croix de fer 20 vs long haul trucker (vs Pacer?)

The plan of cycling down to the alps caught my eye - I did this a few years back on a Genesis alu road bike (10.5kg w rack). I took two panniers of gear, no problem. You arrive there fit and in tune and can set up base camp and day-visit a few mountain routes. The lightness of the bike is then a great treat after a few weeks with panniers. Of the Genesis range, the CdA (Croix de Alu, I suppose) looks good to me for this role, though it's only half your budget! The CdA10 is 1.6kg lighter than the CdF20.

I used to have the perfect bike for this but it was custom built (actually I still have it but it is in several pieces).

Nowadays I too ride an Equilibrium, and whilst it is a great mileater and climbs excellently, it has two features which put me off touring on it. Firstly, the long reach calipers are not powerful enough for a laden bike; secondly, it will only take 25mm tyres with mudguards and I would want at least 28mm carrying significant luggage (mudguards are essential for touring) and 32mm if you want to go on gravel. You can get round the first of these problems with the disc version: you are stuck with the second. So unless you are an extreme credit card cycletourist I would use something that would allow wider tyres.

Any of the modern 'gravel/adventure' bikes should meet your basic requirements, however other than the CdF I don't know if any are steel framed. Otherwise try to find something at the sportier end of touring bikes. Thorn haven't been mentioned yet, they are steel-frame touring specialists but their bikes tend to be a little too bombproof (i.e. heavy) for my tastes. Another possiblility might be the Hewitt Cheviot. I'm sure their are others.

Hi  Tarpitman

I don’t know if this will be of any help – but - amongst the herd of bikes stabled in my garage I’ve a 2014 Equilibrium 20 and a 2015 Croix de Fer 20. This is my experience of them

The Croix de Fer

Earlier this year I took the Croix de Fer on a week’s long tour carrying camping kit (front & rear panniers).  My route was mainly on-road. Along the way I took in some of the steeply bumpy bits of Devon & Dorset. I also indulged in some off road tracks including; the tow path of the Kennet & Avon, the Ridgeway, and some of the tracks over Salisbury Plain. My daily mileages varied between 100 & 60 miles.

The Croix de Fer coped with this  mixture admirably and I’d very happily use the same bike again for a similar trip. The only modifications I’d made were to change the saddle and stem for items with a more ‘personal fit’ & swapped the Tiagra levers for 105’s to make it slightly easier to mount a small bar bag. The one thing that I would, if possible, change before setting off again is the chain rings. 50 & 34 were O.K – but smaller would have been better.

In my opinion, when used un-laden, the Croix de Fer would benefit from some lighter wheels. Those supplied seem to be strong but their far from lightweight. At some point in the future I plan to invest in a wheelset such as the  Mason Hunt Aero lights as I suspect that they’ll make the ride a zippier experience.

The Equilibrium

The Equilibrium was originally purchased as bike for those days when the weather kept the ‘best bike’ cosseted away. It fulfilled this task admirably.

The only trouble with it is….. it’s so enjoyable to ride, particularly when shod with the Dura Ace C24’s from the ‘best bike’, it’s edging out the ‘best bike’.

A review of the Equilibrium that very closely matches my experience can be found at:

http://girodilento.com/genesis-equilibrium-20-review/

On my ‘working-from-home-Wednesday-lunchtime-loop’ of about 20 miles  (on which I can’t hang around as I have to be out & back within an hour) I’ve found that my average speed on the mudguard equipped Equilibrium is pretty much the same as for the carbon fibre ‘best bike’. I think this is because, although the carbon fibre machine has a higher top speed in sprints & punchy climbs, the Equilibrium is smoother over the more rattlesome roads.  

Trying to come to some sort of conclusion

I’m hoping to fit in a fit in a few days B&B touring towards the arse end of this year with my luggage limited to a moderate saddle bag. I’m torn as to which machine to use.  The Croix de Fer has the greater versatility, offering an enjoyable, if slightly ‘planted’ ride & the ability to take whatever the road, or track, might throw at it. When the hills turn steep, or the weather icky then its disk brakes would be an advantage. The extra couple of Kg that it carries over the Equilibrium would largely be ‘hidden’ by the extra weight of a few days kit.

