Genesis Equilibrium 20 Disc

Genesis Equilibrium 20 Disc

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BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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Ok, it's much overdue new bike time and after a fair bit of research I now have a slightly unexpected number 1 choice. Any reason to avoid?

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/road-disc...

The spec is nice, with pretty much full 105 11 speed. Steel frame appeals for comfort, if not for weight. It seems like a good bike for many years use, without being a speed machine. I tend to ride only spring/summer/autumn, like a nice sunday ride of 40-50 miles, which I am hoping will become a little longer on this bike. And hopefully more enjoyable than the alloy hybrid I currently ride.

My original 'ideal' was a Specialized Roubaix, but they are expensive/lower spec at price point. Also, loved the look and value of Canyon Endurace and Rose CGF (think that was the model), but I have a Cyclescheme voucher so they are out.

The Genesis has come from left field following a visit to a Bristol bike shop, but largely it seems to fit the bill. Am I right to think that the steel frame weight penalty will be relatively inconsequential? I weigh 90kg, so I don't think the bike frame will be the biggest issue?






yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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I love the look of those Genesis bikes, although I've just gone and bought a rim-braked Trek Emonda.

Regarding the one in your link, it's probably the best looking, nicest colour in the Equilibrium range, but I'd seriously consider stretching to the Ltd, with fully hydraulic brakes. If you are going with disc brakes, full hydraulic is really where it's at. Although I'd have to say that the 'Flash Green' colour is rather challenging, to say the least. If it were me, I'd see if you can persuade Genesis to tweak an Equilibrium 20 up to Equilibrium Ltd spec while keeping the 'Acid Yellow' paint job. Although those TRP HyRd brakes will no doubt be fine on the road in terms of performance, they'll still depend on cables which are the real weak point (long term) of mechanical discs. Having said all that, I'm really nit-picking, because that is a tremendous spec for £1500. My only real concern would be the 52/36 x 11-28 gearing. Although I somehow survived 25 miles on my old steel beast (14 speed, 53/39 x 13-23) at an average speed of 13.8mph yesterday after four clear weeks of not riding at all.

I simply couldn't get to test ride a Genesis in anywhere near the right size locally, so I've boiled it down to the Emonda because, of the bikes I tried, it fit me best, and felt better on the road than the others. I'd still love a Genesis though, probably the Equilibrium Ti (I already have steel and carbon bikes, and my last roadie was aluminium) and maybe if I get a job sorted soon, I can persuade the wife to allow an extra bike.

I just couldn't get on with the looks of the Specialized range at the moment, leastwise not the ones in my budget. Canyon, Rose, and a few others were technically contenders too, but the whole mail-order blind buying thing didn't appeal. I wanted to buy from a proper shop, to which I can take any problems or warranty issues. Plus I got a damned good deal on accessories with the bike, which, once I'd chosen the bike, made choosing the shop dead easy too.

BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Yellowjack, that was really useful info.

Yes, I love the colour and think it looks stunning - funnily enough i had doubts originally, but it won me over.

That's a good point on the gearing and unfortunately I do not really have a handle on what I require. On the hybrid, I never use the granny ring, and probably never the lower couple of gears on the middle ring. But I don't how they compare to this bike. A test ride will be the best way to iron that out I guess.

The hydraulic disk advantage of the Limited did make me think, although the 20 is presumably better than fully-cable Disc 10. Could you expand a bit more on the disadvantage of the hybrid setup - is it simply that cable stretch means more maintenance over time and less easy modulation of braking?

I'm looking forward to buying from a bike shop too - I appreciate the fact that these guys exist and that allows me to actually compare bikes. :-)

I might look into whether the shop could persuade Genesis to alter the spec, or whether I should ask directly.

Edited to add: the Equilibrium Ti would be my choice too if the Chancellor of the household wouldn't notice!

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
The 'hybrid' cable/hydraulic braking system?

