The Focus Paralane Donna Ultegra.
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Focus Dive into Road Endurance with New ‘Paralane’ Disc

Focus bikes from Germany have long been race orientated since World Champion Cyclocross rider Mike Kluge founded the company.

However, the newest addition to the Focus arsenal targets riders who value all-day comfort on the same level that they demand performance. 

Introducing the Focus Paralane, the endurance road disc offering from the German manufacturer.

Whilst some technology is borrowed from other bikes in the Focus fleet, the Paralane was a clean-slate design.

“We want to offer people who are passionate about cycling a road bike that they feel safe and, above all, comfortable on – especially on long rides with a wide variety of road surfaces,” explains Fabian Scholz, FOCUS engineer.

The new Focus Paralane frame.
The new Focus Paralane frame.

The Paralane features a shorter reach and taller headtube to encourage the most comfortable riding position possible. The 75mm bottom bracket drop on the 56cm frame also lowers the centre of gravity making the ride more stable but in turn, alters the stack height up front without simply stretching the headtube, totaling the less aggressive stance the Paralane was chasing. 

With these additions to the geometry that are more or less standardised on modern endurance bikes, Focus have lengthened the fork and slackened the headtube angle to 72 degrees with a 46mm rake on the 56cm frame making it more stable on high-speed descents and loose surfaces like gravel. 

The Paralane comes in six frame sizes and like the current Focus Izalco Max, the geometry is size-specific as per their SSPS frame technology. This means each size option has its own carbon layup and specific tube profiles to suit each size in the range.

Focus have also worked on adapting their carbon tube profiling, shape and wall thickness to offer the most comfortable tube shape whilst maintaining its rigidity where it matters most. So the Paralane has skinny seat stays and a flattened seat tube for deflection and compliance and flattened chainstays and a tapered headtube for direct power transfer and planted handling. 

The 56cm carbon frame weighs in at just over 900 grams which makes it relatively light within its market.

Other interesting factors to the new Paralane is the ability to fit very wide 35mm tyres within the fork and seatstays of the bike.

The frame also features a unique mudguard integration system that Focus designed with Belgian mudguard manufacturers Curana specifically for the Paralane.
A clip-on bracket bridge sits between the rear seatstays whilst almost invisible eyelets above the dropouts allow seamless integration without hindering the aesthetics. 

Focus include their RAT 12mm thru axle on the Paralane range. The Rapid Axle Technology allows quick and simple wheel changes and is featherweight light. 

Shimano’s RS405 hydraulic disc brakes then round up the tidy Focus endurance offering.

There is even an aluminium frame option for the Paralane that mimics the carbon layup as best as Focus could. With subtle welds and fluid-form design it would be hard to differentiate it from its carbon counterpart just on looks.

The Focus Paralane eTap.
The Focus Paralane eTap.

Up the top is the flagship model featuring SRAM’s eTap HydroHC groupset, Fulcrum Quattro Carbon DB wheels and 28mm Schwalbe One tyres. The Australian RRP is $8,999.00

The Focus Paralane Ultegra.
The Focus Paralane Ultegra.

Then the Paralane Ultegra which features the Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset, RS685 hydraulic disc brakes, DT Swiss R23 wheels and the Schwalbe One 28mm tyres. This bike also comes in two colour options and is $4,899.00

Focus Paralane Factory.
Focus Paralane Factory.

The Focus Paralane Factory option is one spec’d by a Focus product manager to optimise the adventure credentials of the Paralane more than any other model in the portfolio. Built around the SRAM 1×11 groupset it features the hydraulic disc brakes and Zipp wheels and will cost $4,999.00

The Focus Paralane AL Apex 1.
The Focus Paralane AL Apex 1.

The alloy Focus Paralane features the Apex 1x groupset from SRAM and the price is set at $2,599.00

The Focus Paralane Donna Ultegra.
The Focus Paralane Donna Ultegra.

There is also a womens-specific carbon model available with Shimano Ultegra and will cost $4,899

All in all the Focus Paralane is apparently compliant enough to be ridden on the roughest roads according to Focus, whilst being rigid and sportif-based to continue harnessing the athletic potential of any rider. 

To find out more about the Paralane visit Focus-bikes.com where you will also find the dealer locator. 

 

 

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