Marin Bobcat Trail

JamesB said:

What do you think about the Bobcat Trail? Mainly for commmuting and xc
trail. I had a Hawk Hill about ten years ago and loved the bike.
Of course, if anyone has any other suggestions in about the same price
range, I'd love to hear them.

The Marin's not a bad bike, but for that sort of money you could do
better component-wise... Either a GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc or a Giant
XTC4.5 can be had for around £450 to 500. Both have much better LX rear
mechs and hydraulic, rather than cable brakes.

Jeff

A few years back I spent some time looking for a bike. I test road several and the out and out winner was the Marin Muirwoods. It was the bike I felt most comfortable on - something to do with the geometry I suppose.

So I guess that's the most important thing - how comfortable you feel on the bike.

P.S. Another thing, when the frame broke on me a couple of years ago, they replaced it, no hassle, free of charge.

JamesB said:

Hello everyone.

Finally managed to convince my work to sign up for the cycle to work
scheme and I'm currently looking at bikes to replace my poor knackered Kona.

What do you think about the Bobcat Trail? Mainly for commmuting and xc
trail. I had a Hawk Hill about ten years ago and loved the bike.

I love my Marin Hawk Hill too which I put some narrower tyres on for
the trip to work (it's only 13 miles there and back). Despite the fact
it's the best fitting and comfiiest bike I've ever had, I am wondering
about getting more of a road bike for commuting. When I'm on form I
run out of top gears on it...

Jen

In article <358f48ee-ff7a-488b-96e3-
[email hidden]>, jen
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I am wondering
about getting more of a road bike for commuting. When I'm on form I
run out of top gears on it...

Learn to pedal faster. :-)

jen said:

I love my Marin Hawk Hill too which I put some narrower tyres on for
the trip to work (it's only 13 miles there and back). Despite the fact
it's the best fitting and comfiiest bike I've ever had, I am wondering
about getting more of a road bike for commuting. When I'm on form I
run out of top gears on it...

....or maybe just get a bigger chain ring?

Jeff said:

JamesB said:

What do you think about the Bobcat Trail? Mainly for commmuting and xc
trail. I had a Hawk Hill about ten years ago and loved the bike.
Of course, if anyone has any other suggestions in about the same price
range, I'd love to hear them.

The Marin's not a bad bike, but for that sort of money you could do
better component-wise... Either a GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc or a Giant
XTC4.5 can be had for around £450 to 500. Both have much better LX rear
mechs and hydraulic, rather than cable brakes.

Mmm. Never thought about cable v. hydraulic. A better rear mech would be
handy - I have an odd habit of snapping them.

I was also looking at the Kona Blast as I fell in love with my previous
Kona. About the same component spec as the Marin though.

Might have to pop into the LBS and have a go on the GT. I was a
bike-tech in a previous life (well, 10 years ago) and I had something
against GTs, although I can't put my finger on what it was.

--
James

JamesB wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Mmm. Never thought about cable v. hydraulic. A better rear mech would be
handy - I have an odd habit of snapping them.

Hydraulic discs are the dogs conkers. Even my cheapo Giant own make
ones knock spots off any rim brakes I've tried for off road use. But
then I'm a total sucker for shiny things! (Must upgrade bike... must
upgrade bike...)

Quoted message said:

I was also looking at the Kona Blast as I fell in love with my previous
Kona. About the same component spec as the Marin though.

Might have to pop into the LBS and have a go on the GT. I was a
bike-tech in a previous life (well, 10 years ago) and I had something
against GTs, although I can't put my finger on what it was.

GT's tend to have the brakes the opposite way around to other
manufacturers (a US manufacturer thing?). That was what threw me
(almost literally) when I had a blast on my friends GT a while back.

J

Paul Rudin said:

jen said:

I love my Marin Hawk Hill too which I put some narrower tyres on for
the trip to work (it's only 13 miles there and back). Despite the fact
it's the best fitting and comfiiest bike I've ever had, I am wondering
about getting more of a road bike for commuting. When I'm on form I
run out of top gears on it...

...or maybe just get a bigger chain ring?

Are you my husband? That's what he says 🙂

Jen

jen said:

Paul Rudin said:

jen said:

I love my Marin Hawk Hill too which I put some narrower tyres on for
the trip to work (it's only 13 miles there and back). Despite the fact
it's the best fitting and comfiiest bike I've ever had, I am wondering
about getting more of a road bike for commuting. When I'm on form I
run out of top gears on it...

...or maybe just get a bigger chain ring?

Are you my husband? That's what he says 🙂

Jen

It's true! size does matter!

(from what I've heard, the bigger the 4x4, the smaller the [censored])
or was that foot size? IGMC