Cyclocross 2013

Forza's cyclocross Cirrus Pro CS Cantilever brakes are really very very good cantilever brakes, stiff and powerful, probably the best I've tried.

Check to see they fit your bike first though. As I'll explain in detail below, I had issues on some bikes, and not others. Having said that, when they do fit, they are good, so we'll ignore that detail for now.

If you don't mind the fiddly set up, and the brakes actually line up with your bike and wheel rim combination these Forzas are a good buy.

A budget kid brother to Genesis' popular steel road all-rounder, the Genesis CdF is a solid urban and light-touring ride, as long as you're not in a hurry to get from A to B.

The Genesis Croix de Fer has a good reputation; it was even used to set a world record when Vin Cox rode a Croix de Fer around the world. Genesis say the Croix de Fer is one of their most popular bikes, so they decided to introduce a little brother: the CdF. The frame has the same dimensions, but is made from Reynolds 520, as opposed to the Croix de Fer's 725.