It's my first time on a carbon road bike - and it's a big change! The stelvio weighs in at just a tad over 15 pounds with my eggbeaters on it. Super light! Super fast!
Also super sexy...
I'm 6'1" tall, so I went with the XL (61 cm size.) It fits well, and thanks to that tapered head tube, the front end stays really stiff, despite having such a long head tube.
The front end isn't the only thing that's stiff...the whole bike is. Marin uses T3 carbon this year - T3 meaning Tube To Tube. T3 is their way of getting the lightest, stiffest, and most cost efficient carbon frame they could muster. Having each tube made individually and then bonded together means that engineers can create an optimized weight to stiffness ratio across all frame sizes.
The frame has a massive downtube, with a beautiful unidirectional weave. The top tube is a downward facing triangle with the rear brake cable routed internally through it. The seatstays are bladed and very slim - not superlight little sticks like a Cervelo, but they do a really good job of killing some of the road buzz. Their shape - wide from the side but slim from the front and rear - adds some aero bling to the frame.
Also new for this year on the frame is the fast-growing industry standard BB30 bottom bracket and crankset interface. It's lighter, and much stiffer than the classic threaded or external bottom bracket. The larger shell gives the frame designers more space to work with - meaning that bigger, stiffer chainstays and a downtube can be utilized.
Components on the bike are top shelf - Dura Ace drivetrain and brakes, FSA K-Force cockpit and crankset, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels...
But how does it ride?
Fantastically- the stiffness makes sure that each pedal stroke drives the bike forward as far as possible, and each ounce of energy that you put into it produces results. My old road bike was about 4 punds heavier, so this machine feels like it flies up hills - the light weight is noticeable on climbs and during accelerations. Geting the bike up to cruising speed seems effortless, and accelerations to an even faster tempo are made easy due to the efficient drivetrain, stiff frame, and light weight.
This bike is really an all around road machine. Some bikes and frames are being designed for aero pursuits, some lightweight climbing machines, and others as super stiff crit racers. This bike takes a few cues from each sub category and molds them all into a bike that can do anything, and can serve all of these purposes extremely well.
I'll be racing it across the USA in under 8 days, so that will be the real test of durability, comfort, and speed. I've got around 850 miles on it already, and have had no issues or complaints - in fact, it's hard to ride this without a gigantic smile on my face.
Components on the bike are top shelf - Dura Ace drivetrain and brakes, FSA K-Force cockpit and crankset, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels...
But how does it ride?
Fantastically- the stiffness makes sure that each pedal stroke drives the bike forward as far as possible, and each ounce of energy that you put into it produces results. My old road bike was about 4 punds heavier, so this machine feels like it flies up hills - the light weight is noticeable on climbs and during accelerations. Geting the bike up to cruising speed seems effortless, and accelerations to an even faster tempo are made easy due to the efficient drivetrain, stiff frame, and light weight.
(in case you needed more evidence it's a bling bike)
This bike is really an all around road machine. Some bikes and frames are being designed for aero pursuits, some lightweight climbing machines, and others as super stiff crit racers. This bike takes a few cues from each sub category and molds them all into a bike that can do anything, and can serve all of these purposes extremely well.
I'll be racing it across the USA in under 8 days, so that will be the real test of durability, comfort, and speed. I've got around 850 miles on it already, and have had no issues or complaints - in fact, it's hard to ride this without a gigantic smile on my face.