I've been riding the wrong bike...not any more!!!

[ncl]

Well, I took the day off from work and made a 150+ mile jaunt (not on my bike ) to many of the (not so) local bikes shops.

I rode 17 bikes today including trek, cannondale, raliegh, fuji, gary fisher, and giant. I found a few that were quite a bit better than my current Gary Fisher Marlin. I was getting ready to leave the last LBS of the day when the employee I was talking to asked if I had tried any Marin bikes, I hadn't - to be honest I have never heard of them. He put me on a 2007 20.5" Marin Bobcat Trail - dear god, this bike fit me like a glove...more like an extension of my body! SOLD!

So I got home (a 2 hour trip ) and decided I had to take a more extended ride on familiar territory (even in the 100* temps). I am still amazed by this bike. My 15 mile ride felt like a 5 mile ride on the old bike. I could tackle obstacles with ease that were a struggle on the Gary Fisher. I decided to hop back on the Gary Fisher after getting home from the ride. It felt like I was riding a bowl of wet noodles, blech...how had I done this for so long?!?!?

Anyhow, the Marin doesn't have top of the line components, but most are decent (it appears they have upgraded each year since introduction, when most were nearly bottom of the line components). I'll upgrade if/as needed.

The moral of the story? Don't simply listen to your LBS employee like I did 2 years ago when I bought the Gary Fisher (rode two bikes and the Marlin seemed better). Get out there and put your ass on as many saddles as you can find!

Nicholaus