I agree with previous posts, claiming the Genesis bikes are poor value.
If you look at http://www.ukbikesdepot.com (no, I don’t work for them) they sell the discontinued Genesis IO ID 26″ Alfine 11 hardtail with hydraulic brakes and suspension fork for £1000 (not a bad price, compared to the £1500 it retailed at this time last year). The equivalent Genesis 29″ Alfine 11 hardtail is £1700, but doesn’t have rack mounts or 2 sets of bottle cage bosses. £700 is a lot for 3″ bigger wheels and a less versatile frame. The Fortitude Alfine 11 seems to suffer from Genesis’ “optimistic” pricing as well (£1500 for an “Alfine 11” rigid bike with mechanical brakes – about £300 to much).
I took an Alfine 11 IO ID for a test ride a couple of months ago around a steep local circuit: nice light bike, crisp gear changes, plush suspension and good brakes, but it has a narrower gear range and was less capable up steep wet hills than my old 3×7 Inbred, which is fine for bikepacking and has cheap-to-replace derailleurs when they snap off.
Disappointing really, but I couldn’t justify spending £1000 on something less capable than my hack. 🙁
Moral: If you want adventure; go ‘disposable’, or go Rohloff.