Genesis Fugio

It's Christmas 2014: I’m about to go on holiday, but I’ve received a rather sizable present from my housemate - A massive box. Given his usual level of humour I assumed a small inexpensive gift was contained within, but it was neither. I was away for a month and spent an extensive amount of that time researching and planning the build I wanted. I had a bar job, very little income or hope of getting a complete bike quickly. I had stated a number of times how much I missed having a hardtail and so the Fugio was bought as a compromise: I bike that can go on or off road and do both very well.

I decided that Chris King specced bike was a bit out of my pay bracket, but that it would be nice to give a British company a nod, specifically one with a mountain bike heritage. Hope was a natural choice. They only really missed out on the seatpost (couldn’t get hold of an Eternity and they only released their carbon one after the build was complete) and subsequently the stem, both of which are Thomson.

Given my financial restraints, it took just over a year to complete and there were some changes along the way. Most of the decisions were made whilst I was on my holiday, so Hope components, Salsa Cowbell bars, SRAM gearing and TRP Spyre brakes.

At first I was going to go with a SRAM 22 setup, debating between the Rival and Force choices, but after some consideration and given the recent release of the 1X systems, I went with a mix of Rival 22 and Rival 1. I also swapped from the Praxis Turn Zayante crankset. I heard so many good things about it and couldn’t resist trying it out, but I am extremely happy with the Hope setup.

Final specification is:

Frame - Genesis Fugio Reynolds 853 (54cm)

Fork/Headset - Genesis Custom Carbon (ADK)

Crankset/Bottom Bracket - Hope 170mm, Hope 30mm

Pedals - Wellgo R120b

Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain - Rival 1, Sram XG1150 10-42, Garbaruk 44t 104bcd N/W, KMC X11 SL DLC

Derailleurs/Shifters - Sram Rival 1, Sram Rival 22 / Rival 1

Handlebars/Stem - Salsa Cowbell 2 38cm, Thomson X4 80mm

Saddle/Seatpost - Fabric Scoop Shallow Race, Thomson Elite (270mm)

Brakes - TRP Spyre, Ashima Axim 160mm Rotors

Front Wheel/Hub/Tire - H Plus Son Archetype Anodised (28h), Hope Pro2 Evo, Vredestein Fortezza Extreme Weather (28mm)

Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire - H Plus Son Archetype Anodised (32h), Hope Pro2 Evo, Vredestein Fortezza Extreme Weather (28mm)

(Both laced with DT Swiss Competition Spokes & Pro Lock Brass Nipples)

I will be making some more tweaks to the setup, including a Thomson Setback seatpost, when I can get hold of one. I have 5 different sets of tyres (the Vredesteins, Schwalbe Ones & Halo Twin Rails, along with some Cyclo X Kings and Clement MXPs) and I may order a larger chainring at some point. So far it’s been marvellous and does tend to put a big smile on my face. It’s also inspired my brother to take charge on his custom Soma Wolverine, which will be finished before the end of the year (as long as it doesn’t change into a Surly Straggler).

Dibs flatmate.

To be honest, he actually bought the frame as a one up because I sorted a new wheel for him (he doesn't like getting presents) and out of guilt for not helping retrieve a really nice hardtail frame that had been sitting outside his friends pub for about 2 years before the council took it. Still, can't knock it.