At around 27lbs the Core weighs in somewhere in the middle of the scale that you would expect for a 120mm trail blaster but it feels nippy and easy to spin up to speed thanks to the lightweight rims and fast rolling tyres. The wheelset is lightweight with an internal rim width of 19mm that will take good sized rubber which means you could add some float to the ride with some high volume tyres. The Core 26.4 came fitted with 2.2 Mountain Kings, the originals not the much improved Mountain King II. As with the Day One, there are mudguards, rear pannier rack, and an internally geared rear hub for all weather dependability. Given the versatility of this frame, it is perhaps to be expected that there is a large number of different builds on offer. It is available with flat bars and drop bars, carbon forks and steel forks, there’s even a titanium frame option.
The rim brake version can take tyres up to 28c, whereas the disc version can handle 30c. As the name suggests, these are bikes that are designed for the explicit purpose of riding on the road. Some are more race oriented, meaning mudguard and pannier mounts are forgone and the geometry is longer and lower. Others have more of an endurance focus, better suited to long rides and have all the mounts you need for light cycle-touring. So many models are offered that it can be hard to choose exactly which bike is best for you.
The external cable routing and threaded bottom brackets are also features that will be well apricated by home mechanics. The Core range is based around a 6061 aluminium tube set that is butted where needed with some gentle manipulation to ovalise the down tube as it meets the seat tube at the bottom bracket shell. There are strengthening gussets where the down tube and top tube meet the tapered genesis bike head tube and the seat stays are an old school wishbone style, the lack of a bridge gives ample mud clearance. Ostensibly, this is a more budget-oriented version of the Vapour Carbon. Disc brakes remain present, but they have been changed to mechanical rather than hydraulic. The drivetrain is still a performance oriented 1×11 set up and, in all, this is still a competitive racing machine.
Whether it’s a new set of tires or a replacement chain, investing in quality parts will pay off in the long run. Over ten years the range expanded beyond commuter bikes to include road, mountain, cyclo-cross, gravel, kids and fat bikes. As you embark on the bike leg of the Genesis Triathlon, embrace the challenge, soak in the scenery, and remember to ride with determination, discipline, and respect for the rules of the road. As athletes exit the transition area under the Bike Out inflatable, they will follow a designated lane marked by cones out of the parking lot, turning right to begin their journey around the lake. This dedicated athlete-only lane ensures a safe and focused riding environment, with vehicular traffic directed to use the opposite lane.
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. But for races that are solely on roads, this should be more than adequate. Genesis was hired to help create a brand visual language to help tie the products into a cohesive whole in the global marketplace.
Part of this is down to the different frame material, but cheaper components are also a factor. These are the dedicated carbon race bikes, as ridden by the (now disbanded) genesis bicycles UCI continental team Madison Genesis. The frame has internally routed cables for better aerodynamics and a wide section down tube for better torsional stiffness.
One of the best features of genesis bikes is the ability to customize them. 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. From there, we’ll discuss how we can get your bike back up to speed with a service package, on-the-spot adjustments, or replacement parts. We’ll also create an itemized receipt to make sure you’re comfortable with repair costs before we get to work. Some adventures are about taking your time and drinking in your surroundings, others are about getting there fast.
The store’s website currently lists new bikes from Trek, Electra, Salsa, All-city and Jamis. Genesis are building a reputation for thoughtful and well designed bikes so it is fair to say that there had been a sense of expectation once we knew the Alpitude was winging its way to us. There has been much talk about the Alpitude and the clear design ethos behind it, which was to make a bike that you could… The sorted geometry is pitched just right, making the bike exciting and fun yet not too much of a handful and it is not just a quick blast fun bike, it is light and the comfortable riding position means it will take you as far as you want to go. An impressive fork at this price point and sensible kit are great and the wheels finish the package off nicely but the main attraction here is the geometry. Once rolling the true nature of the Genesis started to shine through, a lively agile ride that encourages you to push on and flick the bike through singletrack whilst looking for roots and rocks to bunny hop and pop off.