What’s it like to ride the latest Genesis Croix de Fer 50 – our range-topping, Reynolds 853 model?

Right now, there’s only one person who can answer that question! Tame mountain bike racer and Genesis ambassador Kerry MacPhee had the honour of being the first person on board the Croix de Fer 50 at our photoshoot.

So we thought it was a good idea to ask what she thought after a day of riding over the Peak District’s finest gravel. Here’s Kerry’s take!

 

 

First impressions count – what did you think?!
My first thought was wow, cool colourway!  It's kinda special when you can see your bike glinting in the sun - mostly because it means the sun is indeed shining, which also means a good bike day ahead and also means your bike is throwing out some special paint job vibes. The devil is in the detail with this Croix de Fer paint job... stunning.

This was followed very quickly by the feeling that I love GRX, and that everything feels so new!

It was an ace bike to explore Peak District gravel on. The gravel was as fresh feeling as that first new bike pedal stroke feels... heaven! Croix de Fer feels like an iconic member of the Genesis brand so I was excited to ride it in its most current incarnation.

 

 

You usually ride a more racy Datum – how did the Croix de Fer compare?
This felt like more of a workhorse bike than a Datum; it's a bike that wants to be saddled up with everything you'd need for a multi-day adventure.

There are loads of mounting points staring at you begging to be filled with bags; yet the bike is playful and light enough that I'd be confident enough to race cyclocross on it as well as take it fully laden across Europe with me!

How did it ride?
If it's got tyres wider than 35mm, these bikes can adapt to anything! It always amazes me how cruisy these bikes can be on tarmac yet gravel they're just at home on.

As a mountain biker, I love the fact that a bike like Croix de Fer can cover so much more distance but still feel like something malleable enough to navigate more techy terrain so really it gives just about the best of both worlds for a curious cyclist who wants to go far but off the beaten track too.

 

 

Best bits of the ride?
Skids and sprints! I loved the techy awkward climb I followed Tobyn up... the will it, won't it get through the chunky rock buzz you get riding over something the bike shouldn't feel capable of riding on.

Where would you like to take the Croix de Fer next?
I'd choose this bike for my bike packing adventures, as I know it could be reliably loaded up but still be playful and fun if I wanted to shed my load and tag on some extra fun miles.

 

 

Want a Croix de Fer of your own? Check out our latest range of the original adventure bike, here. 

 

Sep 15 2020
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Stories