It looks like some Arabian prince would ride once in front of his mates then keep in gold plated toilet in a palace he never stays in. Plus, plus that headtube/stem/fork is just, well there are no words. The frame appears to be a Genesis Zero Disc – a model that’s no longer in the range – that has had an extension up front. Although Blythe says that he loves the look, people on social media have been less complimentary.
As the price increases, so does the level of tech, with Di2 included in the top-end model. Ostensibly, this is a more budget-oriented version of the Vapour Carbon. The aluminium frame is cheaper, although the fork is still carbon.
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.
As the name suggests, these are bikes that are designed for the explicit purpose of riding on the road. Some are more race oriented, meaning mudguard and pannier mounts are forgone and the geometry is longer and lower. Others have more of an endurance focus, better suited to long rides and have all the mounts you need for light cycle-touring. So many models are offered that it can be hard to choose exactly which bike is best for you.
This further increases mud clearance and also adds to the frame’s compliance, providing better control. Definitely not a versatile bike; this is designed with only CX racing in mind and makes no compromises – except for, perhaps, its two sets of bottle bosses. A solid steel range and genesis bicycles a smattering of aluminium and carbon models brings the brand bang up to date. Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus.
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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. “Thank you @genesisbikesuk for letting me go wild with this bike!! And if any of you were wondering what the extra part on the head tube is… the genius @robhayles1 added a little bit of carbon to hide my cables.
Product PresentationFrom free-ride, long-travel mountain models to fun city bikes, the presentation is a key attractor on the sales floor. Over ten years the range expanded beyond commuter bikes to include road, mountain, cyclo-cross, gravel, kids and fat bikes. But more than that, genesis bicycles there’s front and rear dynamo lights, so you never need worry about forgetting/neglecting to charge your lights. An internally geared hub goes a long way to weather proofing the drivetrain, as do the full housed gear cables that help stop dirt degrading your shifting performance.
The Genesis Tarn is a steel-framed short-travel hardtail with 120mm travel and 27.5in wheels, and is equipped with Maxxis Rekon tyres. You’ll find a range of materials used in Genesis bikes, though the brand is well loved for its steel offerings. 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. 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.