The Core 26.4 came fitted with 2.2 Mountain Kings, the originals not the much improved Mountain King II. It can be rated as one of the cheapest mountain bikes with good value for money. The brakes are used with disc brakes on the front and rear of the bike, making for a nice look. As with the Day One, there are mudguards, rear pannier rack, and an internally geared rear hub for all weather dependability. These bikes are designed for longer days out being able to handle heavier loads and rougher roads.
Some bikes (such as the Fugio) are more oriented towards the rough stuff, whereas others (such as the Croix de Fer) are better suited to carrying loads. These are the dedicated carbon race bikes, as ridden by the (now disbanded) UCI continental team Madison Genesis. The frame has internally routed cables for better aerodynamics and a wide section down tube for better torsional stiffness. The frame is also compatible with Shimano Di2 internal routing. A solid steel range and a smattering of aluminium and carbon models brings the brand bang up to date.
Nowadays mountain bikes tend to be flatter and wider, however the Incline offers a more standard handlebar more like my hybrid bikes. Versatility still pervades the frame, with downtube bottle bosses and mounts for a rear rack and mudguards. Although this bike can take on the commuting duties or a bit of cycle-touring, it is more suited to lively genesis mountain bike riding in the woods and on bridleways. For those interested in dipping their toes into racing, or just want a sportier feeling bike, the Zeal range is Genesis’ entry level carbon option. The geometry is more aggressive than the endurance-oriented Equilibrium, but not quite as ‘head-down bum-up’ as the dedicated racers that are the Zeros.
At the entry-level, the Delta is an aluminium frame and carbon fork road bike with endurance geometry that comes with rim brakes and provides a comfortable ride. V2100 from Genesis Bicycles is just what the doctor ordered for on and off-road exercise, and fun. All this set up with a comfortable riding position featuring a padded saddle and rise handlebars will keep you out of the chiropractor’s office. These are Genesis’ entry-level road bikes and are the cheapest in their range. The geometry is a little more upright, making for a more comfortable and less twitchy ride. There are mounts for mudguards and a pannier rack, which expands the range of use from just road riding to commuting and even lightweight cycle touring.
But for races that are solely on roads, this should be more than adequate. The Day One — its inaugural bike from 2001 — is still going strong as a low maintenance singlespeed with disc brakes and mounts for mudguards. Moving into the racier end of the spectrum, the Zero and Zero Disc are full-carbon road bikes with aggressive geometry. As the price increases, so does the level of tech, with Di2 included in the top-end model. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing.
Sturdy triple wall aluminum 26” x 36 H x 12G rims and 26” x 2.10in tires are ideal for a daily city cruise. The fork travel is 80mm, also made of aluminum, solid and reliable. In the actual use of mountain bikes, the stability of the fork determines the life of the bike.
Some are more race oriented, meaning mudguard and pannier mounts are forgone and the geometry is longer and lower. Others have more of an endurance focus, better suited to long rides and have all the mounts you need for light cycle-touring. genesis bikes are a British cycling brand with a heritage of building the kind of bikes that they want to ride themselves. The kind of bikes that make you dream of your next adventure no matter the size. Since 2001 Genesis Bikes have had an eye for the finer details, utilising the very best materials and always heading in their own direction.
The Genesis V2100 mountain bike comes equipped with a front disk brake 160 mm linear pull rear which is an essential part to this bike’s safety. With reliable brakes, you won’t have to worry about being put in dangerous situations when it comes to stopping on steep trails. These breaks are super responsive allowing you to bring the ride to a halt by only using one finger. You won’t have to worry about coming to an abrupt stop as you can rely on these breaks to keep you safe in nearly any situation. They have a great stopping power to protect you from any abrupt stops when going downhill or bumpy trails.
We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he’s riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. “Thank you @genesisbikesuk for letting me go wild with this bike!! And if any of you were wondering what the extra part on the head tube is… the genius @robhayles1 added a little bit of carbon to hide my cables.