[Closed] About to press BUY on a Genesis CDF....good idea?

Based on my 30 seconds of riding my father's bike, it is great if you can live with a slightly heavy bike. Felt very comfortable and solid to me and if you're not racing then the weight will be fine. It sounds ideal for your kind of riding. He is certainly very happy with it and finds it comfortable.

Only thing that might annoy you after a while is BB5s instead of BB7s. I have BB7s on another bike and the extra pad adjuster is quite handy.

Is that on the Tweeks website? Can't seem to find it.

My only thought would be if you wanted to build something yourself, a Kaffenback frame and fork is only £180 (I think) at the mo, and the new one takes discs. I have the older one but have been considering a new one or the CDF.

Edit - found it. Anyone know what the difference is between the 520 and 725 tubing on this CDF and the standard Croix De Fer frame? Will it be heavier?

With a bit of clever shopping and classifieds could you not scrape together a Cotic >X< for that money?

What Gary said. I've just spec'd and ordered a Cotic X build with carbon forks. 105 kit and bb7's for near as dammit £1k. Lose the carbon forks, use slightly lower price brakes and drop to tiagra or Sora and you could save £200 or so. Or get a weekday build.

That said I had a try on the CdF and it was nice.

they've got next to sod all mud clearance - good luck getting sensible tyres and mudguards and mud to all fit at once...

i like them, but i'll be looking at a whyte.

I've been trying to get a test ride on a 2013 Whyte Saxon Cross, but ATB Sales (Whyte importer) don't seem that interested, so my LBS has said they'll order one for me to try and if I don't get on with it I don't have to have it. 😀

I got a Croix de Fer on the bike to work scheme and didn't like it, couldn't wait for the 12 months to be up to sell it. Like so many others say, it is heavy. If you convert it to a commuting role with mudguards and puncture proof tyres the weight goes up another kilo or two. Couldn't get mudguards or rack to fit properly because of the discs being in the way.

At 100kg I would suggest a chunky steel frame is what you are after,and the price looks good.
I have a peregrine with alfine which weighs a ton, but rides great..

so any tips on where to get stuff like the groupset and wheels?

they've got next to sod all mud clearance

How bad an issue is this? I'm looking at getting the 2013 Croix de fer but if tyre clearance is an issue then it's pointless.

I bought the drivetrain parts for mine from Ribble, swinnertons had Bonty 700c disc wheels for around £100 (although I got some off here). There's some cheap cable discs on Parker International and finishing kit came mainly from on one.

A mate's got the CDF and I've got a Cotic X and we both prefer the ride of the X on trails/bridleway... not much in it on the road.
Mine is a lash up bought from here with ratty Sora bits but a BB7 on the front (still a canti rear). The finishing kit is pretty low-end frankenbike stuff but the frame itself, coupled with Velocity A23 rims set up tubeless makes for a great do-it-all bike.

I've been across France on mine and love it to bits.

Ahhhh WTF did you have to tell me about this 👿

must resist!

I bought one from 18bikes for £675 2 weeks ago (Now OOS - Only direct from supplier @£855). Never had anything other than a MTB, so cant compare to anything else. Using it for commuting, can't really fault it!

RRP was only £799, so it's not 'that' good a deal for a relatively poorly spec'd heavy cross type bike is it? If they were 600 quid then maybe yes....

😀

i have only seen rrp as £899 so £719 is not bad...

But I have £800 so if i can find a groupset, brakes and wheels for £450 I could be on for a cotic X...

Steel, I think you could do a tiagra group set with a cx 50 chain set from ribble for £295, a pair of shimano cable discs from Parker for £45 and wheels from swinnertons for £110. Comes in at your budget.

Can you post a link to the wheels please? Can only find single wheels for that price??

Also I rang tweeks just to check and they have no CDFs left so looks like a Cotic X may be coming my way...

Had mine for 2 years. It's my commuter in which it excels. It is a bit heavy but I jump it up and down curbs so I take the weight as a bit of insurance.

I run crud catchers which work well (and don't look to bad as it has mounts). Full guards seemed like a faff and I always wear commuting clothes so....

I haven't taken it through too much mud so I can't comment on mud clearance

Great bike!

I would be tempted buy the X though if I was buying again but I don't think it'd be worth me switching now.

Can't see it now but [url= http://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/p-2839-700c-shimano-deore-disc-29-front-rear-wheels.aspx ]These should be ok.[/url] It's worth bearing in mind that 105 shifters & mechs only add £30 to the cost of the Tiagra group.

Another vote for a Planet X Kaffenback here, teamed up with a Tiagra groupo, wheels at around £150 and some planet x finishing kit should be well under your budget.

getting confusing now...

kaffenback
cotic x
cdf at 899

anything else, ideally would like this ordered and done by the weekend 🙄

Suppose it comes down to usage and budget, i've not ridden the CdF but i have owned and ridden for quite a few thousand miles the alu equivalent which is the vapour, good bike, stiff though (steel probably won't have that problem) and okay as an all rounder did find the set up very arse up head down even with an upwards pointing stem as the headtube is very short.

I traded in for a Kaffenback which is much more comfortable but a good couple of pounds heavier, although i'm sure that i'll be able to ride cyclocross on it i think it's more suited to being a tourer/winter roadie. It is pretty versatile with the swapouts meaning it can be run with a hub gear, single speed or normal gears. It can also use discs, or canti's/mini v's.

I've not ridden the cotic but it seems like a pretty decent frame with maybe a slightly more bias towards racing cross, it is probably lighter than the Kaffenback but the f+f package is also twice the price.

right thats it then i have made my mind up...

I have officially no clue what to get

arrrrgggghhhh