The Genesis Croix de Fer 50 is that endearing friend who can turn their hand to anything and stays modest about it.
Its trademark Reynolds 725 frameset, now more adaptable than ever, is the secret behind why this bike keeps winning people over.
It's capable across all terrains and happy to carry a load, which is why the Croix de Fer has stayed a benchmark for over ten years. You get thru-axles front and rear, tubeless-ready rims and tyres, flat-mount disc brakes, a third bottle mount, rack and guard mounts, plus fixings for anything cages on the forks. In short, it's set up to be loaded for a bikepacking weekend or stripped back for a quick blast, depending on your mood.
Built to go anywhere
The newly designed carbon fork adds more tyre clearance and dynamo routing, so you can run wider rubber for comfort on rough lanes and wire in lights for long, dark British rides. It's dropper post compatible too, which helps when the terrain turns technical and you want the saddle out of the way. As a Genesis gravel bike, it doesn't tie you to one kind of riding, and that flexibility is a big part of the appeal.
Reliable running gear
Shimano's GRX 2x12-speed drivetrain gives you a wide spread of gears for steep, loaded climbs and fast descents alike, and the GRX hydraulic brakes bring you to a stop with control in the wet. Tubeless-ready rims, tyres and rim tape come as standard, with tubeless valves supplied, so you can drop pressures for grip and cut down on punctures out on the gravel.
Key features
- Shimano GRX 2x12-speed drivetrain
- Newly designed carbon fork with increased tyre clearance and dynamo routing
- Dropper post compatible
- Shimano GRX hydraulic braking
- Tubeless-compatible rims, tyres and rim tape, with tubeless valves also supplied
If you've been comparing a gravel bike for sale in the UK that can commute midweek and disappear down a byway at the weekend, the CDF 50 makes a strong case. Ten years of steady refinement have gone into it, and it shows in how easy it is to live with.