Early Genesis Croix De Fer – Max Tyre Size

Hi all.
I have an early CdF, the steel framed one. To be honest, I really don’t get on with it and am toying with the idea of changing it for a hardtail for my mundane BW doorstep rides but before I go to the faff of that, I’m thinking about changing the tyres to something a bit bigger to make it more fun on the off road bits… Does anyone have an early CdF and know what max tyre size you can run? The ones on it currently are pretty narrow…

I have a ‘old faithfull’ 2012 CDF so I’m being this off mine.

In the older ones the steel Fork was the main restricting factor, they were about 38c max but they were tight with them, if you wanted actual mud clearance you were probably looking at 35c max.

The back ends were suprisingly roomy for their time, and could generally take a 40c no worries.

Not very much.

Mine was a 2015, IIRC I could squeeze a 35mm tyre in the back and a 40mm in the front. Perhaps stiffer wheels might have given a bit more leeway – the stock wheels and / or stays flexed quite a bit and meant the tyre would foul the frame under pedalling, even though it appeared there was clearance for 40mm tyres in the workstand.

2011/2 CdF (i.e. the lower end 525 model). A 40mm will go without mudguards, but it’s *very* close at the front – wouldn’t take much gravel/twigs/mud to jam the tyre on the bottom of the steerer. The fork has since been replaced with a Tour de Fer fork (£10 from a LBS that had a few spares following a recall), so now good for 40mm at either end without mudguards, or 35mm with mudguards.

Cheers all – may look for a bigger clearance fork. Any suggestions for a decent option? No clue when it comes to CX options…

No specific recommendations, but experience suggests that forks with a straight steerer, that take a QR wheel and have disc brake mounts are getting a bit harder to find – especially if you want mudguard mounts. Hence when the LBS mentioned the Tour de Fer fork they had going spare at a sensible price that would require no other components to be changed, I didn’t need to think too long about it

Think I have a set of black CdF steel forks from the 2015 bike I mention above. As I mention, they’ll fit a 40mm tyre without guards.

You anywhere near Sheffield?