marin aficianados?

"Monique Y. Mudama" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So this second-hand store across the street has a few bikes for sale.
One of them's frame is labeled "Marin Palisades Trail". It's dark green
and rigid, and the fork seems to match exactly in color. Now, I've done
some web searching, and the only links I find are to recent (2000
onward) hardtails. Some portion of the front brake was labeled Shimano
XT, but it looks all weird (old): the cable seems to come down the
center and then spread out to both calipers, rather than coming to one
side? I'm sure I'm botching the description.

... Any ideas on this bike? Was it intended to be a true mountain bike
or a hybrid? Is this a "find" at $45, or just another used bike?

--
monique

I love Marin, they're stuff is great and usually a great value. The
Palisades Trail is a competent bike, usually: new ones go for just over
$600, I think. If everything on that bike works I'd probably buy it for $45
just to have a cool old Marin around. What kind of
shifters/derailleurs/rims/hubs were on it?

BTW, those brakes are probably cantilever brakes. They were the only game
in town before v-brakes and are still standard on 'cross bikes. See:
http://cambriabike.com/SALE/brakes/avid_shorty_6_center-pull_brake_brake.htm

Chris

On 2004-06-28, Chris penned:

Quoted message said:

I love Marin, they're stuff is great and usually a great value. The
Palisades Trail is a competent bike, usually: new ones go for just
over $600, I think. If everything on that bike works I'd probably buy
it for $45 just to have a cool old Marin around. What kind of
shifters/derailleurs/rims/hubs were on it?

I looked for markings -- I think the rear derailleur said "Shimano SIS"
on it front just said "Shimano." Didn't think to check the hubs.

But the thing is, the $600 bikes that you've seen are hardtails, right?
This is fully rigid, and the fork looks like it came with the bike (same
paint color). So I'm wondering if there's not more to the story.

Quoted message said:

BTW, those brakes are probably cantilever brakes. They were the only
game in town before v-brakes and are still standard on 'cross bikes.
See:
http://cambriabike.com/SALE/brakes/avid_shorty_6_center-pull_brake_brake.htm

Yes, that looks like the general idea, except shinier.

--
monique

Monique Y. Mudama said:

I looked for markings -- I think the rear derailleur said "Shimano SIS"
on it front just said "Shimano." Didn't think to check the hubs.

That's what the low-low end stuff used to say. Could be something lower
than Alivio.

Quoted message said:

But the thing is, the $600 bikes that you've seen are hardtails, right?
This is fully rigid, and the fork looks like it came with the bike (same
paint color). So I'm wondering if there's not more to the story.

In the early to mid-90's, bikes weren't sold with forks that often. My
'94 Marin Bear Valley SE had a rigid fork, and was higher-end than the
Palisades Trail.

Probably not a bad bike for riding round town. Its what I use my old Marin
for.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

"BB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Monique Y. Mudama said:

But the thing is, the $600 bikes that you've seen are hardtails, right?
This is fully rigid, and the fork looks like it came with the bike (same
paint color). So I'm wondering if there's not more to the story.

In the early to mid-90's, bikes weren't sold with forks that often. My
'94 Marin Bear Valley SE had a rigid fork, and was higher-end than the
Palisades Trail.

Well, they _were_ sold with forks, just not suspension forks. Snoogins.

But yeah, Monique, everything BB said.

Chris

Monique Y. Mudama said:

So this second-hand store across the street has a few bikes for sale.
One of them's frame is labeled "Marin Palisades Trail". It's dark green
and rigid, and the fork seems to match exactly in color. Now, I've done
some web searching, and the only links I find are to recent (2000
onward) hardtails. Some portion of the front brake was labeled Shimano
XT, but it looks all weird (old): the cable seems to come down the
center and then spread out to both calipers, rather than coming to one
side? I'm sure I'm botching the description.

Those'll be canti brakes.

Quoted message said:

... Any ideas on this bike? Was it intended to be a true mountain bike
or a hybrid? Is this a "find" at $45, or just another used bike?

The Palisades Trail is a proper mountain bike and has been around for
years. I think it was around when I was considering buying my first mtb
about 15 years ago (but don't quote me on that). Similarly, XT has been
around since then too, so the bike could be from any time over the last 15
years, or so.

Seeing as it's fully rigid though, I'd put that at some time pre-'96, but
probably older (back in the old days, we didn't have a lot of suspension).
And I'd guess that it's a 1" threaded headset, so any thoughts of adding a
suspension fork should be dismissed.

Depending on the condition, I'd snap it up in an instant, but then I'd
probably looking at using it as SS beater bike or similar, and I'd be
doing any servicing myself. YMMV.

BTW, photos would help in aging it.

bomba <[email hidden]> wrote:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Seeing as it's fully rigid though, I'd put that at some time pre-'96, but
probably older (back in the old days, we didn't have a lot of suspension).
And I'd guess that it's a 1" threaded headset, so any thoughts of adding a
suspension fork should be dismissed.

