This is what I learnt:
- Riding trails on a 'cross bike is not as much fun as riding them on a mountain bike.
- Cyclocross is a racing discipline only.
- The Genesis Day 1 is heavy, despite the 853 tubing. It would be hopeless for 'cross racing.
- The Genesis Day 1 has poor mud clearance to the front fork (you won't think it's important until you're having to stop and pull the stuff out with your hands because it's jamming the wheel).
- The Avid BB7 disc brakes are great, as is the Versa shifter and the Alfine 11 speed hub.
I left the Day One in the shed but I kept hold of my buyer's remorse.
Then I moved house and my commute went from 8 miles to 21 miles.
I stepped the Genesis up for the job. And it is brilliant.
I've now been riding the Genesis for my extended commute for three months. I put the original Conti Gatorskin 28s back on and fitted SKS Bluemels guards. Much better than the cross version. It now looks like this.
It's just perfect. Almost no maintenance. Bomber braking. Comfortable but fast. Easy gear changes and huge range. Just perfect. Apart from anything else it's silent. Derailler gears always make a bit of noise when you pedal and when you freewheel. Hubs make no noise at any time.
I've done all my winter training on the Genesis too, riding in the Surrey Hills with friends on road bikes. I can keep up fine, my brakes are reliable in the wet and don't create a horrible black paste on the rims. The gears are in a metal box so they don't care if it's raining and gritty.
So, I highly recommend the Genesis Day Alfine but with some caveats.
- If you're buying a bike for commuting, why not get the Alfine 8. It's a lot cheaper and the slightly heavier tubing won't make any difference to you. The 8 and 11 are both heavy bikes.
- If you're buying it for racing 'cross, get the Day 01 disc and race singlespeed. At least it will be a race-weight bike.
- If you're buying it to go riding off road - get a mountain bike.
