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Commuter + light touring (Croix de Fer, stock or custom?)

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  1. dougal
    Member

    Hey folks. I'm doing the rounds of the bike shops talking to them about a replacement for my hybrid. This will be my "main bike".

    To be clear, I'm looking for a bike that I can use as a commuter/utility bike/light tourer as required. I've become very fond of disc brakes and prefer drop bars. The cross-point between utility and touring also heavily suggests dyno lights.

    My needs and wants all point to the Genesis Croix de Fer. Well, according to the shops that sell Genesis they do. Right now the salesmen at BikeTrax & BikeCraft have suggested to me:

    - CdF 10 + new front dyno'd wheel build
    - CdF frameset + custom everything

    I understand some of the details implied here, like for example the frame colour is different. Others I'm a bit lost with.

    So what are your thoughts? I still have to visit other shops but maybe being armed with more knowledge/informed questions would help me in future! Pointers to shops with the relevant expertise also gratefully received.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. wingpig
    Member

    Surly LHT comes in a disc version. The non-disc version (custom appendages to a frame-only) is very comfy and can be used for anything. It works out not much heavier than my steel SS sparebike when dynowheels/lights/mudguards/racks are fitted to both. I'd go for the LHT over the Kaffenback 2 on the grounds of heel clearance on the chainstays.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. dougal
    Member

    Yes I've been conscious to mention the LHT (or DT) to people when I've asked but basically the line seems to be "we don't carry it, we won't discuss it". I've seen them on the shop floor in Dales but not sure who is willing to talk about them in Edinburgh. Ultimately no good without a test ride.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    @dougal I bought an LHT frame from Spa through the internet/post (I'd never tried or seen one, but needed the features it had and trusted Smudge and Instography's user-experience), got the Cycle Service to fit a headset to it then transplanted the surviving bits from my dead Kaff - the Cycle Service and Bike Works (and probably others) quote a 'build charge' for constructing something from bits you give them if you want something built from a supplier they don't use. When I've replaced the concave-rimmed rear wheel you can have a go of it the next time you spot me on it, though it has horns rather than drops.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. dougal
    Member

    Thanks for the offer!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. steveo
    Member

    I'm very happy with my CDF 10 however the running gear is bottom end and tbh I'm not sure how long it'll hold out before needing replaced. They've been quite clever in some respects using a mtb rear mech and cassette to give 1:1 low end gearing. On the other hand the wheels are naff and I suspect the seals on the front have gone already.

    Replacement will need to be near like for like due to still being 9 spd or a full new group set which will be a right pig given the brake levers and virtually every other moving part will need replaced at once.

    Genesis have spent the money on an excellent frame and decent brakes but it's not left them much to work with to produce a working bike at the price point.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. unhurt
    Member

    I have an LHT (disc) and love it excessively - 26" wheels as it's a smaller frame size, but if you're not too tall you could have a shot of her some time... (I took a risk based on what I wanted in a bike, and got mine ordered up from south - via Alpine Bikes who were more than happy to do so. That said, I didn't discuss it so much as walk in with my decision made...)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    They've been quite clever in some respects using a mtb rear mech and cassette to give 1:1 low end gearing.

    Standard trick borrowed from a touring bike I think. With a triple ring at the front you can get sub 1:1 ratios. Seem like a silly idea until you try going up a 15%+ incline fully loaded. Then they still seem to high.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. dougal
    Member

    Thanks for the comments steveo, maybe spending a bit extra on the "right" components for the job is worth it rather than trying to adapt. I will keep researching!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. paddyirish
    Member

    Very happy with my CDF 20 which has seen > 2000 miles in the 6 months I've had it. Has spent time on the canals, Hopetoun And Dalmeny estates and handled the mud/ice/rough terrain there, but also longer road rides (>100km) in Fife and Arran.

    Will continue to fiddle /upgrade but so far so good...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. dougal
    Member

    Are you running it stock @paddyirish or did you make some changes from the very start? The dynamo hub/lights is obviously something that I could do without from the start but it seems such a valuable addition!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. SimonS
    Member

    I have a Croix as my winter cum audax bike. i bought the frame and transferred some bits from another bike and bought some others.

    I think the frame and custom build is the way to go.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. Stickman
    Member

    Ditto on the CDF20. I've had one for a few months now serving as commuter/longer runs and am really happy with it.

    Totally stock apart from changing the stem; mudguards and racks added.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. paddyirish
    Member

    I run from stock except for the brakes- I chose to downgrade from semi hydraulic to mechanical, due to a serious fright when the brakes failed mid run (seems a known failure in the interface between the mechanical and hydraulic part). That could well be down to me not maintaining it that well. Decided to KISS. No problems since.

    Fitted mudguards and replaced the tyres- 4 punctures in first month.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. wingpig
    Member

    I'd probably always now go for frame-plus-bits (dynamo, sturdy rims, proper tyres etc.) rather than off-peg, though I didn't in March 2006 when I needed a working bike quickly and had had a month when my pay almost doubled due to overtime. I wouldn't mind if a stock model scrimped and was a bit cheap about the drivetrain as all bits thereof are effectively consumables (though I haven't had a rear mech eaten by spokes for almost eighteen months now). Working around sales I can get a new chain, cassette, rear mech and middle chainring every year or so for under £50 by sticking with nine-speed stuff, which works fine with eight-speed shifters in friction mode.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. jonty
    Member

    "I run from stock except for the brakes- I chose to downgrade from semi hydraulic to mechanical, due to a serious fright when the brakes failed mid run (seems a known failure in the interface between the mechanical and hydraulic part)."

    Eeep. Which system?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. paddyirish
    Member

    TRP HY-RD.

    This was the technical note. about why it failed, but trouble was it worked fine earlier on ride. Normally expect brakes to deteriorate slowly and show signs of wear, but there was no warning here.
    That freaked me out.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. dougal
    Member

    Follow up question: if you do have a CDF with a dynamo and disc brakes, what one are you using? Was some confusion today when I spoke to Chris at Bike Craft about whether this combo would fit in the CDF fork. I can't find a definitive measurement for the fork gap anyway (is there a technical name for it? Hub width?).

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. steveo
    Member

    I don't think there is any difference up front any disc equipped hub should be fine. The rear hub is effectively a Mtb design with a 135mm OLN rather than the 130 that is common on road bikes.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. dougal
    Member

    NBD was Wednesday. You will see me around on my shiny new Colonel Mustard CDF. Say hello!

    There's still some bits to finalise (rack, proper pedals) but for now I'm getting used to the underlying machine.

    Thanks to everyone for their help, encouragement, tales of woe and so on.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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