TESTED: Genesis Fugio 30 gravel bike

Photographer: Georgina von Marburg

Tester: Georgina von Marburg


UK brand Genesis originally entered the market in 2009 with a complete range of bikes from flatbar commuters to carbon road frames. However their roots lie in high-end steel, and the current range has been narrowed to reflect this specialty. They’re a love-or-hate brand in terms of aesthetic – thin, round tubing surmises this. They’re built for the self-sufficient adventurer with relatively simple mechanics including threaded bottom brackets and external cabling. Genesis’ target market is broad, appealing to anyone wanting to get lost on back roads but also not worried about their aero position during a gravel race. However, their target market is also quite niche, because again, traditional steel and rowdy colour schemes are an acquired taste. 

The Fugio 30 is their top-tier bike in the Fugio range, designed for the committed gravel rider with a sense of humour. The tech specs leave little to be desired, while the rad(ical) colour scheme reflects the charisma and originality of this British brand. At $6299, it sits in a competitive market alongside mid-end carbon gravel bikes from the major brands. 

At first glance, this bike is overflowing with personality; but a closer inspection also reveals multiple levels of functionality begging for heavy-duty use. And that’s exactly what Genesis want owners of the Fugio to do. They want this bike to be sent off water-bars, pinned through rutted paddocks, and then ridden thousands of vertical metres just to do it all again. By definition, this is an unmistakable “gravel” bike; but deep down, we’re inclined to believe it may possess the soul of a mountain bike. 

Georgina von Marburg
Riding Experience: Ridden and raced nearly all forms of two wheels across my young ‘career.’
Generally Rides: Trek Slash 9.9, Trek Emonda SL6
Height: 172cm
Weight: 72kg
Bike Test Track: All the popular gravel routes around Victoria's High Country, including some moto trails and hand-cut singletrack. 

Initial Impressions

The initial impressions of this bike test need to be prefaced with the fact that I’ve never ridden a gravel bike. So, I’m comparing this to the experience I’ve had on hardtails and road bikes – and riding both on gravel roads. 

Out of the box, the colours are reminiscent of 90s pop culture. They’re so playful and bright they could almost shine right through the cardboard box. If you vehemently detest the aggressively aero direction many gravel bikes are travelling, the Genesis is a breath of fresh air. The joyous colours wrap around traditionally shaped steel tubing, finished by exceptionally smooth welds. 

While the forks are carbon, Genesis are firm believers in the ride quality of steel. So, unsurprisingly, the frame itself is made of the very famous Reynolds 725 steel – but more on that later. Throughout the frame and forks, there are 14 bosses for not just bottle cages, but the plethora of gravel and bike-packing bags and accessories on the market. 

Building up the bike was very straight forward. The Shimano disc rotors aligned neatly, the gears shifted seamlessly out of the box, and the Fusion dropper post integrated nicely with the left-hand shifter. This raises another point: the bike comprises of a single front chainring, meaning the left shifter would be made redundant if not for a cheeky dropper post. You could convert the bike into a 2x chainring set-up, but you would need to find an alternative dropper post lever. 

The wheels provided are 650b, meaning the chunky 47mm tyres fit with ease. However, the Fugio will happily take 700c through-axle wheels with tyre widths up to 40mm. The WTB wheels are tubeless ready and pre-taped; and while Genesis send the bike with tubes, they also send it with sealant for those willing to faff a little before hitting the road. I changed the semi-slick WTB tires to the Maxxis Ramblers before testing, which are Maxxis’ most popular all-rounder gravel tiyre. I also installed the Garmin XC100 pedals, which I have reviewed and been impressed by in the past. Including these additions and two Specialized Zee II bottle cages, the Fugio came in at 11.2kg for a size Small. 

On The Trail

The Genesis Fugio, while it could be race winner, is not designed to set any Unbound records. It’s designed to be playful, charismatic, and promote exploration off the gravel roads and onto the singletrack. For this purpose, I felt the size Small was adequate for me being 172cm tall. I’m usually between Small and Medium sizes, but I do feel the Small fits like a glove with the 100mm stem. 

