Focus Mares vs Cube SL Cross

fastbatard

Thinking of getting a cyclocross bike and narrowed it down to these two. Both look good value. Anyone have any experience of these or can suggest others I should consider? Pretty much ruled out the Spesh Tricross with its £750 price tag and 2300 groupset.

Focus Mares AX 3.0 Tiagra 2011 £699 (12% discount through CTC from wiggle).
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360054514/

Cube SL Cross Pro 2011 £739
http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/cross-road-l ... cross-pro/

To be used mainly for commuting. I've been using a Specialized Allez but fancy something a bit more able to cope with the dire state of the roads and that can take full proper mudguards. Tyres on both would be swapped for something more road orientated.

I'm leaning towards the Cube as I've found a very friendly, knowledgable LBS who stock them and like the idea of having a shop to go back to with any problems as opposed to ordering online.

Any help or advice much appreciated.

Tony Mc

I can only comment on the focus as I have the 2010 105 version for £750 which I've bought as a winter do it all bike

Still got the stock wheels on for 20 mile round trip commute to work and love it had it off road and its great fun will be putting on some 25mm road tyres and mud guards in the near future for the commute not sure on your preference but the drop bars would sway it for me compared to the cube

petemadoc

What size are you? If a 50 or 52 is ok then look at the 2010 mares

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360045314/

£750

Cabon fork and 105 wins every time.

I've got a 2009 mares and I'd be gutted if I didn't have th drop bars. Most of the time I'veot road tyres on which makes it pretty much a normal road bike.

fastbatard

Glad to hear the positive comments on the focus, must admit I do prefer the drop bars for road riding.
Shame I need a 56 frame the 2010 model is a bargain.
Did consider the 105 2011 version but doesn't look like the carbon forks have mudguard mounts.

petemadoc

Wouldn't let the mudguard mounts swing it. Crud mk2 road racers would do the job fine.

Personally I wouldn't even consider the cube because of the bars and deore group and the triple chainset and the 11-32 cassette

There are probably other cross bikes around for this kind of money but the cube is really a hybrid.

Tony Mc

PeteMadoc wrote:

Wouldn't let the mudguard mounts swing it. Crud mk2 road racers would do the job fine.

Personally I wouldn't even consider the cube because of the bars and deore group and the triple chainset and the 11-32 cassette

There are probably other cross bikes around for this kind of money but the cube is really a hybrid.

I've put the crud Mk2 guards on my Focus mare no issues and as he says I'd go for the drop bars

father_jack

Are there mudguard eyelets on frame and fork?
Only on the Mares Comp.

rando

I also like the idea of a cyclocross bike as I want an all year round bike. I do not commute on my bike and will only use it on road and gravel paths and do not require a ultra light true road bike. I will never win any races and am happy to tootle along at my own pace. I do however like doing decent distances (which for me is 40-100 miles) and will get out most weekends in the year.
Now I have been looking at getting a hub gear bike like this : http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/day-01/day-01-alfine

I appreciate that this is more expensive than the Focus Mares that has been suggested but are there any views on which is the better bike . I am aware of the Genesis only having 8 gears but on my current hybrid bike I only ever use the gears on the middle front cog and 3/4/5/6 on the rear so do not think that the limit of 8 hub gears will be a problem.
Can anyone pursuade me either way on which would be the better bike for me.
Or suggest another bike that could save me money !!

fastbatard

Tony Mc wrote:

PeteMadoc wrote:

Wouldn't let the mudguard mounts swing it. Crud mk2 road racers would do the job fine.

Personally I wouldn't even consider the cube because of the bars and deore group and the triple chainset and the 11-32 cassette

There are probably other cross bikes around for this kind of money but the cube is really a hybrid.

I've put the crud Mk2 guards on my Focus mare no issues and as he says I'd go for the drop bars

What size tyres do you have with the Crud roadracers on? With the roads I'm riding on I want a bit more substantial tyre, say 28mm or even 32mm so I don't think the cruds would fit. Mudguards really are a priority too and I'm pretty sure from the pic that the Mares AX 3.0 Tiagra has eyelets front and rear. I've questioned wiggle to confirm.
Thanks for your responses, I'm definately swinging towards the Focus now!

petemadoc

I've just found something interesting in your size



http://www.pedalscyclecentre.co.uk/prod ... 1802&rs=gb

Very smart and nice to be a bit different

Tony Mc

fastbatard wrote:

Tony Mc wrote:

PeteMadoc wrote:

Wouldn't let the mudguard mounts swing it. Crud mk2 road racers would do the job fine.

Personally I wouldn't even consider the cube because of the bars and deore group and the triple chainset and the 11-32 cassette

There are probably other cross bikes around for this kind of money but the cube is really a hybrid.

I've put the crud Mk2 guards on my Focus mare no issues and as he says I'd go for the drop bars

What size tyres do you have with the Crud roadracers on? With the roads I'm riding on I want a bit more substantial tyre, say 28mm or even 32mm so I don't think the cruds would fit. Mudguards really are a priority too and I'm pretty sure from the pic that the Mares AX 3.0 Tiagra has eyelets front and rear. I've questioned wiggle to confirm.
Thanks for your responses, I'm definitely swinging towards the Focus now!

25mm but I'm pretty sure they'd work with the larger tyres

fastbatard

PeteMadoc wrote:

I've just found something interesting in your size



http://www.pedalscyclecentre.co.uk/prod ... 1802&rs=gb

Very smart and nice to be a bit different

That is very interesting, very smart looking bike. Not so sure about the disc brakes (vowed never to have them again after having them on a hybrid) but maybe these are ok. Had never considered a steel frame either. Love the brown saddle and bar tape too!

petemadoc

fastbatard wrote:

PeteMadoc wrote:

I've just found something interesting in your size



http://www.pedalscyclecentre.co.uk/prod ... 1802&rs=gb

Very smart and nice to be a bit different

That is very interesting, very smart looking bike. Not so sure about the disc brakes (vowed never to have them again after having them on a hybrid) but maybe these are ok. Had never considered a steel frame either. Love the brown saddle and bar tape too!

IMO this is a beautiful bike. Disc brakes are now UCI legal and way better than most alternatives usually seen on cross bikes, I'm currently trying to find a replacement for my poor V brakes.

It's a little over budget but very easy to fall for. Stick some 23mm road tyres on in the summer and you'll have a fantastic road bike too. Only problem is getting a test ride.

fastbatard

I'm awaiting an insurance payout after a mishap with my road bike and was expecting them to pay directly into my bank as they asked for my bank details when informing them of the claim. This is the reason I started looking around at bikes and was fancying going for a cyclocross and was getting excited about the Genesis!

However I got a phone call today from the insurance companies approved bike supplier wanting to replace my bike. I enquired about getting a different model and was advised that yes this is ok and they mentioned an 18% discount if I want to spend more! So I'm assuming that if I want the cash the insurance company will deduct 18% as this is the discount they get and would be quite a chunk out of the payout.

Had a look on their website and spotted this which would virtually be a like for like replacement and quite like the look of it.

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/eng/Produ ... ADX-Tiagra