All City Mr Pink

Another happy Equilibrium owner here (2012, I think). I also built it up from frame+forks, and agree the fully-kitted bikes are a bit pricy. Plus it's more fun DIY and you get to put shiny Campagnolo parts on.

I've got a 2014 Equlibrium 20 which I can't directly compare to the Mr Pink as I don't have one of those. 

I can however compare it to the other bikes that I have which range from lighter carbon fibre to heavier steel or aluminium machines.

Excepting the line of wisdom that states that the best bike to have is bike that your on - I'd say that, if pushed, & particualy when it's shod with some Shimano C24's, the Equlibrium is my favorite bike. It's not quite as fast as the carbon bike in a sprint & I wouldn't be too happy taking it off road but for anything from blasting around the lanes, putting in the long miles or lightweight saddlebag touring it probably gives the most smiles per mile. 

Caveat  - I think that the Equlibriums geometry may have evolved since 2014 becoming slightly more 'relaxed'

Have a look over on Bike Radar, one of the writers built up a Mr Pink Classic as a winter bike. I have to say it looked really nice. The Classic comes with a steel fork which has clearance and mounts for a proper mudguard, I'm not sure the carbon fork of the regular Mr Pink does. There's talk that the Mr Pink Classic can take 28mm tyres and mudguards, but I don't know which tyre/rim combo that's with. Condor bikes also make a steel bike with mounts for full mudguards. I saw them at the Cycle Show in the summer, looked decent. Price is between the Equilibrium and Mr Pink.

Here's our review of that bike which is worth a read https://road.cc/content/review/220869-all-city-cycles-mr-pink

As above - the genesis is a benchmark bike; comfy, safe, quick enough. It is not sharp handling  and I suspect the Pink will be more responsive. Value for money... upi can get the genesis for cheap if you take last years model. I picked mine up for £100 frame only second hand and for that kind of money it is very good! Suspect genesis is better on mudguards (Americans still don't really get full horror of UK roads and weather). Pink will be less common if that's a thing for you. 

So.... if value for money and mudguards are important and you want something reliable across the years it is worth waiting for a genesis frame or sale, if you want something with a bit of summer zing, with some more brand-sauce then the Pink.

I have genesis in 725, the carbon version (Datum) AND the fixie versiom (Flyer) they are all good solid bikes, but I am very value conscious - the Pink, or a Ritchey, would be my preferred steel option short of all out custom build. I would also very seriously look at a Strael if you wanted discs.

I can't comment on the Mr Pink, but I can on the Equilibrium. Very comfortable ride, fairly tame handling. Can’t throw it into a corner like you can with a racier bike (Canyon Ultimate AL as a comparison) and expect the same results, but for day-to-day riding I love mine.

Requires long drop brakes. Can easily take large a volume 28mm tyre (e.g. GP4000S II) without guards. With guards, a large 25mm (GP4000S II again) will fit, an actual 28mm tyre might, and a large 28mm has no hope in my experience. That’s with chromoplastic 35mm guards. I don’t think wider guards will fit, and even if they do, I think the height rather than the width is where the tyre rubs, so it might not help. There are a ton of wheel/tyre/guard combos out there though, so who knows.

External cable routing and a threaded bottom bracket are really nice features for a home mechanic. The brass barrel adjusters included with the Genesis are also a nice touch.

As a frameset the Genesis is fairly priced I think. As a complete bike it’s way overpriced. Assuming you have the tools, you could buy the frameset and build it up yourself with better spec for less. With 105 they want £1,400, but you can buy the frame for £550. So the extra £850 gets you 105 (which is a very good groupset, I’m not knocking that), junk wheels, tyres, brakes, and generic alloy finishing kit!! No thanks. You might find a good deal on a previous model, or buy second hand (as I did with mine). Other than the colour, I don’t think the frame has really changed since about 2015/2016.