Anyone own/owned a Croix De Fer?
Discussion
I had a 2017 model, upgraded wheels, 105, 725 Reynolds frame. I had (and still have) a Genesis Datum alongside it. The Croix could accommodate 35c easily at the time, probably could have got 40s on it but in all honesty, I just didn't like how it rode. No feeling of speed, it rolled along ok but when you stamped on the pedals it just felt all a bit dead. Climbing it was heavy and again, pretty lifeless. It got used to pull my daughter's trailer, an occasional foray on old railway lines but aside from that the Datum could pretty much cover similar ground in a much more entertaining fashion. As lovely as steel looks, I'll not buy another. Carbon all the way for anything road/gravel related.
Yes, been using one for nearly 2 years (Reynold 725), I built it from a frameset, really pleased with it does everything I need.
Currently running 30c tyres but clearance for 40c without guards, not sure why people are saying they are dead to ride, steel is real as they say
Carbon forks transformed it, took a kilo off and so much smoother to ride, yes it is a little heavy but does not feel it
Currently running 30c tyres but clearance for 40c without guards, not sure why people are saying they are dead to ride, steel is real as they say
Carbon forks transformed it, took a kilo off and so much smoother to ride, yes it is a little heavy but does not feel it
I've never owned one, but have had a go 5 or 6 years ago and wasn't impressed.....
I rode to work on a carbon road bike (Boardman Pro Carbon) that at the time cost exactly the same as a Croix De Fer. I helped a colleague fix the indexing on his Croix de Fer and took it for a spin around our work garage. Riding them back to back, the CDF felt significantly heavier and was really sluggish to accelerate - so much that I thought it must have a flat tyre or something, but it was just how it was.
It might well have great 'ride quality', and be built to last but it didn't feel light and nimble like I personally think a good road bike should, regardless of the price point.
I rode to work on a carbon road bike (Boardman Pro Carbon) that at the time cost exactly the same as a Croix De Fer. I helped a colleague fix the indexing on his Croix de Fer and took it for a spin around our work garage. Riding them back to back, the CDF felt significantly heavier and was really sluggish to accelerate - so much that I thought it must have a flat tyre or something, but it was just how it was.
It might well have great 'ride quality', and be built to last but it didn't feel light and nimble like I personally think a good road bike should, regardless of the price point.
Gin and Ultrasonic said:
I've never owned one, but have had a go 5 or 6 years ago and wasn't impressed.....
I rode to work on a carbon road bike (Boardman Pro Carbon) that at the time cost exactly the same as a Croix De Fer. I helped a colleague fix the indexing on his Croix de Fer and took it for a spin around our work garage. Riding them back to back, the CDF felt significantly heavier and was really sluggish to accelerate - so much that I thought it must have a flat tyre or something, but it was just how it was.
It might well have great 'ride quality', and be built to last but it didn't feel light and nimble like I personally think a good road bike should, regardless of the price point.
CDF is not and has never been an out and out road bike and comparing it to a carbon road bike is just silly of course it will be heavier and not as quick.I rode to work on a carbon road bike (Boardman Pro Carbon) that at the time cost exactly the same as a Croix De Fer. I helped a colleague fix the indexing on his Croix de Fer and took it for a spin around our work garage. Riding them back to back, the CDF felt significantly heavier and was really sluggish to accelerate - so much that I thought it must have a flat tyre or something, but it was just how it was.
It might well have great 'ride quality', and be built to last but it didn't feel light and nimble like I personally think a good road bike should, regardless of the price point.
The Equilibrium or Volant were much more road orientated.
To be fair it wasn't a particularly super-light Carbon road bike - a standard bike with standard heavy wheelset, and the CDF I rode at the time looked very much like a road bike to me with narrow tyres and 2x gears, road shifters etc.
It looks like the current CDF is now a proper gravel bike, so maybe a bit unfair to compare the past model.
In response to the OP, it probably depends what your priorities are for a 'do it all' bike, and all of the jobs it needs to do for you.
It looks like the current CDF is now a proper gravel bike, so maybe a bit unfair to compare the past model.
In response to the OP, it probably depends what your priorities are for a 'do it all' bike, and all of the jobs it needs to do for you.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Pardon the word . That's the crux of it - it'll be a so it all machine
My fixie is for flat roads. This will be that and hills and everything in-between.