I have to 'fess up and say I haven't used it myself. But, it does do away with the worst elements of all-cable discs, which is setting up the calliper accurately, and having to re-set the pads manually as they wear. Certainly on my Tektro IO cable discs, the inboard pad was fixed, and the outer pad was moved in toward it by a system of cams and ball bearings. Inner pad adjustment was a big weakness, and was what eventually killed mine, as the thread stripped when I asked too much of the brakes and they overheated massively. I was also regularly stripping and regreasing the cam bearings in my cable discs, because the grease didn't seem to want to stay in place, nor stay free from dirt/grit.

The TRP HyRd adresses this problem by having the same self-centring pads as full hydraulics. Their only real weakness is the cables themselves, as far as I can see. They'll be as prone to dirt/corrosion as a full cable system, and may need adjustment to account for stretch. Aside from that, though, I'd go for that Equilibrium 20 in a big way if I hadn't splashed the cash on the Emonda. It'd be nice if you could persuade Genesis to do you a build with upgraded brakes (the chainset/BB is the only other obvious difference on the Ltd), but they may well (politely) tell you where to get off wink

It certainly is a lovely bike though. Don't let someone else's misgivings over those brakes sway your opinion. The HyRd system is peculiar to road bikes, and is (at least was) a massively cheaper, more simple way of getting hydraulic brake performance at the calliper end mated to standard rim-braked cable groupsets. Full hydraulic road specific brakes are a reality now, even under the £2k price point, but the issues I outlined with my full-cable discs were experienced on a low-rent MTB, and then mainly when I asked too much of it, using it beyond what it was designed for. The constant filth of trail riding won't affect you on a pretty road bike like the '20', so I wouldn't worry about it much, if at all.

gazza285

9,779 posts

207 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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I know a few people with HyRd brakes, I've heard nothing but praise.

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
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Likewise, I don't think they're a bad compromise at all. Hydro STIs are still a bit odd-looking, as if they've not quite worked out how best to integrate the reservoir.

Looks a reasonable spec for the money although if you're not too hung up on steel then you can get a Pinnacle Arkose Four with full hydraulic brakes for £250 less.

BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the details of your experience Yellowjack, very useful to know. I think I am reassured enough to give the hybrid brakes a go based on the further comments from Gazza and SJG as well as your own.



That leaves the frame material...

Cheers for the Pinnacle suggestion, sjg I am not hung up completely on steel, but I am keen to try something other than alloy. Carbon was my main thought until I really looked into the Genesis steel option.

Get Karter

1,934 posts

200 months

Thursday 12th March 2015
quotequote all
I'd recommend you go for a non disc Equilibrium.

Those TRP discs brakes instructions dictate that the cables must not be adjusted to reduce the lever travel. However, lever travel is often too much with the cables left at the directed length.
(there is a captive screw on the caliper that must be able to be inserted when the cables are the correct length. Make sure that any bike shop that sells you the bike, demonstrates that the screw can be inserted AND the lever travel is not excessive...i.e. the levers don't pull to the handlebars. Bike shops will often tighten the cable to reduce the lever travel...but this means the captive screw is not in alignment and cannot be screwed in. This is considered dangerous by the brake manufacturer).

.......just a little 'inside info'.... ;-)


ETA 105 Equilibrium stainless:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/genesis-e...



Edited by Get Karter on Thursday 12th March 20:56

BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Thanks for the inside info Get Karter, that's a good check to know about! I've sent you a PM as well type

Love the stainless model that you linked to cloud9 budget creep tho!

BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
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So, Get Karter's suggestion of the stainless has prompted me to consider that model, as I can also get it at a discount that brings the price much closer to the Equilibrium Disc 20.

I have a test ride of the latter booked soon, but does anyone have any thoughts on which overall package is the 'better bike'? I am buying a complete bike but noted that the basic framesets are very differently priced - £1250 stainless vs £500 for 725 tubing.

Wheels and brakes being the other most obvious differences aside from the frames - at least to my mind....

Equilibrium Stainless
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/a-road/eq...

Equilibrium Disc 20
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/road-disc...

I am also going to test a carbon Orbea Avant to provide a steel vs carbon comparison.

Thanks in advance for any further thoughts smile

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
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I wouldn't discount the Hy/Rd equipped option - the bike has compressionless outer cables fitted and the lever feel is pretty close to the hydraulics (I've played with both side-by-side yesterday on Croix de Fer models).

