GENESIS TOUR DE FER 20 & 30 REVIEW

FOR EXPLORERS ON TWO WHEELS

When the lure of adventure becomes overwhelming, Genesis Tour de Fer is the bike to take you on a long journey. This 700C tourer, thanks to its front and rear racks, the SP dynamo hub and B&M lights, is a reliable adventure machine. Its loading capacity is guaranteed by expedition grade Tubus racks and the sturdy 725 Reynolds frameset is great value for money. So, if your intended purpose is to cross lots of countries, Genesis Tour de Fer can be your long-distance touring bike.

The long wheelbase improves stability, while the handling with loads at the front is taken care of by the well-designed combination of trail fork and stack height, which makes for a comfy-upright position.

Who prefers the flat bars for touring will go for TdF 20, whereas the TdF 30 offers drop bars for multiple hand positions during all-day long rides.

Shimano groupset and mechanical disc brakes are chosen for long term reliability and easy repairs.

The 3x10 groupset, instead of looking aged, will be much appreciated riding loads on steep hills.

@Lifeintravel Veronica Rizzoli – tireless world explorer on two wheels - has chosen the 2018 Tour de Fer 20 for her next world tours. Here are the features she deemed ultimate in her travel bike (and the TdF has them all):

-        strong steel frame, not only shock-absorbing and shock-resistant, but also easy to weld even in the middle of nowhere;

-        dynamo hub, that she will also use to recharge electronic devices with USB chargers;

-        upright riding position, suitable for long days in the saddle;

-        wide ratio gearing;

-        a package ready to travel just out of the box (racks, fenders, lighting, 3x bottle mounts)

You can find Veronica’s review of TdF 20 on the lifeintrave.it website. Most of the shots used in this page are Veronica’s (with permission) and many others you will find on Lifeintravel social pages.

So, if you want to move from A to B on your own in total freedom, Genesis TdF is a good opportunity to achieve your goal.

With the fenders in place, the tyres are 700x35mm, but the frame can accomodate 700x38mm without. This is also highly valuable when you are riding rough terrains. Don’t go too wide, because in the mud things might get tough.

TOUR DE FER 20 & 30: HIGHLIGHTS (at least some of them) in our opinion

-        725 REYNOLDS STEEL: it is a classic seamless crmo but heat-treated boosting tensile strength so that thinner walls can be used, achieving a lighter frame weight without compromising strength. Heated to around 1600F, the steels’ crystal lattice gets a more uniform and stronger orientation. Cooling rapidly, it maintains the structural change.

-        SHUTTER PRECISION PD-8 HUB DYNAMO: With its only 410 grams, this is one of the lightest hubs in its category. It achieves the very good efficiency of 78% at 15km/h and a low no-load loss. The nominal power amounts to 3 Watt with voltage of 6 volt.

-        TUBUS CARGO REAR / TARA FRONT RACKS: Tubus carriers are hand made. Over the last 18 years Tubus has developed and improved the fabrication process making thin steel tubes into highly resistant and strong bicycle racks. No compromise products mean a 30 years guarantee offered with confidence. Tubus carriers go through complex testing procedures before they are released for quality production.

-        SCHWALBE MARATHON MONDIAL TYRES: Several long distance bicycle tourers agree that the Scwalbe Marathon Mondial tyres are the best all-rounder on the market, long lasting, fast on tarmac (no need for slicker tyres), good grip on rough roads and eccellent in the wet.

Whether you are circumnavigating the globe or you are a daily commuter, the Genesis Tour de Fer is well worth a look. Also available as framest only, you’ll be able to get one HERE.