New Toy

[Bug]

I ordered my new toy today! After three years of commuting on a Giant OCR4 (the cheapest road bike I could find at the time), it was time for a change. So, I plumped for the Focus Mares Disc which is currently discounted by £300 at Wiggle. Hopefully this should be exactly the bike I've been looking for for a while now - disc brakes for the wet and the flexibility to take some off-road whilst still having drops for the road.

I know some people say that a cross bike isn't the jack-of-all-trades that it looks like, but I reckon it will be. And Wiggle do a 7 day test ride on all Focus bikes so I can always return it if it disappoints. The only things that didn't seem ideal were lack of mudguard eyes (ah well, I'll use p-clips) and an alloy fork (but I may upgrade that if the ride is too harsh).

For an all-105-equipped bike, £700 seems like a bit of a steal. I'll report back once I have some commuting miles on it!

 

[DJ]

How exciting, it's lovely getting a new bike is it not!

 

[Keith Oates]

Hope you enjoy if Bug, will look forward to a progress report in the future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mr_cellophane]

Nice - Buy now pay 2010. I wonder if I could order one now and then pay for it in January under my C2W scheme.

 

[trio25]

I think it probably has a carbon fork, my focus mares does. I love my bike, it hasn't got disc brakes but otherwise I think they are the same. I have mainly used mine off road but last week rode back on road from my parents house and was just as fast as if I was on a road bike.

 

[MadoneRider1991]

sounds gd mate

 

[Soltydog]

I know some people say that a cross bike isn't the jack-of-all-trades that it looks like, but I reckon it will be.

I got a Tricross in December & have found it to be an excellent jack-of-all-trades despite what some on here say. Done a few commutes (cycle track & roads) & a couple of ton rides with no problems, was even pushing 30mph on the flat near the end of the last ton ride, so quite good for speed too
I reckon I'll be doing more miles on the Tricross than any other bike this year, hope you enjoy yours as much as i do

 

[fossyant]

Pics when you get it

 

[Bug]

It came yesterday and I was putting bars and pedals on yesterday night at 11pm so that I could ride it to work at 6am this morning!! (Can you see that I was quite excited about it?!)

I'll post a more detailed review when I have time over lunch today but my initial thoughts are:

Disk brakes - I initially thought that these were quite weak. However, after being used on the commute today, they just got better and better as they bedded-in. Nice modulation, but I haven't whacked them on hard yet, so I can't say what their ultimate power is.
Ride quality - It's Alu with Alu forks so it was never going to be very forgiving. The trade-off, though, is that it seems to respond very sharply. The geometry is a lot different to my OCR, too. I'll check the figures later but it seems like the wheelbase is shorter, even though this is an XL (58) frame, whereas the Giant was an M. I can feel the 35mm knobblies sapping speed, so I probably will swap for slicks, but the trade-off is that they dealt with potholed streets really well!

I'll post some piccies later, but so far I am really happy with it.