I'm a big Genesis fan, and either option would be a lovely bike to ride, but there is a 'third option' if you want to get your hands dirty. You can buy a frameset - Equilibrium rim or disc for under £500, and a full 105 groupset, some nice wheels and reasonable finishing kit comes in at well under £1k if you want to build something up yourself. You could have a bespoke bike with full Ultegra for less than £1,500 buying the basic frame from your Genesis stocking LBS (725 Reynolds version with carbon fork in orange...

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/frames/eq...

... then Ultegra Groupset online for £500, and you've still got £500 left for wheels, tyres and finishing kit. There's a disc version of the frameset too but adding disc brakes puts the price up a bit, but does allow you to build a full hydro version for within the £1,500 budget if you shop around.

BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
quotequote all
jamiebae said:
I wouldn't discount the Hy/Rd equipped option - the bike has compressionless outer cables fitted and the lever feel is pretty close to the hydraulics (I've played with both side-by-side yesterday on Croix de Fer models).

I'm a big Genesis fan, and either option would be a lovely bike to ride, but there is a 'third option' if you want to get your hands dirty. You can buy a frameset - Equilibrium rim or disc for under £500, and a full 105 groupset, some nice wheels and reasonable finishing kit comes in at well under £1k if you want to build something up yourself. You could have a bespoke bike with full Ultegra for less than £1,500 buying the basic frame from your Genesis stocking LBS (725 Reynolds version with carbon fork in orange...

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/frames/eq...

... then Ultegra Groupset online for £500, and you've still got £500 left for wheels, tyres and finishing kit. There's a disc version of the frameset too but adding disc brakes puts the price up a bit, but does allow you to build a full hydro version for within the £1,500 budget if you shop around.
Thanks for the ideas, and it would indeed be lovely! I have to buy a complete bike though - this is a using a cycle to work scheme.

BristolMS

Original Poster:

653 posts

133 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Just an update on this thread.

In the end, I have gone for an Equilibrium Stainless Steel (non-disc). Picked it up over the weekend and had my first short ride on it yesterday, have to say I am well pleased.

It's a lovely looking thing in the metal (at least to my mind) and rides very nicely. It seems stiffer and more responsive than the 725 tubed Disc 20 that I test rode a couple of weeks back; that is still a great bike though and that test ride was enough to convince me to buy an Equilibrium of some description.

Huge thanks to Bike UK in Bristol who were simply fantastic throughout the buying process, cutting me a great deal and also clearing up a slight hiccup in the order in the best way possible. Brilliant customer service from a very knowledgeable group of people.

Here are 3 pics, just from an iPhone, but hopefully capturing how the bike looks in different light.






jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Lovely smile

The tyres really set it off too, much better than the stock Contis.

47p2

1,502 posts

160 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Very nice bike BristolMS, I'm another Genesis fan, I have a Skyline single speed and a 931 Volare 20 Ultegra




jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Here are my pair of Genesis bikes - a Day One Alfine for commuting and bad weather



And a Volant, which lives in England for me to use when I'm back home (now running 25c Michelin Pro 4 tyres instead of the very pink Vittoria Rubihno Pro in this pic)


TheInternet

4,703 posts

162 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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47p2 said:
Rear mudguard smash

Bedford Rascal

29,469 posts

243 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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TheInternet said:
Rear mudguard smash
I take it you've never had a flat with horizontal dropouts and muddies. wink

You've got to leave a bit of wriggle room.

TheInternet

4,703 posts

162 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Bedford Rascal said:
I take it you've never had a flat with horizontal dropouts and muddies. wink

You've got to leave a bit of wriggle room.
That makes sense. I'll add it to the list of reasons why I don't want a single speed smile

47p2

1,502 posts

160 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Bedford Rascal said:
TheInternet said:
Rear mudguard smash
I take it you've never had a flat with horizontal dropouts and muddies. wink

You've got to leave a bit of wriggle room.
That's it B R... wavey

Nothing worse than trying to remove the back wheel and the mudguard is in the wayconfused

TheInternet said:
That makes sense. I'll add it to the list of reasons why I don't want a single speed smile
You don't know what you're missing eek