FOCUS Cayo 105 £1,500
Best All-Rounder
Focus continues to grow in size and standing, supported by some heavy marketing from Wiggle. Its reputation for great builds and value is creeping into the system and it's beginning to undercut many of the leading brands. The Focus Cayo 105 will only enhance its reputation.
As well as an all-new carbon frame in 2010, this bike features a tapered head tube like that on the top-of-the-range frame; tube diameters that vary with frame size to give the same stiffness across the whole range; and carbon-fibre dropouts.
The frame weighs 1,280g, according to Focus, and it's a classic example of yesterday's top-end technology trickling down to bikes most of us can afford. It's equipped with Shimano 105 gears and Fulcrum 7 wheels, and it makes quite a statement with its white paint job and striking blue decals.
Once riding this bike, I am happy to note that manufacturers are these days becoming more competitive with their frame offerings, finding an excellent balance of stiffness and compliance. On the move the carbon frame glides effortlessly over the rougher road surfaces and a neutral yet stable steering setup soon has me throwing the bike around.
Out of the saddle the Cayo responds well, the combination of the chunky bottom bracket body and the slightly oversize chain stays eliminating any chance of drive flex. The 105 drivetrain works well, the gears are slick, and the brakes are smooth and reliable.
It takes little time to drop the USE Boost Bars onto this bike. The cockpit seems a little bit roomier than I expected, allowing me to get into a better position down on the bars, and the headset stack allows me to really drop the stem low to make the most of an aero position.
It seems to me that the classic frames (ie not compacts) convert better to time-trial rigs with the small adjustments we are making. The ride as a TT bike is encouraging, I can imagine some deep-section wheels and an inline seatpost, and this bike would be ready to race half-Ironman UK or the Helvellyn Triathlon. So, as far as races go, this would be a great all-rounder.
Frameset: Focus Cayo Carbon Fibre
Shifters: Shimano 105
Seatpost: FSA SL280
Wheelset: Fulcrum Racing 7
Sizes: XXS (48cm), XS (50cm), S (52cm) M (54cm), L (56cm), XL (58cm), XXL (60cm), XXXL (62cm)
Info: www.wiggle.co.uk
How it rated
As a road bike 8/10
As a TT bike 8/10
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