Good Deal
 

That should be "Good Deal**********"


Marin - After-Market, but New in Box 2012 Four Corners Touring Bike - $700 ... MSRP $1100, REI has it for $900

http://www.marinbikes.com/2012/bike_...&Four_Corners_

Surly LHT seems to be the consensus top of the heap, but my budget is stretched as is, and I'm not sure I want such a tour-centric rig.

What I'm looking to do.

I really want a "all-rounder" that has some touring chops and isn't such a drag on uphills as my 1986 Peugeot P8 Avoriaz (it's been a long time since I bought a bike... that was High School). My wife is really keen to get me cycling again; we've been doing rides. I want to get back into it with something nice, but wait until this works out for a couple of years before I commit to spending real cash. I am not a speedster. My goal is to commute, weekend tours maybe, bike with my young family (we got a Burly trailer off of Craigslist for a song), and half-day rides with my wife (w/o the children).

This bike comes from a reputable company, seems to have the low gearing (but not uber low gearing) that I want. I tend to like low-tech (so the bar shifters aren't a turn off). It has the potential to have disc brakes added. It has all the mounts for racks and fenders so it would serve pretty well as a commuter. It seems to be a decent jack-of-all trades.

Not a lot of information about people that own/ride this bike on the web. Of people that do own it, the reviews have been positive except one. There have been a few blurbs by what seem like hard core tourers that don't like certain aspects. I saw another guy who was looking at the bike for a similar price and the people there said for that price point it was probably the better overall choice.

What say anyone?

It seems that at this price point, and given my overall ambitions and budget it's probably a decent deal.

I should also mention that I am sufficiently competent with bicycles to repair them on my own and have kept that Peugeot tuned pretty well these many years... not a neophyte, just haven't been riding seriously in a long time and the technology/choices are pretty crazy now.

That's a pretty good deal for $700. You can buy new a little cheaper but the gearing and wheels are less suitable for loaded touring. Better act fast to get this deal in your size before they are gone.

Gearing, components, and wheels look pretty good. Frame has all necessary touring fittings, even disc brake capable. Are the hubs disc capable too - Deore 525?

CS length = 430mm, not so great if you use large panniers or have large feet, or both. Heel-strike is an issue when you mount bags on the rear of a bike, which is why proper touring frames have long chainstays.

Probably the only better deal you'll find in a complete 700c bike is a used LHT or 520 with a motivated seller, which is hard to find this time of year.

Make sure you get the right size. People tend to buy too small, in no small part due to LBSs fitting them too small.

It is a 56 cm frame ... I am ~ 5'10 1/2 or 5'11".

http://www.marinbikes.com/2013/frame-sizing-chart.php


I am comfortable with the 56cm frame for sale because the Peugeot is a 58cm and I think it is too tall for uphill starts sometimes. Losing a little less than an inch is probably a good thing IMHO.

Touring bikes work better sized large. Unlike commuting, racing, recreational, or mtbing, you spend all day riding when touring. A higher handlebar height is necessary for many people for comfort for long rides repeated for several days without days off. A larger frame allows for a higher bar without extraordinary steerer tube length.

Size the bike by PBH, not your height:

http://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?ID=39

http://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?cat=23

I think Riv's sizing table might put you on a little too large a frame. With a 83 PBH Riv puts me on a 57.5-58cm frame, and it would be a stretch (literally) for me to fit them, either in reach or stand-over.

There's an simple, popular formula for fitting that I prefer, used by many online fit calculators:

frame size (center BB to top of top tube/seat tube intersection) = PBH x 0.67

saddle height = PBH x 0.883

These formula were derived from measuring a lot of pro racers, and originally published in a book by Lemond.

In my case, with an 83cm PBH, this works out to a 56cm frame size, and 73cm saddle height. I actually use a 72.5cm saddle height, it seems to work well and is a little more comfortable.

I'd guess you'd fit a 58 by height alone. I'm 175cm tall and ride a 56 (LHT/DT).

Based on your formula we have the same PBH.. I might be an 82. I think 58cm is too tall based on riding my 58cm Peugeot. It has always felt tall to me.

Well, we'll see... thanks for the info.

PBH is based on an actual measurement, it cannot be calculated.

Measure several times, and really jam the stick/book/whatever into your crouch as high as possible - then use the longest measurement. An assistant is very useful for biometric measurements, as it is diffcult to do yourself without compromising the measurement accuracy.

So that frame might be a hair small...

Where did you get it for $700? Was it just a 1-off deal from a private seller or from an outlet?

Ebay, i think the guy has 1 more in 56cm. no others. I was 1st and only bid. The seller also has an amazon front, but it's priced higher... But obviously not an auction. Selling many bikes. Probably buys/sells previous years models....

ends today

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Marin-F...item5d3feecae0

There were 2 exceedingly minor blems.. Does have a return policy of sorts, but not if you assemble it.

I like and am keeping this bike.

ystava, The LHT is top-of-the-heap primarily because of an attractive price point, good engineering and design. The Marin looks well engineered, but not quite an expedition level loaded touring bike, as is the LHT. The Marin should be very good for light and medium level touring where large rear panniers aren't needed.

Brad

Makes me even happier. I'm not looking for expeditions. I'm looking for a bike that can meet many needs, but does have some touring chops.

FWIW: I use the Riv chart, but downsize 2" or even a tad more from their recommended size. I don't care for larger frames for touring though and prefer my touring bike fit and cockpit setup to be the same as or at least similar to what I would race with.

I once bought a bike that was exactly my size according to the Rivendell chart and wound up selling it to a taller friend who loves it.

Looks like a good deal. Chromoly, 36 spoke wheels, disc ready. If you get a rear rack get one designed for disc brakes. It moves the rack back 1-2 inches. Hitting your heels on the panniers won't be a problem.

I thought about what I wrote above at the time and nearly changed it, because if I were younger and more flexible, then Riv's table would be much closer to a true fit. I am certainly less active and athletic now than I was in my 20s. I fit and ride a 56cm LHT now, but I rode a 57cm Schwinn (in the attic now) for commuting to classes at university, with a reach 3-4cm longer than the LHT, so I did in fact comfortably fit a larger frame years ago. I think the Riv chart is probably about right for bicyclists age 18-35.

Somehow, most outlets have the larger sizes. I am 5'7" and need the 50cm size - nowhere to be found.

^ Are you sure you need a 50cm? I'm ~5'7"-5'8" and like a 55cm-ish bike. My girlfriend is ~5'2" and finds herself comfortable on ~48cm. Looks like Seeker333 is about the same height as you and I and said he rides a 56cm. Seems like you'd need at Least a 52cm. I think sizing charts would generally size you ~54-56cm unless you've got short legs and use a longer stem. Or unless you just like a low bar height(below seat height).