Ultralight yet solid with disc brakes and thru-axles
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Allen Krughoff (Noosa Professional Cycling Team) has been racing on the new Focus Mares CX this season and is hoping for glory at the upcoming US national championships in Austin, Texas(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The rear brake caliper is tucked safely away inside the rear triangle(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
These Shimano XTR pedals have clearly seen some action(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Tidy internal cable routing(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Slim seatstays and fork blades suggest a smooth ride(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Thru-axles are heralded for their additional stiffness over traditional quick-release setups but they're not usually the fastest to operate. The Focus RAT system, however, is perhaps the best of both worlds with its slick quarter-turn mechanism(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Tidy post mounts are used for the front brake caliper(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Although SRAM approves the use of 140mm rotors for cyclocross, the Focus Mares CX chassis is built for 160mm ones(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Plenty of tyre clearance all around(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
A fi'zi:k Tundra 2 saddle is clamped atop an Enve Composites carbon fibre seatpost(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The SRAM CX1 rear derailleur is essentially a slightly modified version of the MTB-specific XX1 changer(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Krughoff is one of many SRAM-sponsored cyclocross riders to go with the new CX1 1x11 drivetrain this year(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Front and rear thru-axles combat rotor rub at either end(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Clement tubeless tubular tyres are wrapped around Enve Composites carbon fibre rims(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Krughoff uses an Enve Composites carbon fibre cockpit and SRAM's CX1 group(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The 1 1/8 to 1 1/4in tapered steerer is intended to strike a balance between stiffness and rider comfort(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Focus's latest Mares CX carbon fibre cyclocross chassis moves to a disc-specific design with more rounded tube profiles(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
Krughoff enjoyed a breakout season in 2013 that culminated with a fourth-place finish at the US national championship in January 2014(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
The 11-32T cassette offers sufficient range for most courses(Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar)
There's plenty of change in the air when it comes to cyclocross bikes, and although cantilever brakes still dominate the top steps of the podium today, it doesn't take a fortune teller to see what's coming. One of the most progressive machines on the circuit is the Focus Mares CX, as ridden by American racer Allen Krughoff (Noosa Professional Cyclocross Team).
Focus' latest Mares CX borrows plenty of features from modern mountain bikes, such as its front and rear disc brakes, front and rear thru-axles, press-fit bottom bracket, feathery-light carbon fibre construction, internal cable routing, and 1x drivetrain. While some might think all of that is overkill, Krughoff is gushingly happy with the setup.
"That thing is the ticket," he told BikeRadar. "It's super sturdy and also ultra light at the same time. Nothing feels like it's twisting or loose but it doesn't feel like it beats you up when you're riding, either. And the braking is crazy good. I know that everyone says this but I literally can't think of a shortcoming on this bike."
American 'cross racer Allen Krughoff says his Focus Mares CX is stiff yet comfortable, light yet solid
Included in the bike's impressive feature set is the novel RAT thru-axle system, which accepts the same hubs and wheels as what's already out there but with a slick pin-and-socket design that's far faster to operate than standard setup. Instead of opening the lever and then unthreading the skewer, all that's required is a quarter-turn twist after the lever is opened to remove or install the skewer.
At least in theory, this provides all of the benefits of thru-axles – namely, increased interface stiffness and reduced rotor rub – while minimising the drawbacks.
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More importantly, Krughoff says that whatever differences in wheel change speed do exist between conventional quick-releases and the Focus RAT system are essentially moot, at least at this level of the sport where complete bike changes, not wheel swaps, are the norm.
"If you compare the speed of the RAT system to a regular quick-release on a fork with lawyer tabs, I'd say they're dead even," he said, adding that the end caps can also be adjusted for consistent lever positions. "We have all of our bikes lined up the same so it's an easy thing to remember."
The Focus RAT thru-axle system is faster to use than standard thru-axles
The thru-axle thing may be new to Krughoff (at least for cyclocross) but the SRAM Force CX1 group is more of a natural progression after several years on other 1x drivetrains and disc brakes (although he does run a conventional 2x11 setup on his training rig). As compared to other setups he's tried, Krughoff suggests that the new Force CX1 bits are more finished and refined-feeling.
"There's so much less variability day to day [with a hydraulic setup]. You just don't notice that it's doing anything because it's just working all the time. I ran a 1x setup on Raleigh last year so going with the 1x11 with the narrow-wide tooth profile and clutch rear derailleur is pretty much perfect."
Like many SRAM-sponsored racers, Krughoff is using the new Force CX1 1x11 drivetrain
Krughoff may of course be somewhat biased in his opinion but there's one measurement that can't be argued: this thing is light. With a complete carbon fibre cockpit and tubular wheels from Enve Composites, Shimano XTR pedals, and a fi'zi:k Tundra 2 saddle, total weight as shown is just 7.28kg (16.05lb) – less than some top-level road bikes we've profiled in the past.
Nevertheless, Krughoff insists that the bike feels anything but fragile.
"It feels like you can ride like a bat out of hell and the bike's not going to fall apart," he said.
