In many ways we were slow to commit to the 29er market, but we were simply taking our time, letting the hype settle down and judging the big wheel phenomenon for ourselves based, first and foremost, on ride quality. Of course geometry is king and wheel size is only one part of the equation - it has to be combined with good geometry for the bike to realise its' full potential. The Fortitude rigid 29er taught us a lot about geometry and this bike is logical progression for us in the big-wheel category. A relatively slack 69 degree head angle combined with a low bottom bracket height and short 435mm chainstays means that the bike handles best when ridden fast, inspiring confidence and urging you to push harder.
The High Latitude Alfine is a great choice for those who require minimum servicing fuss and maintenance. For some people, the technical aspect of mountain bikes is part of the sport and the regular servicing can be a therapeutic ritual, for others it’s nothing of the sort and is just considered unnecessary time spent off the bike. Once the initial 200 mile oil change is carried out the Alfine gearing will help keep you rolling through the seasons with zero fuss.
By far the most versatile of headtube standards available, the XX44 headtube ensures full compatibility with different fork steerer tube standards. It also provides a larger weld surface area at both the downtube and toptube junctions to allow for larger diameter tubing and a tube shaping, not to mention increasing front end stiffness, improving tracking and handling. It also allows us to spec a semi-integrated top headset cup - important on 29er's to help keep the front end as low as possible.
We chose Reynolds 520 because we wanted this great frame to be accessible to as many people as possible and for £299.99 we can assure you that you will find no other steel 29er frame with as many design features and such an engaging ride, even the big wheel sceptics among you should be tempted to give it a try.
Whilst our 435mm chainstays (centre to centre) are shorter than most other steel 29er frames on the market, we haven’t compromised on tyre clearance and mud clearance. By bending the seat tube by 5 degrees the front mech sits well forward of the tyre and mud can pass by easily. We’ve used the chainstay plate from the Latitude 853 to provide plenty of mud clearance, even using 2.4 inch tyres. Ready for the very worst of the UK weather!
One thing we absolutely wanted to keep is a 27.2mm seat post. There seems to be craze now for dropper posts, and, whilst undoubtedly great, but there is a risk that the classic steel feel and ride will be lost as manufacturers seem to morph their steel hardtals into something else completely. Steel has superb natural ride characteritics and with the specced 27.2mm seatpost we're able to fully exploit these to give you a better ride.
| Frame Size | 16" | 17.5" | 19" | 20.5" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Seat tube (centre-top) | 405mm | 445mm | 480mm | 520mm |
| 2 - Effective Top Tube | 585mm | 595mm | 610mm | 625mm |
| 3 - Head Tube | 95mm | 105mm | 110mm | 120mm |
| 4 - Head Angle | 69.5° | 69.5° | 69.5° | 69.5° |
| 5 - Seat Angle | 74° | 74° | 74° | 74° |
| 6 - Chain Stay | 435mm | 435mm | 435mm | 435mm |
| 7 - BB Drop | 65mm | 65mm | 65mm | 65mm |
| Stem Length | 70mm | 80mm | 80mm | 90mm |
| Fork Travel | 80mm | 80mm | 80mm | 80mm |
*All measurements taken with approximately 25% fork sag.
Packed full of all the latest news and events info.
©2013 Genesis Bikes, All Rights Reserved. | Legal and Privacy | Contact Us
Advertisement
Recommend This To A Friend
