MARIN NEWS & REVIEWS

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/marin-introduce-uk-only-hardtail-range-25343

I had a great ride on the White Line at lunch time yesterday, a 40 minute XC loop over Solsbury Hill, Bath, immortalised by Peter Gabriel in the 70’s. The White Line is part of a UK exclusive range available now from Marin dealers. The range also includes the Black Line Pro which has amzing speccing at an unbelievable price. We really wanted to create a limited edition range of hardtails using the acclaimed Hydro-Light tubing system that were ready to ride from the shop. Whether you are shredding the singletrack, blasting towpaths or racing, these bikes are going to perform.

http://www.marin.co.uk/2010/bikepage.php?ModNo=10BLP

“Exclusive to the UK and available mid Feb are some very special limited edition hard tails, representing fantastic value. The “Black and White Line” bikes feature Marin’s best triple-butted hydro formed alloy frame with a Shimano Deore group, and a top RockShox TORA SL air fork, all for £899 – Great value, as you would normally expect a bike of this spec to be over £1000. The “Pro” bikes are based around the same top-line frame with XT transmission and a sensational parts pick – again excellent value at only £1499 for a bike that would normally retail for at least £1800.”

I rode today with Gary the editor of www.cyclistno1.co.uk at Ashton Court, Bristol. The trails were sticky under the dappled sunlight but were a vast improvement! It’s great to ride with the sun on your face. This was my second ride in anger for the Attack Trail and it was awesome, a real work horse with excellent mud clearance. The bike is really sure footed on technical terrain, climbs well and hammers singletrack.

Keep an eye out on www.cyclistno1.co.uk for future product reviews and more riding.

Marin Bikes arrive at the office.
Roy Scheider – “Going to need a bigger boat”.
Going to need a bigger office.

See the Mount Vision 5.8 review and video in issue 3 of www.imbikemag.com

Please see some great images of the Marin Dominican on http://road.cc/category/image-galleries/bikes/marin-dominican-2010 with a full review to follow.

Thanks.

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/gear/bikes/mountain/marin-mount-vision-5-8.htm

Please see the latest review of the Mount Vision 5.8 on the new web magzine Cyclist No 1.

Just get out and ride I say. At lunch time the other day a friend and I jumped on our bikes for a local XC loop and got absolutely covered, but I have to say it was the best working lunch I have had in some time. I was test riding my new Marin Attack Trail and for a first ride with very little set up required it was awesome. The bike felt like an old friend, super planted and confidence inspiring. Bring on the trails.

When you get a satisfied customer it’s really something when they enthuse about what we at Marin do for a living – ie make great bikes! Mark Hinde is a Marin man who has ridden a few models over the years but has just taken to a Wolf Ridge 09 – a new bike to him – and was so moved by his experience he wanted to share it with us. This is Mark’s story: More »

Review kindly supplied by Quest Adventure

This weekend I’ve had the new Marin Attack Trail 6.8 for company. I’ve been looking forward to riding this bike since I saw the new catalogue. I was a big fan of last year’s Attack Trail and I wondered how the new one would compare. There have been a few changes and some weight shed too, so it all looked promising. The travel has been pushed up to 150mm and last year’s Pikes have been replaced with Revelations, the rear shock is a Monarch. Gone is the large plate gusset on the front end, replaced by a much more pleasing looking tube.  The headtube is tapered and the downtube has been beefed up a bit too. The shock links have also been machined out and lightened up too.

It would also seem that finally Truvativ have managed to make an attractive set of cranks with the Stylos, very nice. Not bad in the weight stakes either, hopefully the black will stay on the sides and wear well. Amazingly I am well known for my rather cack footed pedalling style but despite all the mud I never scratched it up with my heels.

Speaking of which on last years bike I caught my heels once or twice on the swing arm and on the links too, but it didn’t happen at all on this bike, maybe it has been slimmed down a bit?

So how does it ride?

Well I think my companions on the Swinley ride will tell you I was loving this bike from the off. I’m not quite sure how my ’style’ of riding is best described, but this bike fits me like a glove. I never once even thought about how it was preforming, I just rode it with a grin on my face.

The Attack Trail is well at home on the singletrack, but you do have to keep an eye on your pedals as sometimes you can clout them on trail obstacles. But it’s the downhill sections where it really announces it’s intentions, somewhere along the lines of “Is that the best you can do?”. It’s really stable, flickable, and unusually it manuals at the drop of a hat. Those last minute hucks off trail obstacles are easily accomplished and the 150mm of travel are a real get out of jail free during those awkward moments!

The downside? Well I guess if there is one it would be this bike is never going to win any uphill races. However that said it does seem to be lighter than the previous model and you don’t really notice the weight that much. Coming from a bike that is a few pounds lighter than this I can’t say I really felt handicapped. There is an unexpected bonus though, on a steep climb when the bike is in the granny ring the quad link system seems to seek out every last bit of grip there is, providing you can get forward on the saddle and get low you’ll still be riding when your fellow riders are off and walking. It shouldn’t be possible on a bike like this, but it is

Verdict:

So what do I think? I love it. Is this much travel really necessary on a bike round here? Well I ride a hardtail, so clearly no! But if you want a really comfy bike that climbs well, descends like a mini downhill bike, is quick and nimble through the singletrack this is the daddy. You can ride the Attack Trail all day and not feel beaten up. It really is a hoot to ride. It encourages you to ride like a loony and rewards you by getting you to the end in one piece with a big grin on your face, you can’t ask for more than that!

For more information about the Attack Trail 6.8 click here

To find your nearest dealer click here