So many models are offered that it can be hard to choose exactly which bike is best for you. We’ve split this guide up into four large sections; road bikes, adventure bikes, cyclocross bikes, and utility bikes, detailing each of the bikes in the range and how they differ from the others. If you’re a dyed in the wool roadie or complete genesis bike ‘cross-head, you can jump straight to the section that interests you most. In the beginning, back in 1977 there was a small suburban bicycle shop on West End Lane, West Hampstead in North West London called Beta Bikes. Errol has spent time in the USA and had seen the emergence of mountain biking and decided to bring it to the UK.
The frame has internally routed cables for better aerodynamics and a wide section down tube for better torsional stiffness. The greatest restriction on how fast you can go when pinning singletrack is the tyres, yes they are fast rolling but they lack bite, something with greater cornering grip would certainly show off bikes handling better. 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. 500 watt direct drive motor is quiet and capable but offers less torque and weighs more, no regen modes.
The Datum comes with 32c tyres, which is a bit closer to the ‘road’ end of the spectrum. But there is clearance for up to 38c, so if the conditions require it, this bike is able to handle the rougher stuff. Just because a bike is designed for one specific purpose doesn’t mean it is limited to that purpose. Adventure bikes are very versatile and can be put to a multitude of uses.
You have the option to have your new bike delivered to your local dealer, or to your door. In the 90’s, the retail model of Beta Bikes was developed as a franchise and these franchise stores operated under the fascia of Freewheel. Whilst the stores looked great and performed well for a while, running a successful bike shop is hard work and requires a huge amount of dedication and this is not so easy to replicate through a franchise. At the same time Madison grew at a rapid rate and it was clear that the future of the business lay in being a distributor to the trade rather than a retailer. Madison pulled out of the franchise scheme in the mid 1990s and stores continued to trade for several years after but eventually were sold or absorbed into other retail chains so none exist anymore. The Fugio is a rowdier bike than the Croix de Fer, more suited to playing around on the trails and using the bumps as a platform to get some air.
The dropper seatpost, slacker head angle, shorter chainstays and clearance for tyres up to 50mm wide on 650b wheels are responsible for this more playful handling. With a 2×9 Shimano Sora groupset and mechanical disc brakes, there are notable differences to the higher end Croix de Fer. But these won’t present an impediment to getting out and using the frame for the huge variety of applications it has the capability for. Gravel riding, endurance road riding, cycle-touring, commuting, these are all still possible on this bike – it’s just a more accessible platform to get started with.
There are mounts for mudguards and a pannier rack, which expands the range of use from just road riding to commuting and even lightweight cycle touring. genesis mountain bikes are built to push boundaries and inspire adventures no matter what type of cycling you love to do. The Genesis™ bicycle rack features concentric rings that park bikes safely and securely. The Genesis™ rack offers two contact points, at the front and rear, for stable locking. The unique design of the Genesis™ bike rack is both visually appealing and able to provide double the parking space of typical serpentine racks. The Genesis™ bicycle rack has the simple “floating” concentric rings that look like an attractive outdoor sculpture.
Some adventures are about taking your time and drinking in your surroundings, others are about getting there fast. This bike is designed for lightweight bike-packing, able to tackle ultra-distances on mixed terrain. 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. For each of the builds, there are different spec levels donated by a ‘10’ for the entry level and ’30’ for the top line. Other bikes might have the specificity to perform better in a single one of these uses, but very few bikes would be able to perform as well as the Croix de Fer in all of them.
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.
Genesis was hired to help create a brand visual language to help tie the products into a cohesive whole in the global marketplace. Finding the center of the brand design was based on our uncovering the “truth in materials” position. Genesis created the personalities and graphics for bikes built for the world’s diverse cultures. You can see our work for Giant in the grueling Tour de France, on Tokyo commuter streets, and in a garage much like your own.
We’re always looking out for keen riders who are planning trips so we are open to receiving sponsorship proposals to consider. We recommend noting down your frame number (located on the underside of the Bottom Bracket) and using one of the many online services available. Each of our Reserve and collect stores are expert and keen cyclists, and on hand to help you collect your order or answer any cycling questions you may have. If you want more control over exactly what components your bikes is built with, both of these are available to buy as just the frameset. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose.