Build it as a utilitarian and bombproof tourer with the stock steel fork, or upgrade to the carbon fork and add finish it with the 1X drivetrain for something a bit more daring. For our top-of-the-line steel Croix de Fer, we’ve chosen Reynolds 853. Air hardened, the benefits of the process are particularly noticeable in the weld area where, unlike conventional steel alloys, strength can actually increase after cooling in air immediately after welding. 853 is also heat-treated to give high strength and damage resistance, and the steel properties allow thin walls to be used, so that lower weight but fatigue-resistant structures can be made. Thru axles front and rear (12mm), three bottle cage mounts for those long summer escapes and a blue that will make you go ‘ooooh’. What more could you wish for?