The Genesis Croix de Fer 20 725 is the most popular bike in the Croix de Fer range, and for good reason. It does the Monday commute, the Saturday gravel loop, and the week-long loaded tour without needing three separate bikes in your shed.
For riders in the UK who want one bike that genuinely handles everything, this Genesis steel gravel bike has been the go-to for years.
What makes the 725 tubing matter
This version of the Genesis Croix de Fer 20 uses Reynolds 725 chromoly steel for the frame. Compared to standard steel, 725 tubing is lighter and more responsive while keeping that smooth, forgiving ride quality that steel is known for.
On a long day in the saddle, that matters. Steel absorbs road buzz and trail chatter in a way that aluminium doesn’t, and Reynolds 725 does it without the weight penalty you’d get from a heavier gauge tube. If you’ve ridden a good steel frame before, you already know the feeling.
If you haven’t, it’s worth understanding why so many touring and gravel riders choose steel over anything else: it’s comfortable over distance, repairable almost anywhere in the world, and it lasts.
Mounts, clearance, and practicality
This is where the Genesis Croix de Fer gravel bike earns its reputation as a proper do-everything machine. The frame comes with full mudguard mounts, rack mounts, dynamo cable routing, and enough cage bosses for bikepacking or long-distance audax riding. Tyre clearance is generous, so you can run wider rubber for winter commuting or rougher gravel tracks and swap back to something faster for summer road miles.
That kind of versatility makes the Croix de Fer 20 a genuinely practical bike for UK conditions. Fit mudguards and a rack in October, strip them off in April, and you’ve got two bikes in one.
Geometry and ride feel
The Croix de Fer’s geometry sits in a comfortable middle ground: stable enough to feel planted when loaded with panniers, but lively enough that a Sunday gravel ride still feels fun rather than sluggish. It’s confident on tarmac, relaxed on gravel lanes, and steady on rougher forest tracks. As a Genesis adventure bike, it encourages you to take the longer route home or turn down that bridleway you’ve been curious about.
Who it suits
The Genesis Croix de Fer 20 725 is a strong choice for commuters who also ride at weekends, for riders planning their first bikepacking trip, and for anyone who wants a single touring gravel bike that won’t let them down in British weather. It’s the kind of bike you buy once and ride for a very long time.
If you’re looking for a Genesis gravel bike in the UK that can handle daily use and still feel good on a 100-mile audax, the Croix de Fer 20 is available now.
Spec highlights
