November 19, 2018
My Mountain Bike - Marin Rock Springs 2
This is a bike made as an "exclusive" for Performance Bikes.
It is identical to the Marin Bobcat 5 2018 according to many sources,
and will confirm that based on the equipment list.
The Bobcat lists for $980 at full retail.
The Rock Springs 2 normally sells for $800, but I bought mine when
they were running a 30 percent off sale, so I paid $600.
I purchased the bike November 19, 2018.
Shortly thereafter, Performance bike went out of business.
This is a better than average entry level hard tail bike.
It has a Rockshox Recon Silver coil spring fork.
One piece of advice I picked up when shopping and trying to learn about what
to look for in a bike is to avoid anything with a Suntour Fork (like the XCT).
Apparently this is sort of an indicator of truly low end bike that ought to be
avoided.
A reasonable first upgrade on this bike would be an air fork.
I will never do that as I don't see any future with me riding a hard
tail bike on dirt trails (I now ride my fat tire Surly Ice Cream Truck).
I am told that the Rock Springs uses a straight rather than tapered head tube,
so I would need to research and understand this before shopping for a fork.
The above is a straight 1-1/8 inch fork and might work on this bike.
People spend as much (or more) for a fork as I did on the entire bike.
Some other candidates were:
- Haro Double Peak Trail $570 -- this has a Suntour fork, so clearly the Marin is a better buy at $600 for several reasons.
- Marin Nail Trail $1000 -- I might have jumped to this if the Rock Springs had been the usual $800, just to get
the air fork (and a lower top tube on the frame). Another Performance bike special version from Marin.
- Specialized Rockhopper Pro $1350 -- would I benefit from spending twice the money?
Does it make sense to go down the hard tail road? The big plus here is an air fork.
Gear List
- 20 inch frame (the largest offered by Performance Bikes).
- RockShox Recon Silver TK fork with 100mm of travel
- Marin Forged Alloy 1x10, Hollow Spindle, Steel Narrow-Wide 32T Chainring, 76mm BCD
- Shimano Deore Shadow Plus SGS 10-Speed rear shifter
- SunRace 10-Speed, 11-42T
- Shimano BR-M315 Hydraulic Disc, 180mm Rotor in front
- Shimano BR-M315 Hydraulic Disc, 160mm Rotor in back
- Formula, 110x15mm, Centerlock Disc, 32H -- front hub
- Formula, Centerlock Disc, 32H -- rear hub
- Rims: Marin Aluminum Double Wall, 27mm Inner, Pinned Joint, Disc Specific, Tubeless Compatible
- Tires: Schwalbe Tough Tom 29" x 2.25"
- Marin Mini-Riser, 10mm Rise, 720mm Width handlebars
- Headset FSA No.10-P
- Marin Alloy, 60mm stem
- Frame: Series 2 6061 Aluminum, 29" Wheels, 68mm BB shell, 135mm Forged Dropouts, IS Chainstay Disc Mount
- KMC X10 chain
The Bobcat from Marin does offer a 22 inch frame, but I am quite happy with the 20, and am 6'1"
So, I have a single 32 tooth gear in front and 10 gears in back, ranging from 11 to 42 teeth.
I really enjoy not having a front shifter!
The tires it came with are 29 inch by 2.25 inch "Tough Tom" by Schwalbe.
They are nobodies choice for a top mountain bike tire.
At this stage I am not sure that really matters, as I ride my Surly Ice Cream
Truck rather than this bike on the dirt. This has become my "bop around town"
bike. The Schwalbe tires have given me years of service and are certainly decent.
When it comes time to replace them, I may take my bike to a shop and have them
do a tubeless setup for me.
The Schwalbe "Toms" are not tubeless ready (but the rims are).
One suggestion for tubeless ready tires are the Vittoria Goma,
but no doubt there are many options.
Have any comments? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's mountain bike pages / tom@mmto.org