Cycling UK Forum

Dear All, It has been 5 years since I built up my black 2013 or 2014 (can't remember the year of the frame exactly) Genesis CdF Reynolds 725 touring bike and now feel that I can write a review that will hopefully help anyone considering the bike as a tourer or building up a similar frameset as a project.

Back in early 2014 I decided it was time to do some cycle touring and I was living in Brixton, London, so also wanted something suitable for riding to work in Westminster. After a fair amount of research, I abandoned all of my learning and made an impulse purchase of a black CdF frame from Brixton Cycles after sitting on a factory assembled bike and liking it. Previously I had built up racing bikes and mountain bikes from second hand frames, so felt I was ready to splash the cash on something new.

The build was relatively easy from compatibility issues. I chose a Shimano 105 triple groupset (30-39-50 chainset and 11-28 cassette- more on this later), Hayes CX5 cable disc brakes, a Hope EX34 headset, Shimano external BB and Ritchey Adjustable 4-Axis stem with pretty standard drop bars. I fitted a Blackburn alloy rear rack and SKS Chromoplastic mud guards and used a saddle I already had.

The wheels were built up by Spa cycles and were DC19 rims with XT hubs (the older style with the big bearings and steel axel) with 36 spokes. Beautiful wheels really. Tyres fitted at first were Continental Touring Plus in 28mm. Standard Shimano MTB SD pedals.

Once set up, I rode the bike for a couple of months around the city. First impressions were excellent, except the brakes took ages to wear in and were pretty much useless at first. Overall an excellent commuting machine.First tour was the Danube as far as Vienna where I was to work for a month (sneaky deal with work got flights to Germany paid for), so I fitted the bike with some luggage, two Edinburgh Coop red pvc panniers and a Vaude bar bag. All worked really well on a mix of tracks and roads, in rain and sun. I was liking this!

Next tour was Aberdeen to London. This was a hotel tour, so I swapped the tyres for 28mm Gatorskins. I was cycling with three fit men (I'm also a man and fit) who were on carbon fibre racing bikes. We did 120 km to 220 km per day. The CdF was so slow in comparison and I was two hours behind after 220 km. A good comparison with pretty standard road bikes these days. The comfort was good though, after a week of this I could have kept going but the others were well-beaten!

Next was Roscoff to Santander. Full camping setup. Bike performed very well indeed except on pretty rubbley canal paths in the wet. Northern Spain is quite hilly and the gear combination was inadequate. I took the train for a bit in Northern Spain, as I couldn't get up some of hills where the roads were really busy confidently.

Next was the length of the South Island in NZ. I replaced the inner chainring with a 26 tooth. Great performance, fully loaded even up hills. The two negatives were that the beautiful front wheel got trashed on the plane over. I got a factory built 32 spoke cyclocross wheel in Wellington before the ferry to Picton. Turned out fine. By the end the continental tyres were gone- the wear was very flat. The alloy rear rack had cracked and was held together with paracord.

I then moved to Aberdeen and replaced the tyres with 32mm marathon Plus and kept the new wheel. Tubus Cargo rear rack fitted. Bags sewn up. No big tour for a while, just enjoying Scotland. generally riding out on estate tracks, rucksac bungeed over rack, hike, bothy, camp, back for work on Monday. Excellent, no problems in what I'd call mTB territory.

Recently I took the bike to SE asia for 6 weeks. Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Good performance. tres still like new! The components and frame now beginning to show signs of wear but still completely structurally sound. What would I have done differently if I had another chance at this build? 1. I would have fitted a Shimano MTB groupset (Deore probably) and bar end shifters with a MTB gearing range as I've only used the big ring once or twice. 2. Steel Tubus rack from beginning. 3. Marathon tyres from beginning. 4. Trekking type drop bars rather than the traditional ones I have. 5. Probably BB7 brakes would be better. Other than that it has been a pleasure and can recommend the frame for touring (often a CdF v. TdF question comes up) and am confident that I'll be riding it in another 5 years.

For those who are interested. Loaded, over 100 km on fair-poor roads I make the following average speeds: flat 20 kmph, typical hilly but non mountainous 17 kmph, very hilly-mountainous 15 kmph, offroad no idea as I don't normally have the garmin but slower than MTB.

Clay

I've just returned from a fabulous month cycle touring in the South Island. New Zealand is a great place to tour with many campsites and backpackers hostels. The roads are great and the traffic slight compared to Europe. Many Kiwis will bring up bad traffic and poor driving, but compared to Europe it is paradise! Probably busier than historically but still great for cycling, even the bug dairy lorises gave me plenty of room and a warning toot if required. Only bad drivers seemed to be in rental city 4x4 vehicles.

My route was Picton-Nelson-Motueka-Murchison-Punukiki-Haast-Wanaka-Queenstown which took about 3 weeks with plenty of days off to indulge in the various activities on offer. Longest day 140km. Hottest day 31. Coolest day around 20. One rain day but warm.

Flight via Singapore with a day layover in Singapore, bike checked right through.

Hope that helps

My 58 is not flaccid unless loaded heavily ascending a steep hill.

fluffybunnyuk wrote:

"people who cycle like me", oh dear. I would read the blog I linked a bit further up

haha i'm a POB on a BSO and proud of it. Sorry every day I pull up at a set of red lights on the A2 and some nutter usually in cycling shorts often lycra comes steaming past me and through the lights. Or later on weaves in and out of lanes 1 and 2 to pass cars moving at slow speed. Or tries to come up the inside of vans trying to get into the inside lane. If im really lucky i'll be told to "get out of the way". in a not too charitable way. And im not that slow, Im just careful. The amount of women or kids Ive encountered on non-road bikes crossing Lewisham roundabout to visit tescos in the last year stands at zero. The reality here(in my area) is a bad stereotype of cyclists. male,commuter,fixie,lycra,impatient....take your pick of stereotypes

EDIT :And its not getting better, its getting worse...and that includes in the infrastructure.

I couldn't agree more. I really would like to see cyclists behaving well and creating a positive image. I think some of the problem is that often a well behaved cyclist will feel a twonk for not following the dare Devils and simply follow on along the inside, through the red light etc. I'm sick of seeing dangerous near misses and reading about deaths. So here I say- don't feel like a twonk for stopping behind the bus or waiting in traffic until it is safe, just watch others cycle by. Don't feel the need to squeeze past every dangerous vehicle to get to the front of the traffic (into that cycle box that everyone is so desperate to reach, even at their own peril). Remember to check behind before manoeuvring and signal in good time well, not just a quick hidden point but a good arm right up.

Just follow the coast road, not a hard route to follow really. However, the coastline around there is very hilly (lots of cool alpine style switchbacks). Campsites at useful intervals. Nice beaches. As for trains, I like the bog standard TER trains in France with a bike over the TGV.

Have a great trip, a real cyclists route!

I tend to wear mine in the winter when cycling to work and pack it for the evenings when cycle camping. Nothing like putting on the Buffalo when it starts to get cold! If it is above 10 degrees it feels a little warm though and I have to cycle a little slower! There was an unseasonally warm day the other week and I arrived at work a little on the moist side and really enjoyed a cool shower to cool down. Overall love the damn thing.

The cable discs get quite good after a bit of use. At first they lack power, before they bed in.

I too saw the compact double as a negative. Ended up building a 2014 725 frameset with a 105 triple, spa cycle built 36 spoke wheels, ritchey stem, bars, seatpost and a hope headset. Turned out ideal for touring, really good bit of kit.

The total price worked out only slightly more than the factory built tiagra double (the cost of the tyres ish). Good fun sourcing the parts and putting it all together too.