That's funny - the Mares AX 105 is the hot color at our local shop. Everyone around here seems to love it. I've got two friends riding them - and a couple others drooling over them. The LBS owner was at the Focus shindig up in Vermont or NH when the 2016 was unveiled and he said all the buzz was about the 105 AX color.

I agree with her on the AX saddle - it is horrible - but most bikes are going to have a terrible saddle, or at least one that will not fit a smaller/larger person well. The gumwall tires? Meh as well. I replaced them on my CX Rival and the all black looks tons better.

I've got a bunch of friends riding Mares bikes (both AX and CX) - and we all like them a bunch. Personally - the Mares AX color that I like the best is the Apex. I also prefer most anything Sram over most anything Shimano - you do not strike me as having the same taste on that front.

That being said - I bought my wife a Giant Anyroad and she absolutely loves it as a gravel bike. The shape of that frame seems well suited for someone with shorter legs - and the Comax would be 105 and less than $2K.

Good luck with the search. That's a bunch of the fun.