In a significant reveal, Genesis has introduced three exciting prototype bicycles at the IceBike show held in Manchester, including a brand new all-road model that is poised to replace the beloved Equilibrium. As a specialist in adventure and touring bikes based in the UK, Genesis showcased some intriguing advancements in their frameset design, with their chief engineer present to elaborate on the innovative features.
While Genesis stopped short of definitively naming the new models, there’s strong speculation within the cycling community that the all-road prototype will indeed take on the Equilibrium name. Additionally, a revamped version of the Fugio is set to debut, alongside an eye-catching gravel bike featuring the trending 32-inch wheels, which will be included in Genesis’ Vagabond lineup. For those curious about this unique bike, more details are available on off.road.cc. For the sake of clarity, we will refer to these models by their anticipated names rather than labeling them as mere prototypes, with a special focus on the new Equilibrium, aligning with our cycling expertise here at road.cc.
Ryan Carroll, the chief engineer at Madison, the parent company of Genesis, shared insights into the development of the new Equilibrium, emphasizing the concept of utilizing various strengths of steel in specific areas of the bike to enhance performance. He stated, "We’ve integrated different materials for different sections instead of opting for one single, ultra-stiff front triangle."
He continued, "When materials are combined correctly, the result is a much more engaging riding experience." Key areas of focus during the design process included the down tube, bottom bracket, and chain stays. This approach led Genesis to move away from standard offerings from manufacturers like Reynolds and Columbus, instead opting for a custom-made downtube sourced from Japan.
Carroll described this material as "a very premium heat-treated steel," explaining that the chainstays are made from heat-treated chromoly steel, which together ensure the bike delivers precision and power. Moving upwards, the top tube employs chromoly as well, providing riders with the classic, smooth feel and comfort associated with steel. Furthermore, a newly designed carbon fork is attached to the generously sized head tube. Carroll noted that the head tube features a taper of 1 1/4 inches, as anything larger, such as an inch-and-a-half, would be excessive for maintaining proper proportions.
The new Equilibrium is designed to accommodate 40mm tires and is compatible with wireless electronic groupsets, featuring a streamlined design where only the rear brake cable runs internally through the frame.
When it comes to pricing and availability, there isn’t much to report just yet. However, we anticipate that fully branded versions of all three prototype models should hit the market sometime in late 2026. While specific prices remain undisclosed, it’s reasonable to expect that the starting price for the new Equilibrium—given its design around advanced electronic, mostly wireless groupsets—will not fall on the lower end of the spectrum. Currently, the Equilibrium with a mechanical 105 groupset retails for £2,699.99, indicating that the production version of the prototype will likely carry a significantly higher price tag.
The upcoming Fugio gravel bike is expected to offer a budget-friendly variant featuring mixed components, alongside models with upgraded specifications equipped with full Shimano CUES groupsets—all sharing the same frameset. We also lack pricing details for the Vagabond 32-inch wheeled bike at this time, but we hope to have further information available in the spring.
We have expressed interest in obtaining test bikes, so stay tuned for comprehensive reviews of all three models later this year on both road.cc and off.road.cc.
