GENESIS CROIX DE FER 10
£899.99 › British-designed steel go-anywhere, do anything machine
Supremely capable, infinitely adaptable,’ says Genesis of its Croix de Fer, which is made from a steel named after the Norse god Thor’s hammer (‘Mjölnir’), so the British outfit clearly likes a little hyperbole. Genesis also describes the Croix de Fer as the ‘original gravel bike’. (Wikipedia calls it ‘an early incarnation’ of the genre and as it dates to 2009, it is in the mix.)
The Croix de Fer has a chromoly frame and fork. This is a material that has stood the test of time, and if looked after should outlast you and me, and it can also be repaired more easily than aluminium. But it’s not going to build into a lightweight frame while not as weighty as the Ridgeback, ours is still to the north of 12kg. Though if you are carrying considerable loads a little bit of extra weight – or even a kilo or two – isn’t actually that noticeable.
What you will notice is that the 35mm Kenda Flintridge tyres, though comfortable, steal speed from you on tarmac. They do come into their own on mixed, more gravelly surfaces, but if you do most of your riding on the road we’d go for slicker tyres with better rolling resistance, or better gravel tyres such as Schwalbe’s G-Ones, as fitted to Raleigh’s Mustang. Either will help you raise your pace.
We had no qualms about the comfort of the Kendas, however, or indeed the bike overall. Its handlebar proved particularly popular. The Velo cork tape with gel padding enhances the comfort of the steel frame, while the bar’s 16-degree flare proves great for control when the going gets rougher. The simple 27.2mm seatpost and Genesis’s own Road Comfort saddle are both unobtrusive.
The Croix de Fer swallows up loads nicely, and if you’re looking for a beast of burden for day-to-day use, carrying shopping and weekends