I've looked at this for an old thrash bike. You can still get 1"
threaded steerer bouncy forks. Since I'm in the UK I've no idea about
stockists in the US but Marzocci do the MX Comp with a 1" steerer. I
think somebody else posted he's actually got some of them a week or so
back🙂

--
Tim. /\ /\
O___O
=\__|__/= meow.
U

Tim Izod said:

bomba <[email hidden]> wrote:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Seeing as it's fully rigid though, I'd put that at some time pre-'96, but
probably older (back in the old days, we didn't have a lot of suspension).
And I'd guess that it's a 1" threaded headset, so any thoughts of adding a
suspension fork should be dismissed.

I've looked at this for an old thrash bike. You can still get 1"
threaded steerer bouncy forks. Since I'm in the UK I've no idea about
stockists in the US but Marzocci do the MX Comp with a 1" steerer. I
think somebody else posted he's actually got some of them a week or so
back🙂

Yes, but it's really not worth it. Spending a lot of money on a 30 quid
beater bike isn't worth it. You also have the added complications of
changing the geometry. For the money, you're just better off buying a new
bike.

bomba said:

Tim Izod wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bomba <[email hidden]> wrote:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

Seeing as it's fully rigid though, I'd put that at some time pre-'96, but
probably older (back in the old days, we didn't have a lot of suspension).
And I'd guess that it's a 1" threaded headset, so any thoughts of adding a
suspension fork should be dismissed.

I've looked at this for an old thrash bike. You can still get 1"
threaded steerer bouncy forks. Since I'm in the UK I've no idea about
stockists in the US but Marzocci do the MX Comp with a 1" steerer. I
think somebody else posted he's actually got some of them a week or so
back🙂

Quoted message said:

Yes, but it's really not worth it. Spending a lot of money on a 30 quid
beater bike isn't worth it. You also have the added complications of
changing the geometry. For the money, you're just better off buying a new
bike.

I've a great sentimental attatchement to my old bike- I've had
it since ~1990 and about the only original bits left are the frame and
quill. Even so, apart from replacing nicked wheels it's cost me less
than it's original price to keep it going. And yes, I know it's not
entirely sensible and I could have bought a better second hand bike with
the money🙂

--
Tim. /\ /\
O___O
=\__|__/= meow.
U

"Monique Y. Mudama" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

So this second-hand store across the street has a few bikes for sale.
One of them's frame is labeled "Marin Palisades Trail". It's dark green
and rigid, and the fork seems to match exactly in color. Now, I've done
some web searching, and the only links I find are to recent (2000
onward) hardtails. Some portion of the front brake was labeled Shimano
XT, but it looks all weird (old): the cable seems to come down the
center and then spread out to both calipers, rather than coming to one
side? I'm sure I'm botching the description.

... Any ideas on this bike? Was it intended to be a true mountain bike
or a hybrid? Is this a "find" at $45, or just another used bike?

Do you use a bike for anything other than trailriding? For $45, if
it's in decent working condition, it's a steal for a
commuter/shopping/barhopping bike. Put a basket on it, buy a good
lock, don't upgrade anything, and leave the car at home. It has paid
for itself once you've ridden through 2 tanks of gas. I love my beater
bikes over my 'nice' bikes.

/s

On 2004-06-29, bomba penned:

Quoted message said:

Yes, but it's really not worth it. Spending a lot of money on a 30
quid beater bike isn't worth it. You also have the added complications
of changing the geometry. For the money, you're just better off buying
a new bike.

Well, if we're still talking about the bike I was looking at, I had no
plans of bouncifying the front end or anything. I was just confused by
the disparity between the online references and the actual bike.

--
monique

On 2004-06-29, supabonbon penned:

Quoted message said:

Do you use a bike for anything other than trailriding? For $45, if
it's in decent working condition, it's a steal for a
commuter/shopping/barhopping bike. Put a basket on it, buy a good
lock, don't upgrade anything, and leave the car at home. It has paid
for itself once you've ridden through 2 tanks of gas. I love my beater
bikes over my 'nice' bikes.

I have a nice bike for mtbing. This would, indeed, be a
commuter/shopping/whatever kinda bike.

I'll check it out more carefully today. I didn't actually try putting a
leg over it yesterday; it could possibly be too tall.

--
monique

bomba said:

Seeing as it's fully rigid though, I'd put that at some time pre-'96, but
probably older (back in the old days, we didn't have a lot of suspension).
And I'd guess that it's a 1" threaded headset, so any thoughts of adding a
suspension fork should be dismissed.

I'm not sure when they started selling new mid-range bikes with suspension
forks, but '96 sounds about right. My '94 (Bear Valley SE) had a 1 1/8"
headset, but the problem with putting on a new fork will be the lack of a
brake hanger. It'd be better to leave this rigid.

