Marin Toscana/Spec Tricross

[Ed Crane]

I've been enjoying my Mountain Bike for the past couple of summers but have realised that I don't use it for anything even remotely like real Mountain Biking. I only ever ride on roads, cycle paths and a few easy forest trails. Still inevitably I've got the biking bug and regularly ride 20-30miles, so am itching to upgrade my bike but don't really see the point in getting another MTB.

So here's where I need help please. I know I'm gonna go for a cyclo-cross type bike and will probably end up with the Spec Tricross Sport. Thing is, I know all the reviews for the Tricross are great and everything, and as far as I can tell, Marin don't seem to get a whole lot of love on the forums. BUT I really like the look of the Marin Toscana.

Now I really don't know anything about or fully understand the techy side of bikes. So what I really want to know is :-

A. Am I crazy to think about choosing the Marin over the Spec?
B. Is there really much difference between the two?
C. Why does the Marin cost £150 more than the Spec, if everyone seems to agree that the Spec is the best?
D. Is there something better than both for similar money?
E. Is there any reason to believe either one will make hills any easier to climb than my MTB?

Cheers, Ed...

http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Specialized-Tricross-Sport-505-52-0.html
http://www.bikescene.co.uk/Marin-Toscana-785-52-0.html

 

[HLaB]

A: not at all if you like the feel of the marin better.
B: The biggest difference I can see it the Toscana has disc brakes, they'll offer better braking power, especially in the wet.
C: Maybe because of the discs
D: If you search the forum there are alternatives I think the Genesis Croix De Fer for example.
E: of the two the Marin has slightly wider gearing (cassette ratio) which might make it marginally easier for climbing. Whether its better than your mtb depends on what gears it has, its weight, its tyre (smooth for better rolling or knobbly) and if the hubs/ BB etc were well maintained.

 

[Ed Crane]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah that Genesis does look nice too. I only narrowed it down to the Marin or Spec, cos they're both in my local bike shop.