Newbie Help Needed: Marin Kentfield or Kona Smoke?
I am down to choosing between these two bikes for my 12 miles round trip commute to work. There is 150-200 ft. of elevation gain over the 6 miles on the way to work. I'm looking for opinions on quality and performance of these two bikes. I have the component specs printed out and have a few ?'s. Shimano Acera vs. Shimano Altus, Frame Quality(7005 aluminum vs. Butted Cromoly), 26in x 1.5 tires vs. 700c x 35 tires. Also, how much would fenders run for the Marin? Prices at my local shops in Coppell, TX: Marin Kentfield-329.00 @ REI and Kona Smoke-399.00 @ Bluebonnet Bikes. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and time.
JT