FOCUS: Mares AX 2.0 Disc
The Focus Mares AX 2.0 Disc proved that the long-loved mountain bike technology is equally viable for bikes with skinnier tires—and that disc brakes need not require stratospheric prices. After a thorough test, we were impressed by the 2.0 on the racecourse, and its no-nonsense build makes it a great choice for both new racers and anyone who loves riding varied terrain.
Although it’s aluminum, this bike shares its geometry with the lighter, pricier carbon ‘cross bikes in the Focus line. That geometry is ideal for American-style courses where the relatively low bottom-bracket drop improves stability around turns. Many European-bred ’cross bikes have a higher bottom bracket to let racers pedal sooner out of corners and through deep mud, but most riders will benefit from the Mares’s additional stability.
The brakes, cost-saving Tektro Lyra calipers (most skinny-tired disc bikes use Avid’s BB7 calipers), worked well once we’d taken the time to break in the rotors. We also had to adjust to the brakes’ consistency—wet, dry, muddy, or cold, braking remained the same, and required only a light touch on the levers. The Shimano 105 drivetrain is reliable, and preformed well no matter how muddy we got it.
There are, however, two drawbacks to the 2.0. First, the saddle from Focus house brand Concept was very uncomfortable—to the point of being unusable. When I went to swap in a different saddle, the clamp on the Concept post proved difficult to work with. Also, while the Concept wheels are stiff, and roll well for everyday riding, they felt like anchors on the racecourse. At less than $1,700 for a complete bike, you can’t expect flyweight wheels, but if you intend to race the Mares, an upgrade to lighter hoops should be high on your wish list—and remember, disc-compatible hubs use 135mm spacing, not the 130mm road-bike standard.
Although it’s aluminum, this bike shares its geometry with the lighter, pricier carbon ‘cross bikes in the Focus line. That geometry is ideal for American-style courses where the relatively low bottom-bracket drop improves stability around turns. Many European-bred ’cross bikes have a higher bottom bracket to let racers pedal sooner out of corners and through deep mud, but most riders will benefit from the Mares’s additional stability.
The brakes, cost-saving Tektro Lyra calipers (most skinny-tired disc bikes use Avid’s BB7 calipers), worked well once we’d taken the time to break in the rotors. We also had to adjust to the brakes’ consistency—wet, dry, muddy, or cold, braking remained the same, and required only a light touch on the levers. The Shimano 105 drivetrain is reliable, and preformed well no matter how muddy we got it.
There are, however, two drawbacks to the 2.0. First, the saddle from Focus house brand Concept was very uncomfortable—to the point of being unusable. When I went to swap in a different saddle, the clamp on the Concept post proved difficult to work with. Also, while the Concept wheels are stiff, and roll well for everyday riding, they felt like anchors on the racecourse. At less than $1,700 for a complete bike, you can’t expect flyweight wheels, but if you intend to race the Mares, an upgrade to lighter hoops should be high on your wish list—and remember, disc-compatible hubs use 135mm spacing, not the 130mm road-bike standard.
