Author: John Dodgin

It’s Fast Bike Friday! This week we’re casting our eyes over the rowdy, aggressive Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory carbon trail bike. A bike that’s built to be super-fun when the trails point downward but is efficient too when you need to pedal back up to the top of your favourite run. Packed full of clever design details and proven engineering principles this 29” wheeled trail bike is a true all-rounder and is ready to enhance your riding experience every time you swing your leg over it; so let’s take a closer look…

Nukeproof’s Reactor is a 130mm trail bike; in terms of suspension travel and where it’s positioned within the Nukeproof range the Reactor sits below Nukeproof’s Super-Enduro bike the Giga with 170mm of rear travel and the Enduro-ready Mega with 160mm of rear wheel travel. In comparison the Reactor is a much more versatile bike; make no mistake, the geometry, suspension kinematics and that 130mm of rear wheel travel combined with 140mm of travel up front mean this bike is definitely still designed to excel at aggressive trail riding, just without compromising any of its climbing efficiency and all-day trail bike ride-qualities.

The Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory is an aggressive trail bike that also happens to be a versatile all-rounder…

The Reactor frame is available in carbon or alloy with two wheel size options – 27.5” or 29” depending on your own preferences. The two wheel size options are built around two totally different frames that were developed in parallel with each other; as you’ll no-doubt be aware the popularity of 29” wheels has slowly crept through almost all MTB sub-disciplines, from cross-country right through to downhill, over recent times thanks to their fast-rolling properties. The Reactor rides fantastically in both guises, so the choice is yours, which do you value more? The manoeuvrability of 27.5” or the out-and-out speed of the larger 29” wheel? Today our focus is on the all-carbon Reactor 290 Factory complete with Kashima coated shocks and Shimano XT groupset. This carbon option features a full UD woven carbon fibre main frame and rear triangle for a strong, super-stiff and responsive chassis which is robust enough for the rigors of gravity-fed riding while still being lightweight and agile on the uphill gradients and in the air.

The Reactor’s full UD woven carbon fibre frame and rear triangle is built to fly up hill AND handle the rigors of aggressive trail riding…

All cables are routed through the Reactor’s carbon frame for a clean look and to help protect your gear cable from the elements…

So what makes the Reactor 290 Factory such a versatile trail bike? What have Nukeproof done to ensure that this bike is as equally capable of flying up hill as it is shredding the downs? They’ve cleverly utilised a four bar horst linkage to have higher levels of anti-squat when you’re in your climbing gears and lower levels of anti-squat when you drop the chain down the cassette – clever stuff! The Reactor behaves itself and climbs efficiently before transforming into a trail hooligan when you point it downhill; the horst link and rear Kashima coated Fox Float DPX2 shock combine to provide a low anti-squat and a progressive rate for small bump compliance, good mid-stroke to handle fast corners and pumping as well as great end stroke progression to handle the big hits encountered during your most aggressive downhill runs.

The Reactor 290 Factory features a two-position flip chip on the Swinglink driven 4 Bar Horst Link Suspension married up to that tuned Fox Float DPX2 rear shock. Nukeproof’s Trail/Rail flip chip allows you to adjust the geometry of your Reactor from ‘Trail’ to ‘Rail’ mode – Trail as the name suggests is best suited for general trail riding when your riding is as much focused on clearing the tough, technical uphill climbs as it is on the downhill sections. Flip the chip to Rail mode and the bike drops the bottom bracket by 6mm and the head angle by half a degree to set up the Reactor as a more gravity-focused corner shredder that feels even more stable at speed.

That Trail/Rail flip chip lets you tune your Reactor’s geometry to suit your favoured riding style and the type of terrain you typically ride…

The Fox Float DPX2 factory series rear shock with Kashima coating and Swinglink driven 4 Bar Horst Link gives 130mm of progressive rear wheel travel…

Upfront Nukeproof have spec’d the very capable Fox 36 Float Factory Series fork with a Kashima coating and their user-friendly, tuneable Grip 2 Damper. With 140mm of travel these Factory forks match the Nukeproof’s rear suspension platform brilliantly and are super-plush and progressive throughout their travel. With those nice wide 36 stanchions and a Boost thru axle the Fox 36 Float is super-stiff laterally to give really positive steering and tracking through even the most high-speed, rough, loose turns giving you all the confidence you’ll need to push your gravity-assisted riding to new levels.

The Fox 36 Float Factory Series fork provides 140mm of plush, progressive travel…

That Kashima coating prolongs the life of  the fork’s stanchions and provides enhanced lubrication between surfaces…

Credit to Nukeproof, when they spec groupsets they don’t cut corners by mixing and matching componentry like some other bike brands; the Reactor 290 Factory features a full Shimano XT groupset – full drivetrain, brakes, chainset and trigger shifter – the lot. This brilliantly functional 12-speed groupset provides crisp, precise gear selections regardless of the conditions you’re riding in or the gradient that’s being negotiated; changing gear under power and out of the saddle is no problem and the rear derailleur’s clutch mech helps ensure that your chain remains secure and doesn’t unship when you’re ploughing through the really rough stuff at full chat. There’s a great spread of gear ratios too with a wide-ratio 10-51T cassette paired with a 30T chainring up front there’s a gear to cover every eventuality, from the steepest technical climbs to flat-out descents you’ll never feel under or over geared.

