TESTED: Focus Paralane 105

Words by Richie Tyler     Photography by Robert Conroy

It’s curious. Somewhere in the past few years riding carbon fibre bikes with skinny tyres across gravel roads became a thing. No one’s quite sure when it happened, or who started it. Perhaps one day someone will scroll far enough back on Instagram to work it out.

Whatever the case, that shift has given birth to bikes like the Focus Paralane. With geometry drawn from the gran fondo bikes of the past decade, as well as aspects of cyclocross machines, the Paralane inhabits a new and emerging genre of bicycle. Marketeers at the German company, keen to simplify things, have dubbed it an adventure bike “for long adventures on country roads”.

Indeed, it’s all there in the title: ‘Para’ (side-by-side) and ‘lane’ (for the types of roads the bike’s been designed for). Whilst the definition of an adventure bike remains moot, Focus are well placed to blur the lines between road and CX bikes. Their range of roadies is well regarded and they’ve been at the forefront, too, of the growth in ‘cross across the globe in recent years.

If you boil down the narrative delivered by Focus, what they sought to develop in the Paralane was a bike with a more upright riding position. That, combined with extra clearance for bigger tyres, delivers a bike capable of exploration.

Initial Impressions

If I had to split the road vs gravel pedigree of this Paralane, my initial impression was that it’s more of the former than the latter. Pulling it out of the box I was greeted with a beautifully engineered carbon frame. If you’re a sucker for funky tube shapes, the Paralane delivers these in droves.

From its flared and flattened chainstays to its comparitively conventional round downtube this bike screams, “German engineering”. It is a beautifully designed frame, with enough cues pointing to its versatility.

There’s an elegance too about the design, form and function. Internal cable routing to keep brake hoses and shift cables clear of danger used to be a high-end feature, now it’s just standard.

A higher head tube, longer fork and lower bottom bracket provide the upright riding position the Focus engineers were seeking. It still looks like a road bike, but the changes are the sort that make a big difference when you’re out for hours on end.

Our test model came equipped with Shimano 105. Anyone who’s ridden a road bike in the past 15-odd years is likely to have ridden this group set at one point or another. It’s earned a reputation as a workhorse, and the group’s debut hydraulic disc brake version maintains that status. 

The finishing kit belies 105’s position at the lower end of the carbon-fibre versions of the Paralane. Carbon fibre continues through the bike courtesy of Focus’ in-house Concept brand. Stem, handlebars and seatpost all match, which is a rare touch indeed on production bikes.

The cut-out design of the Concept CPX seatpost is unique. It’s light, easy to adjust and, topped with a fi’zi:k Aliante R5, provides a comfortable perch.

One thing that surprised me was that the bike came equipped with 25mm versions of Schwalbe One tyres. It reinforced my initial impression that this is a road bike capable of tackling gravel paths, rather than essentially a modified CX bike of the gravel category.

What’s interesting is that slotted in amongst the wide range of road group set-equipped Paralane models are a pair of “factory” spec bikes. These, equipped with 1x chain rings, serve as demonstration that Focus engineers were targetting versatility and enjoyment with this bike.

In use

Riding my regular road bike (a Cervelo S3) one day and the Paralane the next provided a dramatic contrast. Leaving the aggressive position of my roadie behind, the fondo geometry immediately feels pleasant.

This is where the reference to gravel becomes a bit of a decoy in my opinion. The Paralane is a very comfortable bike to ride. Its upright riding position isn’t anything revolutionary; sportif variations of road bikes extend across most manufacturers’ ranges. Nevertheless, Focus engineers deserve recognition for developing a bike that’s a great option if outright speed isn’t your mission.

Where the bike does point to its off-road potential is especially evident around the wheels. Namely, the space afforded for larger tyres. Shod with 25mm tyres from the factory, the Paralane is actually capable of carrying up to 35mm tyres, not to mention mudguards.

An almost-CX fork provides plenty of clearance, as do the seat tube and stays. Swap out the tyres and you immediately open up the range this bike is capable of. Indeed that’s true of most bikes, but what’s key with the Paralane is that the versatility has been specifically engineered into this bike.

The blending of road bike and cyclocross features creates some unique benefits. I was amazed with the lateral stiffness, especially at the front end. It starts with a well-designed frame, and is reinforced by the addition of through-axles, which contribute to incredible stability.

Focus’s R.A.T (Rapid Axle Technology) through-axles take a few moments to figure out, but quickly makes so much sense. It essentially deals with the by-the-roadside challenge of traditional through-axles; no tools required. And the net effect of 12mm through axles has a profound effect on the stiffness. For purists rejecting any move away from traditional skewers, all I can say is try through-axles first.

I loved riding the Paralane on the road. Pop a set of 28 or 30mm tyres on it and I’d imagine it would be an absolutely perfect bike for those wanting a premium ride on their daily commute. Indeed the versatility adds further credence to its workhorse chops.

Conveniently, our test period took in the new Great Otway Gravel Grind. It’s worth noting that this was probably a sterner test than the Focus team in Cloppenburg may have intended. Country roads in Germany probably don’t bear that much resemblance to the loose dirt and rock of the Otway ranges.

Nevertheless, on a combination of roads and punchy gravel climbs, the Paralane stood up to most tests. The 50/34 gearing of the crank set is a perfect compromise when things head off the beaten track. If a gravel climb is steep enough it’s going to see you hike-a-bike, but I was surprised at how few times this occurred. 

In spite of my fairly aggressive position on the bike I was able to quite easily hover over the saddle and maintain traction in my rear wheel. It’s a testament to the thought that’s gone into this frame and how important position on the bike is.

This may be a refrain verging on saturation but I needed wider tyres. A handful of punctures – and some loose descents – drew this into sharp focus. In fact, I would say that if you decide to take delivery of the Paralane, ask for or purchase wider tyres.

Our take

The Paralane inhabits a funny transition period in bikes. People want to do a lot more with whatever they’re riding, and as manufacturers respond it’s likely we’ll see more and more offerings like the Paralane. 

This in no way diminishes the Paralane. It’s beautifully thought out, well crafted and a pleasure to ride. It is an incredibly versatile road bike.

If you ride for utility, it’s a great opportunity to ride what is a high-performance bike. Equally, if you prefer to spend your weekends riding long, and embrace the challenge of gravel roads, the Paralane will keep you very happy indeed.

This is not a cyclocross bike. Focus themselves place it under the road category on their website. If you want to spend all day grinding gravel, there are more appropriate bikes to choose from, but they won’t match the Paralane when it comes to smoother surfaces. If you are going off road on a regular basis, you’ll want to steer towards the Focus Mares, from the company’s CX stable.

The Paralane 105 carries an RRP of $3,799. Like most Focus bikes, there’s a lot of value packed in to each model the company offers. A fantastic frame, able group set and high quality finishing kit will keep gear-envy in check for a good number of years.

Every bike we own tells its own story about the places it takes us and the things we see aboard them. Every one of us will have our own definition of the perfect bike, but with category-blurring options like the Paralane on offer, the chances of finding it are on the up.