Focus' Paralane is a bike ready for the shortcuts less travelled

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Germany’s Focus has unveiled the all-new Paralane, a disc bike the brand claims can handle the rough with the smooth, whatever the weather.

• Focus Paralane first ride review
• Focus Izalco Max Disc Dura-Ace Mix review
• Focus Raven Max Factory 29 review

The new bike falls under the ‘endurance’ banner, and in Focus’ hierarchy it sits between the Izalco Max and the much more relaxed Izalco Ergoride. R&D engineer Patrick Schmidt described it as a bike you can "take shortcuts" on – down lanes, tracks and unpaved roads – with suitably large tyre clearances and levels of comfort along with light overall weight. Interestingly though he denied that Focus had launched a gravel bike – "that's too niche", he said.

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You can see the influence of other Focus models in the Paralane's tube shapes

To us the Paralane does sound rather like a gravel machine, but at the roadie end of the spectrum. It's not an out and out off-road-road monster like Open’s UP or Cannondale’s Slate, being more in keeping with Cervélo’s new C-Series (with which it shares plenty of similarities, including its approach to geometry).

• Cervélo C5 review

The idea behind the Paralane apparently came from within Focus’ design team (and founder Mike Kluge, a three-times world champion cross-country rider).

Focus Paralane: familiar design language

Focus Paralane: weight and comfort considerations

Focus Paralane: versatility as standard

Focus Paralane: full range and spec details

Carbon bikes

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: SRAM eTap, 11-speed
• Front derailleur: SRAM eTap
• Shift / brake lever: SRAM eTap
• Cassette: SRAM XG-1190
• Crankset: SRAM Red
• Gearing: front: 52/36 rear: 11/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept CPX
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5
• Seatpost: Concept CPX Plus, 27.2mm, 340mm Carbon
• Brake calipers: SRAM Red, 160mm / 160mm
• Wheelset: Fulcrum Quattro Carbon db
• Tyres: Schwalbe One 28c Race Guard, foldable
• Fender: Curana Paralane
• Colour: Black/black matt

• Full spec TBC

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: SRAM Apex 1, 11-Speed
• Front derailleur: SRAM Apex 1
• Shift brake lever: SRAM Apex 1
• Cassette: SRAM PG-1130
• Crankset: SRAM S350, PF30
• Gear: Front: 44 Rear: 11/36
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5
• Seatpost: Concept CPX Plus, 25.4mm, 340mm, Di2, Carbon
• Brake calipers: SRAM Apex 1, 160mm / 160mm
• Wheelset: Zipp 303 Firecrest db
• Tyres: Schwalbe S-One 30c MicroSkin, foldable
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: Brown/Fluo Yellow Matt

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra, 11-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra
• Shift brake lever: Shimano Ultegra
• Cassette: Shimano 105
• Crankset: Shimano Ultegra, PF30
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 11/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5
• Seatpost: Concept CPX Plus, 25.4mm, 340mm, Di2, Carbon
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS685, 160mm / 160mm
• Wheelset: DT-Swiss R23, CL, 622-18
• Tyres: Schwalbe One 28c Race Guard, foldable
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: Black/Black Matt

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano 105, 11-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano 105
• Shift brake lever: Shimano 105
• Cassette: Shimano 105
• Crankset: Shimano RS500, PF30
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 11/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5
• Seatpost: Concept CPX Plus, 25.4mm, 340mm, Di2, Carbon
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS505, 160mm / 160mm
• Wheelset: Fulcrum CEX 7.0, 622-17
• Tyres: Schwalbe One 28c Race Guard, foldable
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: Green/Fluo Green

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Tiagra, 10-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano Tiagra
• Shift brake lever: Shimano Tiagra
• Cassette: Shimano HG500
• Crankset: Shimano Tiagra, PF30
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 12/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Concept EX
• Seatpost: Concept EX Plus, 25.4mm, 350mm
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS405, 160mm / 160mm
• Hubs: Concept SL, 12x142 / 12x100mm
• Rims: DT Swiss R522
• Tyres: Schwalbe Lugano 28c K-Guard
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: Black/Black Matt

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra, 11-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra
• Shift brake lever: Shimano Ultegra
• Cassette: Shimano 105
• Crankset: Shimano Ultegra, PF30
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 11/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5
• Seatpost: Concept CPX Plus, 25.4mm, 340mm, Di2, Carbon
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS685, 160mm / 140mm
• Wheelset: DT-Swiss R23, CL, 622-18
• Tyres: Schwalbe One 28c Race Guard, foldable
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: Black/Black Matt

Alloy bikes

• Spec TBC

• Frame: Paralane AL Disc, Aluminium
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano 105, 11-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano 105
• Shift brake lever: Shimano 105
• Cassette: Shimano 105
• Crankset: Shimano RS500, BSA
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 11/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Concept Endurance
• Seatpost: Concept EX, 25.4mm, 350mm
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS505, 160mm / 160mm
• Hubs: Concept SL, 12x142mm / 12x100mm
• Rims: DT-Swiss R522
• Tyres: Schwalbe Lugano 28c K-Guard
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: MagicBlack/Green/Blue Matt

• Frame: Paralane AL Disc, Aluminium
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: SRAM Apex 1, 11-Speed
• Front derailleur: SRAM Apex 1
• Shift brake lever: SRAM Apex 1
• Cassette: SRAM PG-1130
• Crankset: SRAM S350-1, GXP
• Gear: Front: 44 Rear: 11/36
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Concept Endurance
• Seatpost: Concept EX, 25.4mm, 350mm
• Brake calipers: SRAM Apex 1, 160mm / 160mm
• Hubs: Concept SL, 12x142mm / 12x100mm
• Rims: DT-Swiss R522
• Tyres: Schwalbe Lugano 28c K-Guard
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: MagicBlack/White Matt

• Frame: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Tiagra, 10-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano Tiagra
• Shift brake lever: Shimano Tiagra
• Cassette: Shimano HG500
• Crankset: Shimano Tiagra, BSA
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 12/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Concept EX
• Seatpost: Concept EX, 25.4mm, 350mm
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS405, 160mm / 160mm
• Hubs: Concept EX, 12x142mm / 12x100mm
• Rims: DT-Swiss R522
• Tyres: Schwalbe Lugano 28c K-Guard
• Fender: including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: MagicBlack/Grey Matt

• Frame: Paralane AL Disc, Aluminium
• Fork: Paralane Disc, Carbon
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Tiagra, 10-Speed
• Front derailleur: Shimano Tiagra
• Shift brake lever: Shimano Tiagra
• Cassette: Shimano HG500
• Crankset: Shimano Tiagra, BSA
• Gear: Front: 52/36 Rear: 12/28
• Handlebar: Concept EX
• Stem: Concept
• Saddle: Concept Endurance Donna
• Seatpost: Concept EX, 25.4mm, 350mm
• Brake calipers: Shimano RS405, 160mm / 160mm
• Hubs: Concept SL, 12x142mm / 12x100mm
• Rims: DT-Swiss R522
• Tyres: Schwalbe Lugano 28c K-Guard
• Fender: Including Curana Paralane fender
• Colour: MagicBlack/Pink/Blue Matt

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