Getting your first mountain bike ever is a milestone for any mountain biker. It’s no secret that mountain bikes cost a ton of money, but hey, when you think about it, all hobbies cost a ton of money. But when you’re still starting out with mountain biking, you still wouldn’t know which terrain you prefer to ride on. Investing in your first mountain bike would then be tricky.
With all the new entry-level bikes popping up in the market, would the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 be an awesome choice for a first bike? The Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 is one of the most affordable entry-level bikes for beginner MTBers. At just $500, this all-around hardtail conquers basic singletracks and cross-country riding with ease. As versatile as it is, it’s not made for bike parks and super technical trails.
By the end of this article, you’ll get to know the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 and understand why this bike may be the “jack of all trades but master of none” kind of bike. With that said, it is a good mountain bike to start with for those looking to discover their MTB riding style and hoping to find themselves along the way, too.
By the end of this article, you’ll get to know the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 and understand why this bike may be the “jack of all trades but master of none” kind of bike. With that said, it is a good mountain bike to start with for those looking to discover their MTB riding style and hoping to find themselves along the way, too.
Features
Frameset and Wheels
The Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 has a durable, lightweight, aluminum frameset. The aluminum alloy frame ensures you’ll get plenty of riding hours. Also, the material is relatively low-cost for the durability it promises. As to the sizing, the bike comes in an extra small size all the way to a double extra large.
This bike is usually equipped with regular 27.5-inch wheels for extra small to medium sizes but the large 29-inch wheels are available for medium to double extra large sizes. To go in detail, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 is fitted with a Mountain Tire, measuring 27.5 inches or 29 inches by 2.1 inches, and has classic Marin Double Wall Alloy rims. The materials of the wheel and its dimensions give you the confidence to ride singletracks or basic dirt tracks which can get you home safely if you get holes in your tires.
The size-specific 27.5-inch or 29-inch wheels, disc brakes, and 2.1-inch MTB tires mean comfort, traction, and control through any rough terrain. The Bolinas Ridge models roll on top of 27.5-inch wheels. For over three decades, the 26-inch wheel size was the mountain bike standard even for dirt roads but most off-road rigs are now using 27.5-inch or 29-inch wheels for the improved traction and ability to roll over large obstacles.
This mountain bike comes with decent formula hubs that are cheap original equipment parts for low to mid-level bikes, which can last for a while. However, sooner or later, it will give in to wear and tear. The problem with these formula hubs is that it’s difficult to find spare parts for the freehub. This might lead you to change the hub as a whole. On a side note, the bike’s black stainless steel spokes make for a modest and pleasing aesthetic, like the theme of the whole bike.
Bike Handling- Driving and Brakes
The Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 offers an excellent drivetrain with the Shimano Tourney 3 x 7-Speed that provides twenty-one gear options to keep you riding smoothly on almost all terrains. Although, it does have its limitations as it could not handle steep ascents. Even with that said, this number of gears is not bad for a bike in this price range. No complaints here.
Upon testing this bike, one can expect relatively smooth riding over rough terrain. The front suspension forks provide a decent 100mm of travel to absorb bumps in the trail with ease. Of course, it is still a hardtail so it doesn’t have the maximum comfort a bike with a rear suspension would offer. This brings us to the bike’s limitations. Although, again, going back to the price, you really could not complain. It is a decent bike.
As per the brakes, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 does have pretty dependable stopping power. It is powered by a front and rear Tektro MD280 Mechanical Disc, 160mm Rotor. Like the Cannondale Trail 8, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 also has the Tektro mechanical disc brakes for reliable stopping power going down on those steeper than the usual trails. This, coupled with the Shimano brake levers with integrated shifters gives you a solid brake system.
Pros and Cons
Pros
As evident in the feature section of the article, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 is lightweight and durable. Some riders even have their Marin for over a decade with minimal repairs or tuning needed. This may be attributed to the materials used which are relatively low-cost without compromising the quality. It really squeezes out the value for what you paid for. Speaking about what you pay for, that’s another pro for this bike, it retails at only $499.99!
Although this is subjective, I personally think that it looks great with that classic, modest, cross-country hardtail going on. It is affordable, it looks great, and it is definitely upgradeable which are all big pluses for a beginner mountain biker.
Cons
With all that said, even with its versatility, it does have its limitations, too. Because of its basic materials, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 is definitely not for technical trails and bike parks because of the steep ascents and ruggedness of the terrain which, even with its multiple gears, the bike could not handle. So, if you’re a mountain biker looking for an entry-level bike that would meet your adrenaline shreds, no, this bike’s not for you.
Also, one rider had claimed that shifting gears became a problem for him after usage of a thousand miles or so and that the chain regularly came off, such a bummer. This would translate that the bike gears need tuning regularly. Maybe that, or might as well get an upgrade to a better gear and chain system.
Upgrade Suggestions
If you’re looking for a better riding experience with your Marin 1, a few upgrades will make it work for you. First, is the rear derailleur. Although the bike comes with a 7-speed Shimano Tourney, which is one of the most famous derailleurs, both front and rear, this derailleur is considered to be the most entry-level groupset in the Shimano MTB hierarchy.
This groupset is also used on hybrid and road bicycles, meaning it is good only for relatively light riding and basic feel. You could upgrade your Marin 1 to a Shimano SLX derailleur which costs only $75 or a Shimano XT at $115. I go for the latter because the new XT feels crisper and of slightly more high-end quality even with only a forty-dollar difference.
Other suggestible upgrades to better your riding experience is to upgrade the crankset to a Shimano Deore Crankset with chainring, a mere $95. The Shimano Deore Rear Cassette is priced at just $92. And since we’re doing a whole Shimano groupset, you can get the Shimano Deore chain for $24. I know they’re all still Shimano, but trust me when I say there is a difference in feel as the groupset goes up the hierarchy. If you have more money to burn, you could get their SLX counterpart and feel the difference all day long.
Lastly, some upgrades for added comfort could not be skipped. Although the Marin 1 is equipped with nylon pedals, one could easily improve grip by installing Truvativ Holzfeller pedals, $110. These special pedals offer great grip, durability, and easy installation and handling. A WTB Pure V seat also is a great upgrade for those looking for ultimate comfort as these seats are insanely comfortable on long rides. I went online and unfortunately, its price varies from $40 to $100 depending on where you get them. The only constant thing for this item is the good reviews it has.
This bike is best for
With all that said, this bike is best for a beginner biker or recreational mountain bikers looking for an affordable bike to test the waters on a variety of easy terrains or those going for leisurely rides on easy trails, singletracks, and cross-country riding.
Not so much for
As I have said earlier, it’s the kind of bike that is the jack of all trades, but master of none type. It may be a gateway bike to introduce you to the world of mountain biking, but it won’t stick around for those difficult technical shreds, if that’s what you’re into.
Conclusion
To wrap this article up, the Marin Bolinas Ridge 1’s materials and overall build proves that it gives you the most basic mountain bike to start with for a very fair price. It offers a variety of functions for different riding conditions. The multiple numbers of gears and speeds let the rider ride comfortably in singletracks, cross-country, and regular commutes. Although it offers so much for its tag price, it also has its limitations. The Marin Bolinas Ridge 1 can’t be ridden on technical trails and bike parks. It still is a hardtail, after all.