A full 11-speed Shimano XT groupset gives you all the gears you’ll need and performs flawlessly in any riding conditions…

So as we’ve already discussed, the Reactor 290 Factory features the larger 29” wheel option; much has been made of the evolution of big wheel riding across most types of mountain biking. The larger wheels roll over obstacles more efficiently and help you to hold your speed over technical terrain; where previously 29er wheels were either deemed too vulnerable to damage when being used on more aggressive gravity-focused bikes or were regarded as too heavy when they were over built to cope with those extra forces encountered during rowdy trail riding, these issues have now been ironed out such is the speed of technical development within the bike industry.

Most wheel manufacturers have now successfully hit that sweet spot between strength & weight and at the top of the tree is specialist wheel brand DT Swiss. The Nukeproof 290 Factory comes spec’d with a pair of DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline 30 29” wheels with a wide 30mm inner rim width which helps give a nice square profile to the tyre when it’s seated on the rim, this means the tyres tend to have a flatter surface area in contact with the ground as it’s not as pinched as it might be on a narrower rim; more contact with the ground means more traction, grip and control.

The DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline 30 29″ rims provide a nice square tyre profile helping to place more rubber in contact with the ground…

Front and rear wheels feature sealed bearing Boost hubs that are durable and laterally stiff…

This aggressive Maxxis tyre is so good it’s almost become the established norm to stock one on such a trail bike as this – 2.50 Assegai on the front…

On the rear wheel Nukeproof have spec’d a slightly narrower, more versatile 2.40 Maxxis Dissector with a shallower tread profile which rolls faster than a more aggressive option such as the DHR. This is another hint towards how Nukeproof see this bike being ridden – uphill and downhill in equal measure…

Finishing kit on the Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory consists of Nukeproof’s own components including Horizon handle bars, stem and saddle. As you’d expect on a bike that’s been designed to excel on technical terrain and super-steep drops the Reactor features a dropper seat post; there’s a Bikeyoke Divine Stealth dropper and a Shimano SL-MT500-IL cable-activated remote lever on the left side of the handlebar. Nice little finishing touches include Sam Hill signature lock on handle bar grips – not surprising considering Sam is Nukeproof’s Enduro mountain bike star and overall winner of the Enduro World Series.

Finishing kit includes Sam Hill signature lock-on grips…

With a rich Enduro racing heritage and a solid reputation for building some of the most well-engineered gravity-focused mountain bikes available – namely the Mega and the Giga, you can be confident that Nukeproof have taken a lot of the dependable, proven suspension technology and agile frame geometry from those models and carried elements of those designs into the construction of the Nukeproof Reactor, albeit with a more watered-down, all-rounder type of approach. This is the trail bike of choice if you want to buy into that gravity-focused reputation and rich racing heritage but are looking for a trail bike that will efficiently carry you back to the top of your favourite techy trail or partner you in riding all-day epics, linking together all of the most technically-demanding sections you know between tamer, more civilised pedalling stretches where you just want to get your head down and tick off some arduous miles on your mountain bike.

The Reactor 290 Factory is a capable trail bike which benefits from Nukeproof’s rich racing history and gravity-focused design ethos… 

Click below for a full walk around of the Nukeproof Reactor 290 Factory…

Full Specification:

• Frame: Nukeproof Reactor 290 Carbon, 130mm Travel, UD woven Carbon Fibre frame, internal cable routing, ISCG 05 mounts, Enduro bearings, Threaded 73mm BB, Boost 148mm rear axle spacing, 3D contoured rubber frame protection
• Rear Shock: Fox Float DPX2, Factory Series, Kashima, 3 Position, EVOL LV, Custom CL, DRL, Rezi A F F tune, 210x50mm, Bearing End, 1x 0.3 spacer fitted. (SHORT ID: D6S9)
• Fork: Fox 36 Float, Factory Series, Kashima, Grip 2 Damper, 140mm, 44mm Offset, BOOST, Black (SHORT ID: D6GD)
• Head Set: Nukeproof, 44-56 IITS
• Shifters: Shimano XT M8100-R, 12-speed Rapidfire Plus, I-Spec EV
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100, SGS 12-Speed, Shadow Plus
• Cassette : Shimano XT M8100-12, 12-Speed (HYPERGLIDE+), 10-51T
• Chainset: Shimano XT M8100 12-Speed, Hollowtech 2, 170mm, 30T, 52mm Chainline
• Brakes: Shimano XT M8120, 4 Pot Brake, Metallic Pads with Fins
• Wheelset: DT Swiss XM1700 SPLINE 30, 29″
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Assegai 29”x2.5 WT 3C MaxxTerra/EXO+/TR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Dissector 29”x2.4 WT 3C MaxxTerra/EXO+/TR
• Stem: Nukeproof Horizon, 50mm, Black
• Handlebar: Nukeproof Horizon V2 25mm Rise, Width – M780mm, L800mm, XL800mm)
• Seat Post: Bikeyoke Divine Stealth w Shimano SL-MT500-IL Remote lever, M/L:160mm drop; XL:185mm drop
• Saddle: Nukeproof Horizon SL, Black