The Equilibrium does have a lighter ride than the Croix de Fer - but that might be negated by the weight of a couple of days kit. I might, however, spent more than one night at the same place & so be able to go out to play unencumbered by any luggage – which would be more fun on the Equilibrium….. unless I wanted to venture off road…….

Oh! – I don’t know….

You may find it worthwhile trying to get a test ride on the machines that your thinking off. You may find that one of them feels Goldilocks ‘just-right’

Note

The 2014 Equilibrium was slightly ‘racier’ in its geometry than the current model (shorter in chain stay & head tube) but I’m guessing the ride is pretty much the same. This year’s Croix de Fer has also evolved slightly from the previous year but I’ve a feeling that any change would be even less noticeable than it is with the Equilibrium

Sorry - I've gone on a bit...

The CdF and LHT are two very different bikes so making a choice is down to what you really want out of the bike. The LHT is designed for heavily loaded full-on touring which on the face of it sounds like it wouldn't be the best choice for tackling those long climbs/descents unladen. The CdF is designed to be a bit more responsive so probably a better bet and more than capable of lightweight touring duties. One disadvantage with the LHT is the wheel size choice. If like me you ideally need a 54cm frame then you're stuck with 26" wheels as 700c are only available on 56cm and above.

The Pacer looks more sporty but is still pretty hefty at 3.1kg for the bare frame/forks. Also it doesn't have any rack mounts so you really will have to be travelling light or using frame bags.

I like my Equilibrium too, and it could surely handle a little light touring with suitable tyres (remove the racks and take some light folding tyres for when you want to ditch some weight and race up a mountain).

Condor have steel road and touring framesets that can just about be built up for your budget - have a look at the Fratello. You can specify your own components. Road.cc liked the disc version: http://road.cc/content/review/143345-condor-fratello-disc-road-bike

Spa still do this one : http://spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3202/SPA-CYCLES-Steel-Audax-%28Shimano-10... (and other steel options).

Have you considered the Kona Rove ST? It comes in around your budget.

The ST is Cromoly build and comes with discs, a 1 x 11 speed setup and all the gubbins for racks, guards and panniers. There is also a titanium frame version for those with a fatter wallet.

I have the Rove AL (aluminium) version of this bike, but fitted with the legendary Kona Project 2 cromoly fork.  I've done the Trans-Pennine in the UK, which is mostly trail riding with 32c CX tyres and I use this bike for winter with a set of 28c continental GP4 tyres for the tarmac.

The bike has been very comfortable for me over distance and whilst not the lightest bike I have, with the narrower tyres, at a high(er) pressure, in winter it copes well with the roads and climbs of the Yorkshire Wolds.

I've done a few sportives on my CdF 20, while the climbs weren't exactly Alpine it still managed them well.

It is a heavy frame but if you want a bike for touring and climbing you're probably going to have to deal with a bit of extra weight.

I think the new CdF comes with 11-34t cassette so even with the extra weight it should be manageable!

I have riden the CDF and yes I agree with Mike of being havy...

Now I have the Equilibrium Disc build with 105 groupset and hand built wheels from The Cycle Clinc and its an absolute joy - so much so that I got another one to leave at my holiday place for the exact same purpose as you.

Equilibrium provides great comfort and with the handbuilt wheels very responseve up and down hill - so much so that very often i cannot be bothered to get my Carbon bike out and stick with my Equilibrium.

I have a Croix de Fer, from the time when there was only one model, and love it.  It's been ultimately reliable for the last three years and has taken me on several mini-tours both in the UK and abroad.  If I could have only one bike ........

But I'm not sure I would choose it to climb mountains.  Mine is fitted with 'guards, thick tyres and 32-spoke wheels and I know I would begin to resent it as I struggled up some fearsome climb.  

I also have a Genesis Equilibrium which is over two kilos lighter and much more responsive on its feathery wheels; that's what I would ride.  But hey, I once met a Dutchman coming down Ventoux on his shop delivery bike, complete with huge plastic basket.  All things are possible.