Iain Treloar grapples with the weight of expectation with this German cyclocross weapon.
There are some bikes that leave an impression, and perhaps the most indelible for me was the mark left by an orange and red cyclocross bike from Focus a couple of years back. That bike, the Mares CX 4.0, offered a rare convergence of ride quality, spot-on fit and sublime visual appeal that still causes a pang all this time later. It was in versatility alone that the Mares CX fell short of the mark; it was fully carbon and fully sick, but it didn’t have any concessions toward a use other than pure cyclocross craziness.
The aluminium-framed Mares AX 1.0 was a model that I had my eye on then and have waited to test for the past two years. At a glance it looked like the answer to any nagging concerns with its carbon predecessor. Sometimes anticipation can be a dangerous thing; I’d had months to build this model up in my head.
I expected much from this bike; I wanted it to have the same immediacy to its ride as its carbon big-brother, I wanted it to look amazing, and I wanted it to have eyelets to mount useful accessories, be able to take a few knocks, and have hydraulic disc brakes. These are all inclusions on the Mares AX, significantly adding to its appeal as an all-rounder, but it’s a bike that excels in other ways that are a little more subtle, too.
As disc brakes have become an increasingly prominent part of the landscape, manufacturers have grappled with a number of issues related to how they attach the wheels to the frame. There are competing axle types, different spacings and a whole mishmash of other fun issues to overcome. Focus have arguably the cleanest solution of the lot, with a proprietary thru-axle design front and rear that adds stiffness, is extremely tidy and is quicker to operate than a standard quick release. It’s blindingly simple but ingenious, just one of many nice little flourishes to the Mares.
The geometry of the Mares is approachable, although relatively short in the top tube for its size range. This gives it an alluringly nimble character befitting of a cyclocross bike; you feel like you’re on top of the bike rather than stretched out along it, which pays dividends in technical terrain.
The Mares handles itself capably on the commute as well, feeling lithe rather than lumbering. The ride is appreciably harsher than its carbon equivalent, particularly through the back end; a carbon seatpost would be a good first upgrade to add a little more compliance if a cushier ride is desired. I can’t say I found this an issue, particularly; over an hour’s commute it doesn’t beat you up but rather adds to awareness of the imperfections of the surface. There are also concessions toward riding other than cyclocross, with eyelets for a rack and rear mudguard—although oddly, there’s no such easy solution to fit a front mudguard, which is a puzzling and disappointing exclusion.
It’s pleasing to see Focus persisting with SRAM’s hydraulic disc system; the company’s hydraulic products went through a high-profile recall which dented consumer confidence, but after a redesign they’re back and working hard to re-enter the space now filled by Shimano. The shifting of SRAM is as gloriously tactile as ever, and their braking performance is exceptionally confidence inspiring; it would be a mistake to be put off by its inclusion on this bike.
The componentry selected throughout is of similarly high quality, albeit of a less chequered history. The fast rolling Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres, with ever-so-trendy white gumwalls, are quick rolling on a range of surfaces; they’re specced here in a 700x38c, but there’s ample clearance for mud or a wider tyre. There’s little to fault across the bike; it’s a beautifully presented, intelligently designed cross bike with decent versatility—but it retains the slight bias towards pure cross riding of the Mares CX, and as a result its crossover potential isn’t yet fully realised. If you’re not fussed about mudguards, however, and want something both agile and robust for the commute or the ‘cross track, the Mares AX deserves to sit high up your list.
Frame: Alloy, triple butted, thru-axle
Fork: Carbon disc-specific, thru-axle
Brakes: SRAM HRD 700
Gearing: SRAM Apex (2×10), 46/36t (F) by 11/28 (R)
Wheels: Concept Disc
Tyres: Schwalbe Rocket Ron, 700x38c
RRP: $2,399
87%
Function 34/40
Quality 36/40
Price 7/10
Appearance 10/10
For dealers, focus-bikes.com/au/en/
Our thanks to Jetnikoff Cycles for providing this test bike for review. Note: since publication of this review, the 2016 model has been released, with a different paintjob.
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