I’m planning on building myself a new bike and I’ve narrowed it down to either a Genesis Equilibrium disc or C de F frame, with Shimano 105 bits and TRP spyre disc brakes.
It will be my only road bike, I’m planning on using it on roads/tracks/canal paths etc throughout the year, so it’s got to be a real ‘Jack of all trades’.
Any advice gratefully received…

If it’s going to be for tracks & canal paths all year round as well as road then I’d say it would have to be the Croix de Fer over the equilibrium.

Some hints here:

http://road.cc/content/blog/137016-david-embarks-croix-de-fer-bike-build-project

I would get a Equilibrium for road use.

The CRF can be made to do a lot more instead of the CX it once was.

http://road.cc/content/news/123804-genesis-bikes-launch-2015-range-more-equilbrium-disc-croix-de-fer-models

I have a CDF30 and it is a great improvement over last years one. The frame and fork are great and the new 105 stuff works a treat. I know you mentioned the TRP brakes, which I can’t comment on but I would say the 105 hydraulics are simply phenomenal – just like XT’s !

Thanks guys, really helpful stuff.
With regard to brakes, I’d rather go the fully hydraulic route, it’s purely cost that’s driving me towards cable operated – but maybe I’ll reconsider?

The spyre’s get good reviews and are certainly a lot more affordable than the hydraulics. I’ve not seen them compared side by side though. My cable Hayes annoyed me through rubbing and needing regular adjusts. The hydraulics are just like current shimano mtb ones – fit and forget !

I ran spyres for a couple of years on my cross bike. Was very happy with them indeed. Have just swapped them for Shimano hydraulics which are much, much nicer.

I’m really into my CdF. I just love the versatility / off road ability with 95% of road bike speed, and it’s just great fun. The only thing is, it’s not a light bike and a lot of that weight is in the frame (and the steel fork in my case although the frameset comes with a carbon fork). With light skinny tyres I’m sure it would be even faster on road but you’d lose a lot of the versatility.

I really like the TRP HyRds on mine, they’re worth considering although they seem quite pricey aftermarket. If I was building from scratch I think I’d want to stretch to Shimano 105 hydros.

Have a read of some of my thoughts (inc brakes) here if you’ve got time.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-bike-genesis-cdf