Bicycle Recommendations and Reviews
Not sure what bicycle is exactly right for you? Let us help - we scoured our minds and the internet for reviews of our favorite bicycles! Doing our research led us to the discovery that the most commonly reviewed bicycles are the highest end bicycles in a line up - don't let that deter you, use it to your advantage. Manufacturers often make a series of bikes, with the highest end of them getting reviewed, look into the other bicycles in that series, they often have many of the features of the highest end bike without the price tag.
The Aguila is a budget friendly bike that’s perfectly suited to all–weather and multi–surface commuting as well as casual trail rides.
The Aguila is a great choice if trail riding is a part of your riding repertoire, but not the only part and you want one bike to do it all. It’s tough and rugged enough to handle heavy duty commuting and banging around town, and it’s got the chops to take good care of you when your ride takes you off road.
This bike is Marin’s gift to cyclists who want to get rolling on a quality bike without spending a lot of cash. But you still get parts that perform well, like Shimano’s Nexus three-speed internally geared hub—it’s smooth and likely more reliable than a similarly priced external drivetrain. The Vee Tire Co. tires are puncture-resistant and have reflective sidewalls, and the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes mete out real stopping power. As you hop between bike lanes, the Presidio feels zippy while pedaling, and the three-speed drivetrain shifts fast and suits all but the hilliest routes. If you think prioritizing value and reliability makes a boring bike, the Presidio 1 just might change your mind.
Made in Canada!
What makes DC 29 so dangerously fun is its uncanny ability to acclimate and annihilate anything you point it toward — from technical and gnarled, to rolling and flat-out fast. Agile handling is a function of modern geometry that combines steep seat angles for climbing with slacker head angles for confidence inspiring cornering and control.
The Shift Plus i/O 5 is nimble enough to traverse the most technical trails. It is much easier to manage on rocky climbs than heavier, longer-travel e-MTBs. The Shimano Steps motor has loads of torque.
The Marin Hawk Hill 1 is an excellent affordable entry-level full-suspension mountain bike. Our professional mountain bike testers were repeatedly impressed by just how much fun it was to ride this budget-conscious bike. If you're just getting into the sport, looking for your first full-suspension bike, or you don't want to take out a second mortgage to buy a new bike, the Hawk Hill 1 is worthy of your attention.
The Alpine Trail 8 is a competent climber and a thrilling descender that straddles the line between enduro bike and trail bike.
If you’re looking for a mid-priced bike that will get you up the mountain on your own so you can shred back downhill and enjoy both directions, Marin's Alpine Trail 8 deserves your attention.