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Want to see more fast bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the super-powerful THRON² 6.7 EQP all-terrain e-Bike from top German brand Focus. EQP stands for equipped – this efficient all-rounder is very much the ‘S.U.V.’ of the e-bike world, spec’d complete with pannier rack, light, stand an mudguards. If you’re looking for a versatile e-Bike that has been designed and constructed to handle almost any riding scenario – the daily commute to and from work, bike-packing and cycling touring, exploring the countryside and venturing on to more challenging off-road terrain – the THRON² 6.7 EQP can do it all.

The THRON² 6.7 EQP is very much the ‘S.U.V.’ of the e-bike world…

The popularity of an e-Bike set up like this has increased significantly over recent times. We talk to a lot of customers looking for a fully-equipped all-terrain e-Bike; quite often they’re couples looking for a travel solution that enables them to ride comfortably together, encouraging them to ride further from home with the assistance of a powerful, efficient e-Bike motor. Using a bike like this for daily commuting duties during the week is ideal with its load-carrying capacity; fit a pannier bag to the rear pannier rack you can pack it with your laptop etc. and still have room for groceries when you stop off at the supermarket on your way home.

Commuter duties during the week, leisure riding at the weekend – The versatile THRON² 6.7 EQP excels at both…

Come the weekend why not head off-road and explore your local tracks and trails with the extra assistance of the powerful Bosch Performance CX e-drive motor. With a 120mm travel front suspension fork and 130mm of plush rear suspension there’s no fear of a rough ride when you do venture out into the countryside. From Bikepacking and relaxed leisure rides on hilly terrain to your daily commute the THRON² will take it all in its stride and help to enhance your enjoyment of cycling.

The powerful Bosch CX e-drive motor will open up your cycling, encouraging you to ride further…

 

The Focus THRON² 6.7 EQP is in stock and available to buy in store and online…

 

Features:

• Powerful dynamic Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 with integrated, removable 500Wh battery
• Comfortable 130 mm F.O.L.D. chassis with SR Suntour suspension elements
• Fully equipped (EQP): pannier rack, light, stand and mudguards

Specification:

• Frame: 7005 hydroformed Aluminium, 3D forging, 130mm F.O.L.D. kinematic, 148×12 mm through axle, internal cable routing
• Fork: SR Suntour XCR 34 LOR, 110x15mm QR
• Motor: Bosch Performance CX Gen4, 75 Nm, 250 W
• Shifters: Sram SX Eagle, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Sram SX Eagle, 12-speed
• Cassette : Sram PG-1210 Eagle, 12-speed
• Chainset: FSA CK-320, aluminium
• Brakes: Shimano BR-MT420
• Wheelset: Rodi Black Rock 23 custom for Focus
• Front Tyre: Schwalbe Hurricane Performance 2.25
• Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Hurricane Performance 2.25
• Stem: BBB Jumper BHS-137
• Handlebar: Riser, Aluminium, 720mm
• Seat Post: Aluminium, 31,6mm
• Saddle: Focus Sport SL

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

 

Want to see more fast bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

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For our Fast Bike Friday feature today we’re casting our eyes over a real gravel speed-machine – the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1. It’s clear from the get-go that this is not a bike that’s been built to fit the utilitarian, bike-packing mould; this gravel bike is unapologetically built for speed and performance over mixed terrain and riding surfaces. As Cervelo themselves put it very succinctly in their own marketing spiel, the Aspero is meant to ‘HAUL ASS, NOT CARGO’.

As time goes on and the gravel bike cycling discipline begins to mature we’re seeing it go off of in a number of different directions. It’s a trend that mirrors how mountain biking has developed; way back, over 30 years ago all mountain bikes were pretty much the same and everyone rode them in a similar way. Fast forward to the present day and the term ‘mountain bike’ covers everything from lightweight carbon cross-country hardtails, versatile full-suspension trail bikes, longer-travel Enduro bikes and full-on 200mm-travel downhill full-suspension bikes; there’s a multitude of rider types all orbiting in their own individual tribes under the umbrella term ‘mountain biking’.

What this got to do with the Aspero? Well, we’re seeing a very similar scenario with gravel bikes now. As we’ve highlighted before in our regular Fast Bike Friday feature, there is now a veritable sea of gravel bikes out there, with an ever-growing range of options when it comes to exactly what type of gravel riding you want to do. When you start looking in more depth at the type of gravel bikes currently on offer you soon discover that there are ‘sub-types’ within the gravel bike genre – super-lightweight aero race machines, tough utilitarian bike-packing machines, affordable alloy bikes with geometries that are closer to more traditional road bikes, playful burly options with 650b wheels & dropper posts and carbon gravel bikes with cleverly engineered technology designed to isolate you from rough terrain.