Up to this point in the review, I feel I have contained my excitement. The fact is, I was really keen to get out on this bike. I wanted to see what gravel riding was all about, and I wanted to see how the Fugio would suit me arriving from a mountain bike background. Having explored the network of fire-roads around the Victorian High Country aboard my trusty but burly Trek Slash, I was eager to experience this all with a more efficient bike.

The 440mm handlebars have a generous flare on them, allowing for better control on descents and comfort while in the drops on longer traverses. The dropper integration with the GRX levers is so intuitively placed, making it accessible at all times. It does retract somewhat slower than a typical mountain bike post, but that’s less of an issue on a gravel bike. The 650b wheels are poppy and playful, and that’s not the first or last time we’ll use those words to describe this bike. All of the above features combined with a very neutral geometry allow for confidence-inspiring handling. The Fugio was as much at home on steep water-bars and the odd singletrack detour, as it was on smooth gravel roads. And not only does the Fugio remove the fearful combination of dropbars and singletrack, but it also tames long gravel descents; the flared handlebars and dropper-post allow the rider to tip into corners with confidence, while the aggressive Ramblers grip and rip.

In terms of frame performance, I was pleasantly surprised by the liveliness of the steel frame. It held its own through the cattle grids, and was quick to respond when punching out of the saddle. Reynolds 725 steel boasts 27 Tour de France wins, so this frame is certainly not compromising in stiffness or agility. Of course, steel is generally heavier than carbon, and cannot be woven in ways to promote flex and stiffness throughout the frame. I’m no “steel is real” crusader, but I did not feel like I was missing out on anything by not having a carbon frame. Steel is actually a great choice specifically for gravel riding due to its well-known dampening qualities, and it’s a material that will be sure to outlive you and the next owner. 

The gearing was probably the only negative I could find with the bike, and that’s more a subjective critique than anything. The 40t chainring is paired with an 11-42t cassette, and this would be adequate for most riders on Aussie terrain. However for the Alpine region where long and steep climbs are common, I was often searching for an extra gear. Given this bike is designed to explore off the beaten track – including single-track – I think the provided gear range should have been more forgiving or slightly wider.  

Our Take

Genesis markets itself towards adventurous commuters, bike-packers, and weekend warriors – it’s “the people’s bike” and “the hipster’s bike” all at one. The colour-scheme of the Fugio certainly lends itself towards these demographics, but so does the performance. It’s fun, mechanically simple, and capable of more than just pure gravel riding. All the while, it maintains individuality and specialness with its beautifully welded steel frame. In terms of durability, I left it hanging muddy in the shed for several consecutive days, and it still refuses to creak – yet another benefit of steel over carbon. 

It’s true that for $6299, you could easily purchase a similarly spec’d carbon gravel bike from one of the major brands. But for some, that might be a little boring. For some, the bold and rugged personality of the Fugio 30 will be more befitting than the typical gravel bike which mirrors its roadie siblings. If you want a care-free and capable bike with a head-turning paint job, the Genesis Fugio 30 is a worthy partner in crime. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Genesis

Model: Fugio 30

RRP: $6299 

Weight: 11.2kg (as tested)

From: linksports.com.au

Available Sizes:  S,M,L,XL

Frame Material: Steel

Fork: Carbon 

Shifters: Shimano, GRX, Mechanical 11sp

Derailleur: Shimano, GRX, Mechanical 11sp

Crank: Shimano, GRX, Mechanical 11sp

Bottom bracket:  Shimano SM-BBR60

Chain: KMC 11sp

Cassette: Shimano XT 11-42t (11sp)

Hubs: WTB, Formula CL-712

Spokes: Steel, J bend 

Rims: WTB, STI25

Tyres: WTB Venture 650b x 47c

Brakes: Shimano, GRX hydraulic disc

Stem: Genesis, 100 mm

Handlebars: Genesis, 440 mm

Seatpost: X Fusion, Manic Gravel, 27.2mm, 50mm drop 

Saddle: Genesis