraph

Because we don’t have a gazillion other options for steel bikes with tapered ht’s? Whatever, I guess.

cousin it
cousin it
6 years ago
Reply to  Seraph

Few things look more unbalanced than a steel bike with a bulbous carbon fork. Good job to Genesis for this one!

Seraph
Seraph
6 years ago
Reply to  cousin it

Because biking is all about looks, right. I prefer comfort over aesthetics.

aquilaaudax1
aquilaaudax1
6 years ago
Reply to  Seraph

Yeap, thats why I prefer a steel fork over a horrible carbon one.

typevertigo
typevertigo
6 years ago

Personally I like that they kept with the steel fork, but kept the blades straight. Perhaps not retro-grouch friendly, but I haven’t seen a lot of other steel forks with the same modern-ish appearance.

BMX
BMX
6 years ago

Think that fork would sell well as a stand alone item, lots of people want a straight steerer and disc tabs without forking out for a carbon fork.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
6 years ago
Reply to  BMX

“straight steerer”? As opposed to a curved steerer? Can you explain the mechanics behind that? On second thought… just go back to bed.

Cole
Cole
6 years ago

straight vs tapered, not curved. go back to bed. (deleted)

mud+rock
mud+rock
6 years ago
Reply to  BMX

Kernel is cranky today

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
6 years ago
Reply to  mud+rock

It’s quite normal, I mean look at my name… (deleted)

Easy on the name calling
Easy on the name calling
6 years ago

Straight vs. tapered is, in my opinion, common terminology but what do I know.

Seraph
Seraph
6 years ago

If you knew anything about the bike industry you’d know that steer tubes are specifically called either “straight” or “tapered”.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
6 years ago
Reply to  Seraph

So you’re claiming high industry prowess when a bike you’re not in the market for bums you out because it doesn’t feature a tapered ht? Weird, but typical.

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