Any experience of Focus cross bikes?

[JoJo90]

Hey guys,

*waves hello:)*

I've been considering getting a cross bike for a while and finally have some decent cash saved up. Having looked through various models/shops it seems to me that Focus (wiggle.co.uk) cross bikes offer amazing value for the price, for example:

Focus Cross Expert
Specifications
Frame Focus Cross Race
Fork Carbon racing fork
Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra ICE
Gear levers Shimano Ultegra ICE
Cassette Ultegra 12-27
Chainset Truvativ Elita Polish 48/34
Stem Concept Extreme
Handlebar Concept Extreme
Headset FSA Orbit ISCX
Saddle Velo
Seat Post Concept Extreme
Brakes Tektro CR 720
Brake Levers Shimano Ultegra + Tektro
Wheel Set Mavic Aksium
Tyres Schwalbe Racing Ralph

Some amazing kit there for £899.99 ...

Has anyone actually ridden one before, and if so how do Focus cross bikes stack up?

Thanks :D

[pm63]

Hey JoJo90,

My friend has a Mares cross (the one that is one step down from the one you are planning on getting) and I have ridden it quite a bit.

I can tell you that it is a very good, fast and solid bike. However, since I am not used to hard, road-bike style seats I can honestly say that on the trails it feels like getting raped.

That said, it handles everything me and him have thrown at it and Focus bikes are very highly regarded for their value. If you have never ridden a cross it might take a while to get used to on the trails, but for mainly road with some basic trail riding, a cross bike is the best option.

[JoJo90]

I can honestly say that on the trails it feels like getting raped. :eek::rolleyes::D

Yay, I'm even more tempted now! (by the bike, not the raping, although I will give anything a go once.)

[pm63]

Haha, it's just me not being used to road bike style seats. But I would reccomend their cross bikes. Solid, very good value for money.

[JoJo90]

My only trouble now is deciding to go for either the canti or Disc version. In my opinion Disc is the only way to go for UK weather conditions especially off-road, I remember the V-Brakes on my old GT Timberline left lovely grooves in the rims after a year or so due to all the debris from the trails. This is with washing the bike properly after each run (we are talking 4-5h sessions in the Peaks).

I've tried mechanical disc brakes before and have been a little unimpressed, I've tweaked them to perfection but stopping power and modulation aren't great.

[acorn_user]

Hello,
one pitfall is that you won't be able to test ride the bike. Focus generally has a good reputation, in Germany as well as the UK. I suppose a good alternative would be a Planet X uncle john cross.

[pm63]

Also, UCI rules do not allow disk brakes (which explains why Focus only make one model that has them), so if you are taking park in any races with UCI rules... well... you won't be taking part in them :p

[JoJo90]

Hello,
one pitfall is that you won't be able to test ride the bike. Focus generally has a good reputation, in Germany as well as the UK. I suppose a good alternative would be a Planet X uncle john cross.

Luckily wiggle.co.uk let you return the bike after a few days if you don't like it!

As for cross racing, yeah you right but then again if I ask myself seriously will I ever look to race this thing the answer is a no. I want it to be able to cycle to the woods, bomb it down firetracks, then cycle home again. This feels like a slog and overkill on my MTB (which I love for the rougher tracks but sometimes you just wanna go out and cycle for miles rather than technical stuff). This would be my popping to the shops / into town / road machine as well. I would take it over some demanding stuff and going with the UK weather am sure to get cack all over the rims...

Having said that the frame you recommended looks great, my only gripe with the focus is no canti mounts so if after a year I wanted to give cantis a try its a case of buying a new frame.

As for the UCI rules, don't these just apply to the 'top level' races?