I’ve been pondering winter bikes quite a lot recently and some idle Googling today led me back the 2011 Genesis Equilibrium 20, which I have to say looks fantastic – even better in 2011 with that lovely new metallic red. For those who don’t know Genesis is effectively an in-house brand of the major UK cycling business Madison. The Genesis bikes are designed here in the UK for British conditions (that’s the dodgy weather and the road surfaces to state the obvious) but made in Taiwan like an enormous percentage of the world’s bike production. For 2011 the big change, other than the price, which goes from £999 to £1299, is the change from Reynolds 520 to Reynolds 725 steel to give a lighter frame and improve durability. I believe it also goes from Shimano 105 5600 to the 5700 as well plus the wheels are upgraded to Shimano RS10s and it apparently has a higher quality finishing kit (Genesis own brand). Part of the change in groupset also meant a change was needed to the more expensive new 105 chainset to ensure the optimum shifting experience (which is more akin to Ultegra and Dura Ace than the lower spec Shimano groups). So whilst you are getting a higher quality and higher specced product in 2011 for your extra cash, I suspect we’re also seeing continued impact in the drop in the value of sterling too.
