in message <[email hidden]>,
(') said:I'm buying a new bike to use mainly for commuting (18 mile round trip
across London). I've narrowed the choice down to 2 Marin's - the
Sausalito (spec sheet: http://tinyurl.com/yb6w9l ) or Fairfax:
http://tinyurl.com/wuvjx
They've got the same frame, but I'm not sure whether the upgrade in
componentry is worth the £150 price tag. Given all the stuff I lug
around in my panniers it would be difficult to justify on the grounds
of a tiny weight gain - but potentially well worth it if there's a
marked difference in reliability.
Better derailleurs will shift more reliably for longer, provided you give
them a chance by keeping things reasonably clean. If you don't they won't
be much better than cheap ones.
One thing I note on both these bikes is the 'front power modulator'. What
that basically means is that they've deliberately crippled the front
brake. They do this so they won't be sued by people over-braking and going
over the handlebars, but, frankly, if you want a bike with safe braking
performance in traffic, you'll take it off.
Apart from that, both bikes are reasonably specced, and all the things you
really need are on the Fairfax. Personally I'd spend the extra for the
better kit but that's just me.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; I can't work yanks out......
;; Why do they frown upon sex yet relish violence?
;; Deep Fried Lettuce