The Cervelo Aspero is for the rider who enjoys the versatility of a gravel bike and the freedom to explore remote, unpredictable terrain but who wants to really push the limits of what’s possible in terms of speed, performance and efficiency off-road; it’s for gravel riders who obsess over their average speed on every ride and feel short-changed if they don’t finish their ride with at least one new Strava K.O.M. The Aspero is versatile too; road sections don’t feel much slower than if you were riding your aero road bike and alternatively when you point it off-road it feels stable, predictable and confidence-inspiring, encouraging you to carry-over all that speed directly from the road onto the trails.

The Cervelo Aspero 1 is unapologetically built for speed and performance over mixed terrain…

The Aspero chassis consists of a superlight, stiff, responsive carbon fibre frame and fork. It’s worth pointing out that stiff and responsive doesn’t mean uncomfortable though; the engineers at Cervelo have cleverly constructed a frame and fork that features a good amount of compliance (flex to you and me) in the right places so that you don’t feel completely beaten up at the end of a particularly long ride on gravel tracks and challenging trails. That compliance comes from some very sophisticated carbon layup during construction as well as from the tube-profiling and geometry of the frame. All that speed and performance comes from the large, exceptionally stiff bottom bracket area which helps transfer all your pedaling input through to the rear wheel. Likewise a fat head tube and large junction into the boxy downtube helps to keep the Aspero’s steering and general handling sharp and precise.

The Cervelo Aspero’s large head tube helps to keep steering sharp and precise… 

Another feather in the Aspero’s cap is its versatility when it comes to general set-up, wheel size and geometry. The carbon fork features a flip-chip at the axle allowing you to change from 700c wheel size to 650B; Cervelo’s ‘Trail Mixer’ flip-chip helps to keep the bike’s trail measurement consistent regardless of which wheel size you run which in turn keeps the bike’s handling characteristics the same. The Aspero has been engineered to fit 700c wheels with tyres up to 42mm wide and 650B wheels with 49mm wide tyres comfortably, so depending on the type of terrain you ride and expect to race on you’ll be able to set up your Aspero exactly as you like it.

A boxy downtube means the Aspero frame is super-stiff and responsive…

The Aspero Apex 1 is full of nice little design details including this very-welcome downtube protector…

As the product name suggests the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 features SRAM’s Apex 1 groupset consisting of a simple, efficient single-ring drivetrain and powerful hydraulic brakes. We’re big fans of a 1X drivetrain on a bike such as this because of their simplicity and lighter weight; with the front derailleur eliminated there’s less moving parts and less to go wrong in the demanding conditions encountered when riding off-road. A single-chainring drivetrain needs to be spec’d with a user-friendly range of gears which is broad enough to provide low enough gears to cope with steep, loose gravel climbs and high enough to help you ride efficiently on the fast, smooth tarmac road sections of your ride. Thankfully the Aspero Apex 1 features a 40T chainring matched with a wide-ratio 11-42T cassette giving you all the gears you’ll need to excel on any terrain and on any gradient.

Durable, simple to use and with all the gear ratios you’ll need – the SRAM Apex 1 groupset meets the brief…

SRAM’s 11-speed Apex 1 rear derailleur features a clutch and specially profiled jockey wheels to help keep the chain secure…

A simple 40T single chainring with narrow/wide profiled tooth profiles works efficiently with no risk of unshipping the chain…  

SRAM Apex 1 mechanical gear shifters with hydraulic brakes are easy and intuitive to use… 

A lightweight, super-fast gravel bike like the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 is bound to gain speed quickly and carry you into more technically-demanding terrain at full-chat. To help scrub speed off quickly and effectively Cervelo have spec’d powerful SRAM Apex HRD hydraulic brake calipers matched up with 160mm SRAM CentreLine disc rotors. These flat-mount brakes sit neatly in the rear of the frame and on the back of the front fork providing consistent, easy to modulate braking in all riding conditions and on all terrains. The Apex hydraulic brake levers are popular within cyclocross and gravel circles thanks to their tall profile; the hoods of these levers are taller than on a conventional lever to accommodate a hydraulic master cylinder but give the added advantage of providing a more secure hand position when riding off-road on the hoods.

SRAM Apex HRD hydraulic brake calipers provide powerful, consistent braking in all conditions…

The Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 comes with 700c diameter wheels as standard rather than 650B; the Alexrims Boondocks-7D wheelset features 28 spokes in the front and rear with tubeless-ready rims. To strike that magic balance between being fast-rolling and efficient, providing ample amounts of grip on loose, technical terrain Cervelo have fitted a pair of Panaracer Gravel King SK Sport folding gravel tyres; at 38mm wide they’re well-suited to the demands of riding rough terrain, allowing you to run lower tyre pressures (particularly if you set them up tubeless). The tread pattern down the centre of the tyre is minimal to help you hold your speed without working against it on smooth tarmac stretches; alternatively, when you’re riding on looser off-road terrain and taking tight turns the more aggressive side knobs will dig in and keep you in control.

