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EQUIPMENT
THE BIKES
As already mentioned earlier in this blog, we are not professional cyclists! In fact, our only bikes for the past 10 years have been a cheap rockrider for Tommy and a Dutch/Polish college/groceries bike for Roxy. Not rad rides !
We therefore took an interest in the world of travel cycling from the beginning of 2022 (though we HAVE BEEN fairly advanced adventures for years). As with any activity, everyone has their own opinion on the matter and no one agrees: we have first been advised to take the Croix de Fer from Genesis, then the Tour de Fer from the same brand, then completely out of nowhere, we've learned that German bikes with 26 inches would be much more suitable... It seems that the only common thread to which everyone agreed is that the travel bike must be made of steel!
Finally, the health crisis which has had a huge impact on the cycling market, causing the shortage of components coming from China, makes this crucial choice easier for us: we took the first bicycles that matched our criteria without complaining and here there are:
Genny - The Croix de Fer 10 from Genesis
First bike we found: the Tour de Fer 10 from the Genesis brand. English bike renowned for travel, but less equipped than its big sisters the TdF20 and TdF30. It has in its wardrobe: the straight handlebar (and not the racing handlebars of the Gravels), the benchmark tires for cycling: the Schwalbe marathon, a Tubus rear luggage rack (also a luggage-rack reference). Equipped with 3 water bottle holders, this bike will carry two cans of water and fuel for the stove! Finally the mudguards for the rainy days (there too there is debate).
For the bike to be perfect, it would lack lights with the dynamo in the front wheel as well as the front luggage rack: the Tour de Fer 20 in itself!
The equipment added to Genny is detailed in the Bike Equipment section of this blog.
Benny - The M1 from Intec Bikes
We wanted the same two bikes, but fate would have it otherwise. And to do different, we do different! While the TdF10 is equipped with disc brakes and 28-inch wheels, the M1 from Intec bikes has opposite components: 26-inch wheels and pad brakes are the most marked differences. The M1 is a German bike, "mythical" they say. It is already equipped with the famous dynamo in the front wheel as well as the headlights connected to the latter. Schwalbe marathon tires and mudguards are also there! Some small additions were made to Benny which will be detailed in the "Cycling equipment" section.
