With current US National Cyclocross Champion, Jeremy Powers, riding the venerable Focus Mares CX Disc, the all-new design has received a ton of attention. Hitting the shops prior to the cyclocross season, the revised bike represents major advancements in design and performance for the German brand’s flagship cross bike.
With nearly 400 grams of weight reduction in the frame/fork, the Mares CX went through a top-to-bottom re-design with thinner seatstays and revised fork for a smoother ride and utilizes more high-modulus carbon fiber in its layup schedule. Of course, one of the nifty advancements with the disc-equipped version is the Rapid Axle Technology (RAT), which allows thru axles to be swapped in a jiffy.
Perhaps setting the table for UCI road disc adoption, the RAT design is perfect for cyclocross use and may find itself aboard more cross-country mountain bikes in coming years. The Focus Mares CX Disc frames feature 15mm thru axles in front and mountain bike standard 142×12 thru axles in the rear. Both standards should come as no surprise and make complete sense here.
The CX 2.0 Disc model comes decked out with SRAM’s awesome Rival 22 kit with hydraulic brakes. This new kit will be the workhorse of the SRAM lineup and features all the same mechanicals of the more expensive Red 22, but with more pedestrian metals instead of carbon and titanium bits. The rest of the CX 2.0 Disc kit features durable, workhorse components worthy of several seasons of cyclocross duty.
Focus Mares CX 2.0 Features:
- Mares CX P2T Carbon frame and fork
- Full SRAM Rival groupset with hydraulic discs
- DT Swiss R24 Spline Disc wheelset
- House-brand cockpit bits
- Weight: 922 grams (56cm frame), 418 grams (fork)
- Price: ~$3600 USD
The Bottom Line
The Focus Mares CX 2.0 Disc is built as a dedicated cyclocross racer with steep lines and racy geometry. Opting for a full SRAM Rival 22 kit with hydraulic disc brakes keeps the price down while maintaining a high level of durability for the long haul.