Quoted message said:

Depending on the condition, I'd snap it up in an instant, but then I'd
probably looking at using it as SS beater bike or similar, and I'd be
doing any servicing myself. YMMV.

Same here. It'd be a good bike for a newbie to learn some basic
maintenance, too.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Monique,

Quoted message said:

Marin Palisades Trail

Quoted message said:

$45

Buy it. Ride it on a few trails you usually ride. Fall in love with your
current bike all over again!

My first mountain bike, unless you consider a stingray I rode in the
dirt in the 60s a mountain bike, was a Marin Palisades Trail. It ran
about $350. I really tricked it out with a couple of titanium valve stem
caps which cut the weight down from about thirty pounds to right around
thirty pounds.

As long as it's in good working order, buy it. You won't have to worry
as much about it getting stolen when you ride it to the store. Not
because it won't get stolen, but you'll say, "Eh. Forty five bucks. I
got that much value out of it." Plus, you could probably sell it for
that much in a year if you needed to.

T o m Dillon
Lakewood, CO
Z to S to email

supabonbon said:

Do you use a bike for anything other than trailriding? For $45, if
it's in decent working condition, it's a steal for a
commuter/shopping/barhopping bike. Put a basket on it, buy a good
lock, don't upgrade anything, and leave the car at home. It has paid
for itself once you've ridden through 2 tanks of gas. I love my beater
bikes over my 'nice' bikes.

Things worth "upgrading" (changing may be a better word) are comfort bits
like seat, handlebars, & grips, as well as tires. After about $60 in mods,
my old Marin is now so comfy to ride that I end up riding it more than my
newer (and MUCH more expensive) MTB.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

On 2004-06-29, Sunastar penned:

Quoted message said:

Monique,

Quoted message said:

Marin Palisades Trail

Quoted message said:

$45

Buy it. Ride it on a few trails you usually ride. Fall in love with
your current bike all over again!

Hehehe.

Quoted message said:

My first mountain bike, unless you consider a stingray I rode in the
dirt in the 60s a mountain bike, was a Marin Palisades Trail. It ran
about $350. I really tricked it out with a couple of titanium valve
stem caps which cut the weight down from about thirty pounds to right
around thirty pounds.

Well, the bike shop weighed my Sugar, and it came in at 29.6 pounds ...
so 30 doesn't sound too bad to me =P

Quoted message said:

As long as it's in good working order, buy it. You won't have to worry
as much about it getting stolen when you ride it to the store. Not
because it won't get stolen, but you'll say, "Eh. Forty five bucks. I
got that much value out of it." Plus, you could probably sell it for
that much in a year if you needed to.

All good points. I hope I'm never in such desperate need that selling a
$45 bike is going to make the difference ... but then, fate is fickle.

--
monique

On 2004-06-28, Monique Y. Mudama penned:

Quoted message said:

So this second-hand store across the street has a few bikes for sale.
One of them's frame is labeled "Marin Palisades Trail". It's dark
green and rigid, and the fork seems to match exactly in color. Now,
I've done some web searching, and the only links I find are to recent
(2000 onward) hardtails. Some portion of the front brake was labeled
Shimano XT, but it looks all weird (old): the cable seems to come down
the center and then spread out to both calipers, rather than coming to
one side? I'm sure I'm botching the description.

... Any ideas on this bike? Was it intended to be a true mountain bike
or a hybrid? Is this a "find" at $45, or just another used bike?

Turns out it's just too tall for me -- it rubs up against areas I don't
want bikes rubbing up against.

Boo =/

The funny part is that a newer, shinier dept. store bike is going for
$65 ...

--
monique

Monique Sez:

Quoted message said:

Turns out it's just too tall for me -- it rubs up against areas I don't
want bikes rubbing up against.

Buy it anyway and turn it into a bizarro bike for the Fruita Fat Tire
Festival.

If you don't I might. What bike store is it?

T o m Dillon
Lakewood
Z to S to email

On 2004-06-29, Sunastar penned:

Quoted message said:

Monique Sez:

Quoted message said:

Turns out it's just too tall for me -- it rubs up against areas I
don't want bikes rubbing up against.

Buy it anyway and turn it into a bizarro bike for the Fruita Fat Tire
Festival.

If you don't I might. What bike store is it?

It's not a bike store. It's a second-hand store that opened up just a
week or so ago in Boulder. It's across from the Quizno's on Arapahoe
.... here are the directions according to Quizno's:

http://tinyurl.com/ytp9f

--
monique

Monique says:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Turns out it's just too tall for me -- it rubs up against areas I don't
want bikes rubbing up against.

So put 24" or 20" wheels on it, get the brake braze-ons repositioned, and have
an "adult BMX" (may be more "adult" as it is, though....)

Steve