Croix de Fer 931: the bike to do it all

Sorry, missed a key detail - disc brake + mudguard eyelets.

that's lovely. i wasn't keen on the genesis bikes at first, but after something pompino-esque (although with gears), and didn't like the fit of the surly crosscheck too much, so i guess this is the next option. wish list: 725 frame with other parts similar to yours: 105, hplus son rims, traditional drop bars. if i can scrape some cash together hoping to get one built up for some long rides in the spring.

Wound Up?

With mudguard eyelets I think that means custom options direct from Wound-up which means $$$$$

I think Genesis are coming out with a crabon fibre fork for the 2014 CDF, I emailed them to ask and they said it would be released this month. It will have the mid leg eyelets, mudguard eyelets and match the 2014 geo.

This was the response to my email:

*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.

Regards
Alex Cubbage
Telesales*

Brilliant, thanks - I will see if I can get a bit more information out of them.

Kinesis dc37 which is around 398mm?

Too long, 2014 CdF have shorter fork than CX.

40 hella windy miles on the CDF yesterday, I'm starting to yearn for faster wheels for this bad boy.

https://app.strava.com/activities/261426096

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hahaha, also just noticed my mate Andrew taking a piss in the top right corner of the shot :)

Looks like a great spot for riding. Mine hasn't seen much more than the daily commute and a few winter training rides recently. Need to get a longer tour in the diary - thinking down to Cornwall maybe.

Yeah man, we're lucky here. Dundee has to be one of the most underrated places in the UK, beautiful setting, never more than 15 minutes ride to a country road and from where I live in on 5 minutes. Loads of quiet B roads and loads of hills. Cannae beat it.

Also just found this and thought you might be interested.

http://shop.18bikes.co.uk/m14b0s543p2360/GENESIS-Croix-De-Fer-Carbon-fork-%282009-2014%29-2014

CdF felt naturally slow, this is normal.

Straight fork too, that'd look nice on that bike, save about 400g (approx) from the original steel.

http://www.extrauk.co.uk/product/detail/Novatec/CX_Wheels/3152/

These should speed it up a touch!

Perhaps, my old Hope/ZTR Crest was pretty light but doesn't really make that much of a difference.

Biggest difference is the one you hate to hear - get fitter.

What Ed said... it's just a slow bike. Don't get your hopes up.

Yeah, you're both right I'm sure and riding the iron cross all winter has certainly helped in that respect. I'm expecting great things when I use my Bianchi on fast runs in the spring, it should feel like a superlightweightthing.

Lighters wheels and fancy forks certainly won't make it any slower though and I am a tart for new bits!

A different fork with more rake will make it feel closer to a road bike while retaining the stable long wheelbase, @spotter can testify on this.

The CdF isn't exactly a bike that respond instantaneously with a swift kick, however it's very easy to get into a comfortable pace if you're not trying to best your Strava segments.

Having said that, I notice that my performance between the road, CX, and tourer is very similar, it's just each bike felt different to ride (i.e. tourer I can turn a lots later at higher speed in corner, CX I can keep it in a straight line on poor road condition, and the roadie make light work of performing evasive action).

I dont get this - is it slow because it feels slow or because its heavy?

Former, CX bike usually feel slow on the road, but lively off road.

Thanks

TBH the 931 version feels pretty responsive to a good thrashing but I just get that feeling that the wheels are heavy to accelerate. I had a similar feeling with my road bike on the standard wheels and when I swapped to my nice wheels (Open pro ceramics on record hubs) there was a noticeable 'zip' to the way it rode.

I'm sure some of it is in my head and like you say I too see similar performance over all my bikes. Where some gain others lose, for example the CDF on 35mm tyres just rolls over anything with no issues, unlike the 23mm tyres on the Bianchi that are skitting all over the shop on uneven surfaces.

Open pro ceramics on record hubs.

This rims have a similar weight to your Archetype,it could also be that the 35mm tyres not giving road buzz translate into feeling heavy rather than fast.

Ditch the Kojak for the Challenge Strada Bianca instead;