The Venerable Croix de Fer frameset has been a mainstay of the Genesis range since 2009. The frameset is incredible versatile and lends itself to a multitude of different builds. You could put 38c tyres on it and go bike-packing on some gravel, or you could put front and rear pannier racks on, throw in some mudguards, and take it on an around the world tour. You could even commute, go on road rides, use it as a utility shopper. Prefitted mudguards and more puncture resistant city tyres are such examples.
It is the combination of a vast array of mounts, a robust steel frame and wide tyre clearances that allow this bike to be such a jack of all trades. A rim brake version is available in addition to the disc option and both come with Shimano Ultegra 2×11 groupsets. The maximum tyre size on bike is 28c, typical for rim brake set ups but relatively narrow for a bike with discs.
Despite being already expansive, the Genesis Bikes brand continues to grow, with the British company striking out even further to the gravel/adventure cross market. We’ve got to say, though, that we’ve never seen anything like the head tube on Adam Blythe’s bike. Genesis cycles are perfect for anyone looking for a hybrid of on and off-road that is comfortable on all day journeys on tarmac or gravel.
The Vapour is Genesis’ CX race machine and there are three models available (10, 20 and 30). There’s the option of having a full carbon frame at the higher end of the spec too, or a more affordable version with an aluminium frame and carbon fork. The Genesis Datum is another versatile bike that could serve as a gravel-cruncher or mile-muncher, depending on the tyres you choose to run. There’s also a women’s-specific version of the Datum, as well as a frameset so you can build your own. Moving into the racier end of the spectrum, the Zero and Zero Disc are full-carbon road bikes with aggressive geometry.
Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run.
These are Genesis’ entry-level road bikes and are the cheapest in their range. The geometry is a little more upright, making for a more comfortable and less twitchy ride. There are mounts for mudguards and a pannier rack, which expands the range of use from just road riding to commuting and even lightweight cycle touring. At the entry-level, the Delta is an aluminium frame and carbon fork road bike with endurance geometry that comes with rim brakes and provides a comfortable ride.
Genesis champion themselves on built in practicalities that can be seen throughout the range, enabling their use daily across many different scenarios. Credited with creating the first-ever gravel bike, Genesis bicycles are designed to take you on adventure — off-road, on-road, or wherever your heart desires. As with the Day One, there are mudguards, rear pannier rack, and an internally geared rear hub for all weather dependability. Essentially an aluminium version of the Croix de Fer, the CDA features a similar plethora of mounts and wide clearances but comes in at a significantly lower price.
Genesis has a lot of bikes in its ‘other’ category, so we’ve broken them down into Adventure, Cyclocross and Urban. Finally, if you want to build your absolute dream machine, the Volare and Volare genesis bicycles Disc framesets are available in both Reynolds 853 and 931 tubing options. Bikes for all occasions, from all materials, that ride well, last a lifetime and look good while they’re at it.