Croix de Fer 931: the bike to do it all

All built, a few stand in parts until I get round to ordering new bits (stem, seatpost plus a few others) but 95% there. First proper ride in the morning.

Looks great, I just finished my build tonight, still needs guards but took it for a spin round the block. More responsive than I expected but front end feels quite harsh compared to other bikes in the fleet.

So nice.

Zip-ties are somewhat aesthetically challenging on what is primarily a road bike.

front end feels quite harsh compared to other bikes in the fleet.

That to be expected, the steel fork have been made stiffer for disc brakes, play around with the tyres pressure.

Future upgrade can be a disc fork, thought a CX fork will be too long on the CdF.

You're pressure is too high.

I was running 60psi rear and 50psi front on 35mm Kojaks..... didn't think that was too high.

Crabon fork is a future upgrade for sure, I think Genesis are making one for the 2014 CDF at the moment, to be released in December.

30km this morning laden with work stuff in a carradice and I'm very pleased with how it feels.

On the front end, I wouldn't describe it as harsh but you certainly know what you're riding over. Feel on the discs is great but I think I will upgrade the pads as most people seem to do on the HYRDs.

A longer stem and maybe a set-back seatpost in the future but I will probably ride it as is for a while to see how it goes.

Also very pleased with how the 5800 feels - not a million miles from the Ultegra on my Serotta.

Lovely bike. Begging for some stainless King cages tho.

2015 CdF have standard CX length fork, incompatible with your frame.

Yeah, I saw the 2015 model and emailed them. I got this in reply:

"Michael,
Thank you for your email.

The 2015 Croix De Fer frame set and 30 feature carbon forks. Unfortunately, the forks from the 2015 frames have a different geometry to that of your 2014 bike so would not fit.

However, we do range a carbon fork that is compatible with the 2014 range of Croix De Fers. This will be available through any of your local Genesis dealers on part number GN99910. These will be available at the beginning of December. "

So just need to speak to my friendly LBS and save some pennies now :)

Oh

That's low enough. It will be a bit harsher, but it shouldn't be too hard.

To be quite fair, you weigh as much as a small child.

Rode the Croix de Fer to work this morning, feels great!

Just waiting on the guards arriving and need to find a proper saddle for it.

Croix De Fer by Michael M Rennie, on Flickr

And I thought I had a lot of spacers! Looks good though ^

With 140km on mine I'm enjoying it but need to fiddle with my position as I feel a bit unsettled over rougher road surfaces.

The stack is a bit excessive at the moment, the fork is uncut until I work out what position I like.

Maybe not as bad as the first image looks though.

Croix De Fer-2 by Michael M Rennie, on Flickr

That look awesome.

Just slam the stem and raise slightly as time go by.

35 very windy miles on the Iron Cross today.

Other guys were all on skinny tired road bikes and I kept up no bother. This bike rules!

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In its element on the ride home tonight.

What tyre size / guard size? Looks great, btw.

Schwable Kojak 35 mm with PDW full metal guards 45mm. Love the bike and it handles great and rolls fast.

A month and 600+ kms in I'm really pleased with the 931. Its done exactly what I wanted it to do - i.e. wet winter training miles, keeping up on fast club rides and commuting duties

Just need to get planning a tour next summer...

This has been discussed ad nauseam elsewhere but just to confirm if I'm looking for a 1 1/8 steerer carbon fork with disc mounts is my only option a custom jobby?

Not necessary, you're limited to fork around 386mm, @roadwarrior will know the length exactly (probably 383mm).