The kind of bikes that make you dream of your next adventure no matter the size. Since 2001 Genesis Bikes have had an eye for the finer details, utilising the very best materials and always heading in their own direction. Genesis build bikes that are simply built to go everywhere with you and do a bit of everything. Take your pick from their genesis mountain bike range of iconic builds such as the Croix De Fer, Fugio, CDA, Vapour, Datum & more. Versatility still pervades the frame, with downtube bottle bosses and mounts for a rear rack and mudguards. Although this bike can take on the commuting duties or a bit of cycle-touring, it is more suited to lively riding in the woods and on bridleways.
There are three different spec levels, with 10 being the entry level, 20 the mid-range and 30 being the top of this range. For the entry level, you’ll get a Shimano Claris 2×8 drivetrain, an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Whilst the 30 model gets a Shimano 105 2×11 drivetrain, along with the aluminium frame and carbon fork. The Equilibrium and Equilibrium Disc are also endurance/sportive-focused bikes, and come with a steel frame and carbon fork. The steel makes for a super comfortable ride, while the carbon reduces some of the weight. Genesis Bikes are a British cycling brand with a heritage of building the kind of bikes that they want to ride themselves.
Seat stays are straight with a smooth sweep in to meet the seat tube, no bridge means that there is plenty of mud clearance even with 2.35 tyres fitted. These bikes are designed for longer days out being able to handle heavier loads and rougher roads. Some bikes (such as the Fugio) are more oriented towards the rough stuff, whereas others genesis bicycles (such as the Croix de Fer) are better suited to carrying loads. The Day One — its inaugural bike from 2001 — is still going strong as a low maintenance singlespeed with disc brakes and mounts for mudguards. Genesis produces bikes for all cycling disciplines, including road, mountain, cyclocross, gravel/adventure and commuting.
A solid steel range and a smattering of aluminium and carbon models brings the brand bang up to date. About three years ago, they brought in e-bikes, which added a new avenue of bicycle access for someone who might need a pedal assist from an electric motor. The service manager, Jimmy Madden, says it has been wonderful to learn about e-bikes since it gets even more family members out on the trail who might otherwise stay home. Genesis also features a wide array of parts, accessories, and apparel.
The aero features of more expensive bikes are present, with cables are routed internally and the leading edges of the frame are smoothly rounded. The groupset is Shimano Tiagra with a 2×10 drivetrain while the maximum tyre size is 25c. The Vapour is Genesis’ CX race machine and genesis mountain bike there are three models available (10, 20 and 30). There’s the option of having a full carbon frame at the higher end of the spec too, or a more affordable version with an aluminium frame and carbon fork. Giant is the largest manufacturer of quality bicycles in the world.
The Tour de Fer is a steel touring-specific bike with a longer, stable wheelbase, and comes complete with mudguards and racks. Finally, for the bikepackers, the Longitude is a fully rigid, steel-framed mid-fat expedition adventure bike. The Genesis Tarn is a steel-framed short-travel hardtail with 120mm travel and 27.5in wheels, and is equipped with Maxxis Rekon tyres. The Genesis Seat bicycle is a valuable choice to improve your cycling experience, with its innovative Seat and handlebars, the Genesis is a peerless Bike for shoppers who desire to explore new ways to bike. The black and gray color scheme is yellow bottom is a top-notch addition to cycl routine. Our main criticism of the Alpitude is its lack of acceleration; this is a combination of the short top tube, high front end, weight and slightly draggy tyres.
Check out the full Zero line from Genesis and keep an eye out for the Zero Team bikes as they make their race debut at the Tour of Britain, kicking off 7 September 2014 in Liverpool. The harder you ride the Alpitude the bigger your smile… so if you have the right attitude to get the most out of the Alpitude then this bike can rock your socks off. The main area that you notice the need to work to maintain momentum is when riding across rough ground at a relaxed pace, the bike can stall and you have to give it some oomph to get motoring again.
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 ‘cross-head, you can jump straight to the section that interests you most. Spanning the pro-level race-ready Zero Team (£4500) to the Zero.1 (£1300), an ideal first carbon bike for burgeoning roadies, the line-up has something for riders of all abilities. For those looking for the most advanced drivetrain coupling in the form of Shimano’s electronic Di2 system along with a surprisingly clean aesthetic, it’s hard to find better value than the Zero.i (£3000). In keeping with Genesis’s core values, the line-up is notably consistent in carbon fiber grade and manufacturing process across models (many companies use lower grade materials and outsourced labor for cheaper frames).
Genesis are building a reputation for thoughtful and well designed bikes so it is fair to say that there had been a sense of expectation once we knew the Alpitude was winging its way to us. As mentioned in the Tweet, the 24-carat gold leaf finish has been created by Fatcreations, a Sussex-based company that has been responsible for countless stunning paintjobs over the years. Product PresentationWe developed the product graphic presentation for more than 200 unique models every year…while being on-trend, fresh and true to the brand.
None of these things alone would be an issue but add them up and they mean you have to push hard to get the bike really moving. You get out what you put in though and once up to speed the bike is a different animal. The adjustable Revelation forks up front give you the option to wind down the travel to sharpen up the handling through singletrack and help you up the steep stuff, turning the Alpitude into a true all mountain steed. Steep technical drops are taken in its stride and on fast smooth downs the Alpitude feels stable so long as you stay out of the saddle. Genesis give their geometry figures with the bike at 25% sag, so you can take just over a degree off the stated numbers to give you the figures of the bike unweighted.