Marin Novato

Hey! They are bringing out a new version of the Novato. Lucky I hadn't
bought yet.

Why doesn't anyone wanna talk about Novato?

Members only?

Jim said:

Hey! They are bringing out a new version of the Novato. Lucky I hadn't
bought yet.

Why doesn't anyone wanna talk about Novato?

Members only?

I suspect because no-one has one or any experience of one to give.
If/when you have yours please come back and share your views.

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

in message <[email hidden]>, Jim

(') said:

Hey! They are bringing out a new version of the Novato. Lucky I hadn't
bought yet.

Why doesn't anyone wanna talk about Novato?

Members only?

There are several thousand models of bike available in the UK, there are
only a few dozen regular posters to this group, and between us we only
have a few hundred bikes. And, because we're enthusiasts, the bikes we
have a mainly enthusiasts bikes. Among our bikes high-end racers,
recumbents and folders are over-represented, do-a-bit-of-everything-
but-nothing-very-well hybrids are under-represented.

It's a 26" wheel hybrid, nearer the mountain bike end of the scale. It's
under-geared for road use, has a what's-left-in-the-parts-bin selection
of components, is not very good value for money and is grey. It's not
surprising that no-one's excited.

If you want to use it on the road, look at the Edinburgh Revolution
Courier Race, a better urban hybrid for about half the price, or Ribble
Cycles Ribble 7005/Mirage 9 Race Double, a reasonable race bike for
under £500; if you want something reliable for commuting look at the
Ridgeback Neutron, which has a Nexus internal gearbox and dynamo
lighting for about £450; if you want to go off-road look at the Claud
Butler Cape Wrath at about £350.

<URL:http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/> then 'Revolution Urban Bikes'
then 'REVOLUTION COURIER RACE '05 (£265.00)'
<URL:http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/details.asp?GenCode=RIBBXRIB0200>
<URL:http://www.ridgebackbikes.co.uk/bikes/bike.asp?bikeID=122>
<URL:http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/2005/MTB/capewrath.html>

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
"The result is a language that... not even its mother could
love. Like the camel, Common Lisp is a horse designed by
committee. Camels do have their uses."
;; Scott Fahlman, 7 March 1995

Jim said:

Why doesn't anyone wanna talk about Novato?

Because I've never seen or heard of one before?

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
The struggle of people against power is the struggle
of memory against forgetting - Milan Kundera

Arthur Clune said:

Because I've never seen or heard of one before?

This is Usenet. When has that ever stopped anyone? What /are/ you
thinking? ;-)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Jim said:

Hey! They are bringing out a new version of the Novato. Lucky I hadn't
bought yet.

Why doesn't anyone wanna talk about Novato?

Members only?

Well I haven't heard of a Novato but if as somewhen else said it's a
Marin hybrid, then I can report that I have been very happy with the
two Marin Sausalitos that I've had since 2000 (first one stolen). Very
quick and comfortable, though the frame on the second one, a 2001
model, has been replaced twice under warraanty due to welds cracking.
Subsequent model years did not have this problem.

Price of the Sausalito, and presumably other Marins, has fallen lately,
from close to £600 in 2001 to low £400s this year. Sterling
appreciation would have helped here.

Cheers, James

Jim,

I had the 2004 model of the Novato. I must admit I wasnt overly
impressed. The comment below is right it is seriously under-geard.
Generally just not great, it also had relatively bad corrosion after
only a year !

I'd suggest looking at an alternative, anyone know anything about the
GT ZuM 2?