The comment riding like a flat tyre is really off putting and I've had that feeling on some bikes in the past.
Trust me when I say that with over 2000 miles on mine, not once has it ever felt like riding a flat tyre I even went to 40c last year and it was lovely to ride.My fixie is for flat roads. This will be that and hills and everything in-between.
The comment riding like a flat tyre is really off putting and I've had that feeling on some bikes in the past.
Any particular reason why you're looking at the Genesis?
For just a little more you could get a Fairlight. The Strael 4 starts at £2,300 with 12sp 105 mechanical, or £2,700 with Di2. The Secan runs out at £2,600 with GRX 2x12.
To be fair, the Strael is positioned as an endurance bike rather than do-anything, but it'll run 39mm tyres and is popular among the adventure touring crowd, oh and it's possible to get a ~9kg build quite affordably (105 mechanical + Hunt carbon wheels).
The Secan is probably closer to the CdF, being designed as an all-road type of bike, but I suspect is a step above both quality and feel-wise.
Dom Thomas, founder of Fairlight and designer of the Strael and Secan, also designed the original CdF. Make of that what you will.
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Friend of mine had a titanium Croix de Fer, he loved it and was always banging on about the ride quality etc. Couple of years ago he did LEJOG and about half way through the frame cracked, so he was forced into buying a new bike so he could finish the trip. He ended up with a BMC carbon road bike, not sure which model but it's from their endurance range. Anyway, the new bike made him realise that the Croix de Fer wasn't all that after all, the BMC was lighter, faster, more comfortable and just generally better. So I think these days you can do better when it comes to "do it all" bikes, especially if you go for more tyre clearance, thereby opening up the option of a 2nd set of gravel wheels for off road
I had one about 6 years ago. Bought cheap (was when the base model was about £700), rode it a bit and flogged it for what I paid. Never felt as lively as I thought it would have done but for what I paid, I had zero complaints. I've just been looking at the new/current ones as I wanted another gravel bike but they didn't seem to offer too much in the way of VFM vs other options.
I have one, i believe it's a 2013 model, but it's like triggers broom now.
I changed the fork to carbon, which gave the steering some feeeling. It has a hybrid of shimano, hope & rotor for the groupset. It sports a pair of DCR indestructable velocity wheels.
I use it mainly for commuting with panniers > 120 miles a week. I also have a carry freedom trailer, i've towed an inflatable kayak and sundries for a day at the beach.
It's a little bit of a lump like the rider, but I like the geometry and rolls along pretty well considering it's on 38c tyres.
I changed the fork to carbon, which gave the steering some feeeling. It has a hybrid of shimano, hope & rotor for the groupset. It sports a pair of DCR indestructable velocity wheels.
I use it mainly for commuting with panniers > 120 miles a week. I also have a carry freedom trailer, i've towed an inflatable kayak and sundries for a day at the beach.
It's a little bit of a lump like the rider, but I like the geometry and rolls along pretty well considering it's on 38c tyres.
I borrowed a CdF. Twas OK, but stock wheels were sluggish, it had velcro slow SmallBlock8 tyres on, and it still would only take maybe 30mm tyres with mudguards. It did have a 'dead' feel to it which just did not endear it, plus was still the twitchier end of geometry for someone coming from a mountain bike background.
I've instead got a Vagabond with some better wheels and tyres on. It's running 50mm tyres with guards. It's comfy. It doesn't care what surface it's on, or what the reason for the ride is.. It's commuted me daily, taken me to the pub on a sunny holiday, toured Scotland and bits of Europe. Who cares if it's chubby - so am I, and I do lug cake and coffee with me.
And it was a silly post lockdown bargain - it had been used three times in two years and was £500....
I've instead got a Vagabond with some better wheels and tyres on. It's running 50mm tyres with guards. It's comfy. It doesn't care what surface it's on, or what the reason for the ride is.. It's commuted me daily, taken me to the pub on a sunny holiday, toured Scotland and bits of Europe. Who cares if it's chubby - so am I, and I do lug cake and coffee with me.
And it was a silly post lockdown bargain - it had been used three times in two years and was £500....
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