The Alexrims Boondocks-7D is a fast, lightweight but durable wheelset…

The Panaracer Gravel King tyres feature a fast-rolling tread pattern down the centre and a more aggressive tread pattern on the outer edges for enhanced grip off-road…

There’s bags of clearance between tyres and frame & fork so there’s no concern about taking on muddy rides…

The finishing kit on the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 includes a pair of lightweight alloy gravel-specific handlebars with a small amount of flare on the drops portion of the bar to help increase control and comfort when you’re riding through technical off-road terrain. The Easton EA50 AX handlebar features a 16° flare, nothing too excessive like you might see on gravel bikes that are more focused on rowdy, aggressive trail riding; this handlebar with its subtle 16° flare reflects Cervelo’s focus on performance and speed rather than playful agility.

Easton EA50 AX handlebars feature a subtle 16° flare for enhanced control without being over the top…

If you’re looking for a high-performing gravel bike that’s capable of putting out fast times in training and competition then the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 is a great option. This lightweight, super-stiff, responsive carbon gravel bike is built for speed; on rides that include stretches of smooth tarmac as well as loose gravel and unpredictable trails you’ll find that the Aspero will get you from A to B with a faster overall time than perhaps a gravel bike that is built to be a little more utilitarian in nature. As the gravel scene continues to grow and more an more cyclists are drawn to the discipline we see riders coming over from the road and cyclists coming over from mountain biking; it’s fair to say the Cervelo Aspero will probably appeal more to road cyclists who are driven by hitting performance targets and the addictive need for speed.

If you’ve got a need for speed when you’re riding off-road then the Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 is definitely up for the job…

The Cervelo Aspero Apex 1 is available in-store and online now.

Full Specification:

• Frame: Cervelo All-Carbon Modular Monocoque
• Fork: Cervelo All-Carbon, Tapered Aspero Fork with TrailMixer Adjustable Trail
• Shifters: SRAM Apex 1 HRD, 11 spd
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM Apex 1
• Cassette : SRAM PG-1130, 11 spd, 11-42
• Chainset: SRAM Apex 1 40T
• Brakes: SRAM Apex HRD, SRAM CenterLine 160mm
• Wheelset: Alexrims Boondocks-7D, 28h (F), 28h (R), 24mm IW, Center-Lock, Tubeless Ready
• Front Tyre: Panaracer Gravel King SK Sport Folding 700×38 60tpi
• Rear Tyre: Panaracer Gravel King SK Sport Folding 700×38 60tpi
• Stem: Easton EA50 Alloy
• Handlebar: Easton EA50 AX Alloy
• Seat Post: Easton EA50 Alloy
• Saddle: Cervelo Road Saddle

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Want to see more fast bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve got loads of kid’s bikes at WHEELBASE to suit your child at every stage of development! Here’s just a selection from the World’s best bike brands.

 

Confused about which size of bike will best suit your child? Click the handy guide below…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s that time of the week again – Fast Bike Friday! Today we’re taking a look at the super-stylish Genesis Fugio 20, a split-personality utilitarian gravel adventure bike that’s not only capable of ferrying you and your camping gear over endless tracks and trails in remote locations but is also ready for fun-filled, playful trail riding when you’ve the left the luggage at home and are simply heading out for a quick blast at your local riding spot.

You may already be familiar with Genesis? They’re a UK bike brand with a reputation for producing modern road, mountain and gravel bikes with a romantic, nostalgic feel. Within each genre of cycling their ranges usually include beautifully crafted steel or titanium framesets (as well as more common aluminium or carbon options) and they’ve really gained quite a cult following over the past decade thanks to this sophisticated use of these frame materials which have been largely ignored by other global bike brands in recent years.

The Fugio 20 may be a functional, utilitarian adventure bike but Genesis haven’t missed the opportunity to give it some seriously stylish looks!…

Hang around with any group of gravel riders for a short length of time while onboard the Fugio 20 and you’ll no-doubt hear someone say ‘steel is real’ or talk about ‘the unique ride quality of steel’. If there’s any riders in your group who are over a certain age they’ll very quickly be looking off into the middle distance with misty eyes and begin enthusing over some steel bike or another that they had way back in the day; steel bikes do evoke a nostalgic mood, but let’s be clear these modern chromoly steel bikes are bang up to date and are certainly not all retro-style and no substance.

But what about that common ‘unique ride quality’ remark associated with steel bike frames? Well, there’s definitely something it; good carbon frames are known for being stiff and light but with some compliance cleverly engineered into them, aluminium frames are light and stiff too but are usually less forgiving than carbon frames. By comparison steel is a little heavier than alloy, but is renowned for giving a more comfortable ride, with a unique almost springy, responsive feel; it’s hard wearing too making it ideal for the rough-and-ready world of gravel riding and bike-packing. And it’s important to point out that these days modern steel frames aren’t THAT much heavier than frames made from other materials, thanks to very some sophisticated manufacturing techniques and clever engineering.

