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Focus has seen its popularity soar in the last couple of years, as it has continued to produce top performing bikes with impressive levels of kit for not a lot of money.
The Cayo range is the epitome of bang for your buck. This, the 2009 Cayo Ultegra model, offers a full carbon frame and fork, complete Shimano Ultegra SL groupset and Mavic Aksium wheels – an impressive spec considering Wiggle is asking just £1,599 for the lot.
Uni-directional carbon is used in the frame and SSPS (stable stiffness per size) means the carbon lay-up changes throughout the size range – so the larger the frame the more carbon there is in key places. Internal rear brake cable routing ensures clean lines along the large top tube, while the huge downtube provides the frame with massive levels of stiffness. There’s a substantial degree of additional carbon around the bottom bracket and chainstays too so chances of unwanted flex are next to none.
The Ultegra SL build kit comprises a 50/34t compact chainset matched to an 12-27 cassette. That, combined with the low overall weight, should make ascending hills a joy. Handlebars are FSA Compacts, a shape I’m particularly fond of, and there’s a Concept branded stem, seatpost and saddle – the latter in fetching white. Cable housings have been upgraded to Jagwire items, though the silver colour is of questionable taste.
This size L/56cm test bike features a 73.5° head angle and 73.5° seat angle. A look at the geometry chart on the website reveals the geometry for the two smallest bikes has been appropriately tweaked for smaller riders.
It should be added too that for 2009 Team Milram will be racing aboard Focus bikes and for now, at least, riding bikes not all that dissimilar from the one above.
