The Focus Cayo Evo 3.0 has just arrived for test, and a few things jumped out immediately about this US$3,499/£2,299 bike. Both UK and US test riders have given rave reviews to other iterations of the Cayo – the Evo 4.0 was among the finalists for the 2013 Cycling Plus Bike of the Year – and this particular model builds on the great chassis with SRAM Force, a 3T cockpit and Fulcrum wheels exclusive to the German bike brand.
While cable routing and coverage may be an insignificant detail for some, it shouldn't be, because the cables are the lifelines of your bike, as James Huang recently pointed out.
There isn't a single centimeter of exposed shifter cable on the Cayo Evo 3.0 between the shifters and the derailleurs. Focus runs housing all the way through the down tube – with an easy access port at the bottom bracket – and includes compression housing for the front derailleur behind the down tube. At the rear, the cable runs internally until the very end of the frame, where it pops out in a tidy curl of housing to the derailleur.
The Evo keeps your cables clean, no matter the weather
Should you decide to upgrade to an electronic drivetrain, the frame is ready to go.
The frame comes in five sizes, from 48 to 60cm. For comparison, the higher-end Izalco Team has seven sizes in that same range, while the Izalco Pro has seven sizes, 48 to 62cm.
While this could mean your sweet spot size is missing (there is a 54 and a 57, but no 56, for example) it could also mean that the Evo line has your perfect size, while the Izalco Team and Pro don't (there is no 57 in those lines). Perhaps this could be the reason that a few Aqua & Sapone riders raced this frame instead of the Izalco last season.
The Cayo Evo 3.0 features SRAM Force, Fulcrum CPX 1700 wheels and a 3T cockpit
Component spec dimensions are personal, obviously, but we were pleased to note that the 57 comes stock with 172.5mm cranks with a 44cm bar and 120mm stem.
This 57cm test bike tipped the BikeRadar scales at 7.6kg (16.75lb), with the Fulcrum wheels accounting for .82kg (4lb) of that.
The 24mm Continental Grand Prix tires are a great all-round option, and the CPX 1700s – made by Fulcrum for Focus – are a decent cartridge bearing set of wheels.
The seat stay yoke is fairly robust laterally, but thin front-to-back for a little compliance
The same frame is used from the US$4,500 Campagnolo Chorus-equipped Cayo Evo 1.0 down to the US$2,150 Evo 6.0 with Shimano 105.
Watch for a full review of the Evo 3.0 on BikeRadar soon. In the meantime, check out the gallery above right for more details.
Complete Focus Cayo Evo 3.0 spec
- Cayo Evo carbon fiber frame
- Cayo Evo T4 Carbon fork
- Complete SRAM Force group
- PressFit BB30 bottom bracket
- SRAM Force cassette, 12-27
- Fulcrum WH-CPX 1700 wheelset
- Continental Grand Prix tires, 700x24c
- 3T Ergonova Pro handlebar
- Prologo saddle
- Concept carbon fiber seat
Full carbon dropouts allow for some trick cable routing