The Mjonlnir seamless double-butted chromoly frame gives a unique ride quality… 

There’s a real mix of retro-styling and simple, traditional & functional elements within the frame, combined with more modern design features that will help to make your riding experience that more enjoyable. For example all gear and brake cables run externally along the frame making general servicing and emergency maintenance at the trail side that much easier – a key consideration if you’re heading out on a remote multi-day bike-packing adventure. There’s also a threaded bottom bracket and external headset bearings which are both more user-friendly in the long term when it comes to bearing replacements; for each traditional feature there’s a contrasting modern element – take the powerful hydraulic disc brakes, extra secure thru-axles and that lovely full carbon fork to provide you with a little extra comfort and compliance on the rough stuff.

Romantically retro looks but with all the perks of a contemporary gravel bike? Genesis have nailed it…

Scan your eyes over the frame and fork and you’ll quickly notice the copious amount of bolt-on-bosses that are ready for almost whatever you want to fit to your bike; frame bags, extra water bottles, top tube packs, mudguards or pannier racks are all legit options for this bike so if you do plan to head out on a bike-packing adventure then the Fugio 20 is more than ready.

Be prepared for regular ‘bike chat’ on your café stops, the Fugio garners a LOT of attention…

Pleasingly retro but with a contemporary twist – there’s a compliant carbon fibre fork with thru-axle to compliment the chromoly steel frame…

A rugged gravel bike that can handle multi-day adventures as well as playful sessions on your local trails needs a simple, reliable groupset that isn’t going to let you down, with crisp, predictable gear shifts that provide you with all the gear ratios you’ll need to negotiate tricky terrain and super-steep, loose gravel climbs. To meet the brief Genesis have spec’d the Fugio 20 with SRAM’s wonderfully simple but effective Apex 1 groupset; this 11-speed drivetrain consists of a single 42 tooth chainring upfront matched to a whopping 11-42 tooth cassette for a generous spread of gears that will help you cope with almost any gradient you encounter, even when the bike is heavily loaded with your bike-packing gear.

The Fugio’s SRAM Apex 1×11 speed drivetrain features a massive 11-42T cassette to help you climb efficiently even when you’re carrying luggage… 

The SRAM Apex rear derailleur with clutch mechanism keeps your chain securely located on the chainring and cassette…

The Fugio’s alloy drop handlebars are flared and differ in width depending on which size of bike you’re on…

Genesis have gone with a 650B diameter wheel rather than a 700c; this allows them to spec a slightly fatter tyre (45c) to give more volume and as a result more cushioning from rough trail surfaces. The combination of the smaller 650B rim circumference and the fatter tyre gives an overall diameter that is very similar to a 700c wheel and slimmer tyre combination, this means you get the same amount of rolling-efficiency as a 700c – it’s basically a fast-rolling wheel that accelerates and holds its speed on tarmac but also cushions you on the rough stuff.

Fast-rolling WTB Venture tyres provide plenty of grip off-road without slowing you down on tarmac portions of your ride…

The Fugio 20 features a pair of WTB ST125 TCS 2.0 wheels with a nice wide rim profile that helps give a slightly squarer profile to the tyre meaning the sidewall of they tyre is not so dramatically pinched in towards the rim as would be on narrower rims. This square profile helps to increase the contact patch of the tyre with the ground and also helps to prevent pinch flats too. These gravel-specific wheels are shod with a pair of 650B x 45c Kenda Flintridge Pro GCT tyres; with a smooth centreline tread pattern and grippy shoulder knobs they roll really fast on the smooth stuff but when surfaces become more unpredictable off-road that more aggressive tread pattern really digs in and keeps you in control. The tyres feature GCT casing making the Flintridges ready to be set up tubeless while also providing a healthy amount of sidewall protection from sharp rocks and the like.

WTB ST i25 TCS 2.0 rims feature a 25mm internal rim width to give the tyre a nice square profile for a larger contact patch with the ground…

Even with wide 45C wide 650B tyres there’s plenty of clearance between tyre and frame / fork…

The Genesis Fugio 20 ticks a lot boxes – super-stylish with cool retro looks, utilitarian & ready to carry a substantial amount of bike-packing equipment, practical & user friendly – perfect for the home mechanic or for fixing your way out of a mid-adventure breakdown AND probably most importantly to a lot of you, it’s bags of fun out on the trails thanks to its trail-ready geometry, forgiving ‘steel is real’ feel, compliant carbon forks and those fatter tyres on 650B diameter wheels. If you’re looking for a modern classic with stunning looks and practical capability and don’t mind spending time explaining your bike to enthusiastic strangers at every café stop then the Genesis Fugio 20 may be the gravel bike for you!

Stylish but super-functional too, the Fugio is an adventure gravel bike that is bound to catch the eye of riders, ramblers and sheep!…

Genesis Fugio 20 £2,299.99

Full Specification:

• Frame: Genesis Mjolnir seamless double-butted chromoly
• Fork: Genesis full carbon Gravel Disk fork
• Headset: F17A Taper 1 1/8″ – 1 1/5″
• Shift Levers: SRAM APEX Hydrualic 11spd
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM APEX 1 Long Cage 11spd
• Cassette: SRAM CS PG-1130 11/42T 11spd
• Chainset : SRAM APEX 1 42T, XS/S = 170MM, M/L = 172.5MM, XL = 175MM
• Brakes: SRAM APEX Hydrualic disc
• Wheels: WTB ST I25 TCS 2.0
• Front Tyre: Kenda Flintridge Pro GCT 650B X 45C
• Rear Tyre: Kenda Flintridge Pro GCT 650B X 45C
• Stem: Genesis Alloy, 31.8mm, -6 deg, 100mm
• Handle Bars: Genesis Alloy, 16deg flare, XS = 420MM, SM/MED = 440MM, L=460MM, XL = 480MM
• Seat Post: Genesis Alloy 27.2 x 350mm
• Saddle: Genesis

 

The Genesis Fugio 20 might just be the ultimate freedom machine…

The Genesis Fugio 20 2021 is available in-store and online now.

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Studio photos by James Vincent

 

Want to see more fast bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli road racing team is back! A fair number of our riders from the senior squad as well as the U23 / Junior squad recently got together for a decent training ride in the South Lakes. It was one of the first opportunities to ride in a larger group following the relaxation of the Covid 19 restrictions and a chance for riders and staff to plan how, what and when the team will race in the remaining months of this shortened 2021 road racing season. Team Manager Toby Dalton was keen to pull together as many of the Wheelbase team riders as possible together for a quality group ride, helping to build solidarity and get everyone enthused about the opportunities coming up in the weeks and months ahead. It’s been a strange time, this last year, with lots of changes in circumstance with regards to road and circuit racing, with numerous cancellations and false starts along the way. It goes without saying, that to remain focused and as near to being race-ready as possible during the past year has been a challenge for every team rider on the squad, with each of them living through their own personal experience of the Coronavirus Pandemic and the restrictions caused by an ever-changing succession of Lockdowns, Tier Systems and national or regional rule changes.

The UK road racing calendar for 2021 is ever evolving as we come out of Lockdown and there looks like there’s going to a good amount of local and regional races for our riders to get themselves tuned up and really race fit for the bigger National races. Competition at the highest level will be spread between races on the open road and elite circuit races in popular venues such as Otley. National road races include the British Cycling Elite Road Race Series with iconic races such as the gruelling Beaumont Trophy in Northumbria and our ‘home’ race on the super-tough Dolphinholme circuit at the Lancaster GP. With a late start to the season we’ll also see road racing stretch further into Autumn this year, with the National Road Race Championship due to take place in Lincoln on the 17th of October. Our Junior and U23 riders will continue to build experience at a local, regional and national level and we’ll keep you up to date with how they progress through the summer.

A big thank you to everyone involved in the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team; from our supportive co-sponsors who have continued to partner with us despite the difficulties that we’ve all had to work through over the past year, to our staff and team helpers who work tirelessly behind the scenes getting the team bikes built and tuned to race, organising riders and ensuring race entries are done on time. A special thanks to Tyla Loftus for all his hard work putting the Junior / U23 team together and for keeping the wheels turning during lockdown as well as ensuring Wheelbase was well represented during the sporadic Cyclocross season.

Look out for our individual rider profiles coming out over the next few weeks and months, where we’ll find out more about their racing backgrounds and their ambitions for this season and beyond. We’ll also be asking them some random questions in our ’20 Questions’ feature just like we did recently with our multi-discipline star Lucy Bell. Good luck to the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli cycling team! Have a successful and safe racing season.

UNITE. FIGHT. BELIEVE.

 

Senior Races, Confirmed Key Race Dates:

British Cycling Elite Road Races

• Lancaster Grand Prix, Lancaster (15 August)
• The Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, Ampleforth (22 August)
• Beaumont Trophy, Northumbria (26 September
• National Road Race Championship, Lincoln (17 Oct)

British Cycling Elite Circuit Race Series

• Otley Grand Prix, Otley – Wednesday 30 June

Junior Races, Confirmed Key Race Dates:

• Fensham Howes – MAS Design Junior Tour of Yorkshire (12th June – 13th June)
• 7th Junior CiCLE Classic (27th June)
• British Cycling Junior National Time Trail & Road Race Championships (10th July – 11th July)
• Fenwick’s Junior Tour of Mendips (13th August – 15th August)

 

Senior Team:

• Logan Maclean
• Matt Clarke
• Fraser Martin
• Finn Crockett
• James Coates
• Harry Hardcastle
• Stuart Reid
• Alex Turner
• Sam Lashley
• Fin Robertson
• Davie Lines
• Ben Barlow
• Tim Shoreman

A selection of our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Senior squad…

Junior / U23 Team:

• Ryan Middlemiss
• Ben Houlihan
• Adam Bent
• Flynn Gregory
• Tyla Loftus

Our Junior / U23 squad continues their efforts following a successful (albeit shortened) Cyclocross season…

 

The team enjoyed a successful training session in the South Lakes…

 

Road captain Davie Lines has so much knowledge and experience to pass on to the younger team members…

 

Watching the team put themselves through their paces, Team Manager Toby Dalton is always on hand for support and guidance…

 

Fraser Martin and Fin Robertson dictate the pace, keeping the team in close formation…

 

Fraser Martin returns to the team for another season and is itching to get back to racing…

 

We depend on Davie Lines for his passion for racing, his coaching and guidance as well as his great results! He shows no signs of slowing down!…

 

Coming off the back of a successful Cyclocross season Adam Bent has a real appetite for road racing too…

 

Thank you to P.V. Dobson for your continued support, helping to kit us out with our awesome Volvo Wheelbase team car…

 

Tyla Loftus put in so much work during the past year to set up our Junior and U23 squad, thanks Tyla! Have a great season…

 

Fraser shows off his stunning Cannondale SystemSix aero road bike; it’s great to be working with Cannondale again for 2021…

 

We’re so pleased to see Logan Maclean make a return to racing after a very serious, life-threatening accident last year; great to have you back Logan!… 

 

The Wheelbase squad enjoyed a relaxed get together after a long period of training in isolation due to Covid 19 restrictions…

 

The South Lakes provides some great training roads with very little traffic…

 

Following on from the 2020 race season that never was, we’re again equipping ourselves with the awesome Cannondale SystemSix aero road bike. With a super-aero profile carbon fibre frame and fork, lightweight Vision SC55 carbon wheels, Shimano Ultegra groupset and some great finishing kit including an aerodynamic Vision Metron 4D Flat UD carbon handlebar our team bikes are ready to perform at the elite level of UK road racing. The team bikes have been finished off with some very slick looking custom Wheelbase graphics so the SystemSix looks fast even when it’s stood still and with our elite racing team piloting them they ride even faster!

Our stunning Cannondale SystemSix team bikes feature Wheelbase custom graphics by James Vincent…

Cannondale SystemSix Key Features:

• Frame: Ballistec carbon
• Fork: Ballistec carbon
• Wheels: Vision SC55 Carbon Clincher
• Crankset: Cannondale Hollowgram w/ OPI SpideRing 52/36
• Gears: Shimano Ultegra, 52/36 – 11-30
• Brakes: Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc
• Finishing kit: Vision Metron 4D Flat UD Carbon handlebars, Hollowgram 60 KNOT Carbon seatpost, ProLogo Dimension saddle

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

All photos by James Vincent

 

 

 

We’ve got new bikes coming into stock every day at WHEELBASE, here’s just a selection of some of our latest arrivals from the World’s best brands…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this hot bike just in! We’ve got good stock of the Kona Rove AL 700 ready to ship direct to you or collect in-store. The Kona Rove is the perfect bike for someone looking for a do-it-all machine – need a reliable workhorse to get you to and from work during the week, but want to throw off the pannier bags come the weekend and head out into the countryside? the Rove AL 700 is ready for exactly that. Pavement, dirt, gravel this lightweight alloy, mechanical disc-brake-equipped bike can handle whatever you throw at it; the Rove features multiple bolt-on bosses allowing you to run mudguards and a pannier rack if you want to set it up primarily as a super-commuter. With a superb range of gears you’ll be able to climb the steepest hills, even when you’re carrying a heavy load and the 37c wide tyres can handle potholes and rocky trails with ease.

This affordable gravel bike could well be the utility bike you’ve been looking for and is capable of taking on every-day riding duties; why not take advantage of our 0% interest, zero deposit finance offer or buy through a Cycle to Work Scheme for a really easy way to spread the cost of your new bike. Now is the time to leave the car at home, head out to work in style and explore further afield at the weekends on the hot new Kona Rove AL 700…

 

 

Full Specification:

• Frame: Kona 6061 Aluminum Butted
• Fork: Kona Project Two Aluminum Disc
• Shifters: Shimano Claris 8 x Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Claris 8 x Speed
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Claris
• Cassette : Shimano Claris 11-34T 8 x Speed
• Chainset: FSA Tempo Adventure 34/50T
• Brakes: Hayes L-Series Cable-Activated (160/160mm rotors)
• Front Wheel: Rim – WTB SX19 / Hub – Formula Hub 100 x 9mm Quick Release
• Rear Wheel: Rim – WTB SX19 / Hub – Formula Hub 135 x 9mm Quick Release
• Front Tyre: WTB Riddler Comp 700x37c
• Rear Tyre: WTB Riddler Comp 700x37c
• Stem: Kona Road
• Handlebar: Kona Road
• Seat Post: Kona Thumb w/Offset 27.2mm
• Saddle: Kona Road

Geometry: