Review: Marin Four Corners

 

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Sunshine day dreaming

In the early 90s Marin were one of the most exciting mainstream manufacturers. A product of the nascent mountain bike scene in Marin County, the imagery they used in their promotional material was stunning. By the standards of the time, their bikes were pretty cool too. And when they formalised their association with F1 engineer Jon Whyte, they came up with one of the first really credible full suspension bikes. The world seemed to be within their grasp but they lost contact with the pack, fell off the back and joined the ‘autobus’.

Fast forward to today, and under new management, Marin is producing probably the most exciting and relevant bike range in it’s long history.

Value for money?

As well as mountain bikes, Marin have a comprehensive range of drop-bar bikes suitable for gravel or adventure riding. From the full-blown ‘cross-racing’ Cortina, through to the alloy Gestalt and steel Nicasio all-road bikes, they appear to have all bases covered.

The bike that most caught our eye was the Four Corners. At £850 this sits firmly in budget territory. Having said that, not everyone wants to, or can afford to, splash out thousands on a new bike. We wanted to see whether, despite the lowly price tag, the Four Corners was up to the job.

The frameset is made from 4130 Butted CrMo tubing. Sensibly, wheel size is determined by the frame. The XS and S come with 650b while the M,L and XL with 700c wheels. (The 700c option has clearance for 700×42 tyres).

There are braze ons aplenty! Enough for six bottle or gear cages, front and rear racks and mudguards. At first glance it looks very much like a direct competitor to a Salsa Vaya or Fargo. At £850 though, it is considerably cheaper than any Salsa – at least in the UK.

There is a Four Corners Elite that retails for £2000 but that is way outside the test parameters we had set.

The heart of the matter

Marin dub the geometry Utilitour. This seems to be shorthand for multi surface, long distance,adventure geometry!

The super-long headtube (229mm on our Large test bike) makes for an upright and stable riding position.

The tubing is classic skinny steel without a hint of oversizing or fancy manipulation. Combined with the retro Marin graphics and satin black paint, it is smart looking bike. It almost goes without saying that Marin have sensibly specified a standard threaded BB shell.  Alongside the many other practical features this was almost an obvious choice. The neat welds, downtube gusset and bolt on cable guides are all smart touches, let down slightly by the rather basic stamped dropouts. The Four Corners weighs in at 13.2 kg (29.1 lbs), it’s no lightweight, but neither is it a deadweight!

The use of QR’s front and rear is a little old fashioned but no doubt help keep costs under control.

Clearances around the supplied 42c tyres are good. Fitting mudguards, or slightly bigger tyres shouldn’t give you any problems. Just don’t try and fit any full blown MTB treads.

Unbroken Chain

Apart from a KMC chain, the drivetrain is the much improved, though utilitarian, 9 speed Shimano Sora. It isn’t fancy, it isn’t slick but it does the job reliably. Let’s face it, that is ideal on this type of bike.

Pairing a triple chainset (50-39-30) with an 11-34 cassette gives you a spread of gears from around 25″ to 127″. By way of comparison the 1×11 Bombtrack Hook EXT we recently tested with a 40 x 11-42 gives 26″ to 98″. Ironically, you might find the extra range of the triple drivetrain to be of limited benefit.

Braking is provided by the increasingly popular TRP Spyre-C brakes paired with 160mm rotors. The Spyre’s are easy to adjust and generate decent stopping power – for cable actuated discs. It is easy to see why Avid’s BB5 and BB7 have fallen by the wayside.

Let the good times roll

The finishing kit on the Four Corners is unexciting but perfectly functional. Marin specify 70mm stems for all sizes. Along with the 12º flared bars, this combination puts you in an upright riding position. You definitely don’t feel tipped over the bars!

The handlebar tape is quite rubbery and gives you a decent amount of cushioning.

The WTB Volt Sport 142 saddle was very comfortable.

The wheelset combines black hubs, stainless spokes and unbadged double wall alloy rims. It’s a basic set-up and there’s no mention of tubeless compatibility on either tyres or rims.

The tyres are 42c WTB Resolutes. Our recent test of the TCS Light Resolutes mirrors in our experiences here. Even in the modest OEM puncture protection variety they roll well on smooth surfaces and are grippy and stable in the rough.

Truckin’

So how does the Four Corners work as a complete package?

The utilitour geometry with its high front end instantly puts you into a comfortable riding position. Having said that, it manages not to feel too ‘sit up and beg’. Putting extra power down instantly reminds you that the Four Corners is a steel tourer. If you are content with swift as opposed to fast you will not be disappointed.

The short stem keeps handling pretty lively and the high front end keeps the drops usable for most riding situations. Hit the rough stuff and the Four Corners ‘comes alive’. The traction from the Resolutes and the low gearing means that the bike will get you up most climbs.

On open trails, the relatively large volume of the tyres, the skinny steel frame and forks combine to take the edge off the harshest bumps. On descents you start to appreciate the well balanced riding position. The only thing holding you back on rapid descents is the prospect of a snake-bite puncture or dropped chain through rubble sections.

The high front end has another helpful side-effect, it opens up space for a second bottle cage on the downtube, or the option to forego the cages and use the space for a vast frame bag!

And we bid you goodnight

We’ve really enjoyed our time with the Four Corners, it’s a lot of fun, if not super-quick. It is ideal for touring or commuting duties.

The 9 speed road gearing has the range for adventure riding but precludes upgrading to  a clutch mech.

Tubeless-specific rims should really be standard nowadays. This offsets the plus points such as the WTB tyres and saddle, gel padded bar tape and Spyre brakes.

Lets not forget the asking price. Marin are offering you a complete bike for the price that some brands would charge for a 4130 steel frameset alone!

If you’re on a budget and want a bike to get you out there and back again, you should have a long hard look at the Four Corners.

Bike review: Bombtrack Hook EXT

 

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The Bombtrack Hook EXT is a fusion of CX/Gravel bike and an MTB. Clearly designed to take you to the limits of a gravel bike’s accepted range, and maybe beyond, it certainly looks the part.

There seemed to be little point in taking the Hook on a gentle poodle around Suffolk, so we packed it up for our recent trip to the Dyfi Forest in Wales.

If I said you had a beautiful body…

The Hook EXT features:

•  A Columbus Cromor double butted frame with unique investment cast chainstay/BB yoke.
• A replaceable hanger
• Rack and mudguard mounts
• 650b wheels fitted with 2.1 WTB Nano Race tyres
• Carbon forks with triple-pack cage mounts.
• SRAM Rival 1×11 drivetrain
• SRAM Rival Hydraulic brakes.

Despite its aggressive demeanour, the finish is nicely understated. A tough matte metallic grey with subtle khaki green flourishes distinguishes it from the shouty “me too” paint schemes displayed on some other bikes. We like it, although the whole understated theme is not for everyone.

Up on the mountain

The WTB i19 rims are tubeless ready but the WTB Nanos supplied with the bike are the Race model, not the TCS (as yet, WTB do not offer a tubeless ready 650b version of the Nano…) . Nevertheless, they were easy to set up in tubeless mode.

We kept pressures low to maximise traction on gravel, in preference to easier rolling over tarmac. Even so, we buzzed along the black top quite merrily. There was significantly less resistance than anticipated  from what are essentially MTB tyres.

While we might not specify 1×11 on a pure road bike, for gravel/tarmac mashup rides it is rapidly becoming a favourite of ours.

As our Welsh odyssey unfolded, the Hook found grip where others were scrabbling around. The Rival drivetrain proved more than capable of coping with everything we could throw at it. Meanwhile, the brakes provided predictable and superbly modulated stopping power.

It is worth mentioning the handlebars, an often overlooked component because they are so frequently swapped out for something else. The Bombtrack CX-10 handlebar features an unsurprising 10 degree flare, and on the medium, measures 42cm across the hoods. Across the drops it broadens to 46cm. The tops are flattened for increased comfort. The hooks are a great shape to grip and, coupled with a 100mm stem, make the Hook a breeze to steer on rough terrain and switchbacks.

Frameset

Not only does the Hook EXT look pretty cool, but the paint is tough too. Despite numerous clonks from flying slate chunks it survived unscathed. It also resisted scuffing from the frame bag straps.

For a racy bike you still get five bottle cage mounts, three of which are triples ‘for anything’ cages. There are also mudguard or rack mounts and a direct mount for a top tube feed/battery bag.

Constructed from a mix of both oversize and slender Columbus tubing, the bike pulls off the clever trick of feeling compliant while transferring most of your effort into forward motion.

The tapered carbon fork is precision perfect but with enough ‘give’ to stop your wrists from exploding!

A Press-Fit bottom bracket on a steel frame is a bit novel and would hardly be our first choice. Bombtrack explained that it allows them to use  the cast BB yoke and provide clearance for both a road style transmission and fat tyres. The bottom bracket remained creak-free during our time with the Hook EXT. For 2019, Bombtrack have updated the Hook EXT design to run a T47 threaded bottom bracket, which should keep the press-fit haters happy.

All the cable runs are externally routed, which we applaud as eminently sensible. The dropper cable run is internal but we can live with that!

Components

The WTB tyre and rim combo makes for an easy tubeless conversion and the BT origin hubs feature sealed bearings. Despite a hammering on the rocky trails, the wheels remained true over the whole test period. ,

The seatpost, stem and bars are all BT branded and are a step above the usual OEM. The seatpost remained creak free, and the flat-top, flared, drop bars are wrapped in a fantastic grippy shockproof tape. As ever saddle choice is a personal one but the Selle San Marco Squadra is comfortable enough.

Drivetrain & Braking

The SRAM Rival 1×11 drivetrain is the perfect match for rough terrain while the hydraulic brakes give easily accessible, single-finger braking from the hoods, or the drops.

Once you get the feel for double-tap shifters they become second nature, even to a dyed-in-the-wool Shimano user. For the watt-obsessed the cranks are a Quarq/SRAM team-up and are ready to accept a power meter!

 

Conclusion

Bombtrack have another hit on their hands with the Hook EXT. It breezes through road sections, climbs and descends rough trails without breaking a sweat and well, just look at it! Having added pedals and cages (and converted to tubeless) we weighed the Hook EXT at 11.3kg, Bombtrack claim 11.1 without pedals and cages (but with tubes), so Kudos for being honest!  It is not the lightest bike for the money but weight is a crude metric as is clear from the quality of the ride. If you want a fast, smart looking bike that’s ready for taking on the rough stuff, you could do an awful lot worse than the Hook EXT.

Review: Katadyn BeFree Water Filter Bottle

 

“Water, water everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink”

While neither Coleridge nor the Ancient Mariner were bikepackers, the problem was the same. If you are out in the wild, or far from home and in need of a drink, what do you do? Ultra distance rider Nigel is no stranger to this problem so we let him loose with the Katadyn BeFree water filtration system.

It is worth noting here, that Nigel is the closest we have in the office, to a camel. He can ride forever on the merest suggestion of moisture. The rest of us drink several litres on a hot ride. Ed.

There is a school of thought that questions the need to carry water at all on ride, whatever the distance. The theory goes a little like this:

Why add to the weight of a light bike with water? If you need a drink, go to a shop (not always possible). Alternatively, use something like the Refill app or resort to natural water sources. The latter isn’t always a viable option, particularly in the flatlands where ‘industrial agriculture’ has turned the area into a green desert. This was an ideal test for Nigel, so we sent him out in the heat to see how he got on.

Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System

The first thing to note about the 0.6L filtration system, is the weight. The packaging claims 59g, our scales say 74g, a whole gram less than a generic 500ml bidon!

The BeFree is a filter membrane attached to a “sports-cap” arrangement such as you might find on a bottle of mineral water. The reservoir is a Hydrapak Softflask, essentially a flexible plastic bag that can easily be rolled up when empty (it fits into a 450ml mug).

In use

The BeFree is a doddle to use. Unscrew the cap and fill the flask. Screw the cap back on, then squeeze the bag to get the water flowing. The flow rate is comparable to a normal bottle despite passing through a filter.

The BeFree is as good to use as a normal bottle. Unlike tabs, you don’t have to wait 30 minutes before the water is safe to drink. Pretty impressive.

The hydrapak will not fit in a standard bottle cage but it does slot into a jersey pocket or a frame bag. Obviously, this automatically increases you water carrying capacity if your cages are already maxed out.  When you find a reliable water source, simply fill the BeFree with clean water and rinse the filter.

A quick word on the filter’s effectiveness, I have to concede that any review will be purely on practicality and convenience. The reasons are as follows:

• We only tested the filter on water that was clear of obvious impurities.
• We can’t tell you that if we had just consumed the same water untreated whether it posed a risk or not.
• Katadyn have been making water filtration equipment for 80 years and have a reputation for making quality products.

Conclusion

Based on the light weight, ease of use and packable form factor, I think the BeFree is a game-changer for me. As long as where you are riding has a water source, the meagre weight/pack-size makes it practically ideal.

It has definitely found itself a place in my frame bag!

Review: Squirt Barrier Balm Chamois Cream

 

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Cream of the crop?

It is accepted wisdom that for any ‘proper’ riding, you need to use padded shorts. It just makes sense.

Chamois cream is a different matter altogether. It really is a binary thing. For some it’s just part of the routine, while the rest view the whole idea with horror. Personally I use chamois cream on most rides, even while commuting. I figure that, if by riding into work, I end up with a saddle sore that loses me a weekend ride I’ll be fuming!

Most chamois creams look very similar (like cream?!) with only slight differences in consistency and fragrance separating them. I usually use Udderly Smooth as it works, I’ve never had a bad reaction from it, and you can also get it in tubes which are handy for taking with you on a long ride.

A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.M.

Squirt barrier balm is different altogether. It has the appearance of bee’s wax and is very thick, so you can be sparing with it. Squirt include tea tree oil for it’s (debatable) antiseptic properties along with dimethicone (a form of silicone that provides the barrier function) and lanolin which acts as a moisturiser.

Hold the screen up to your nose…

Barrier balm in use…

As mentioned above you don’t need to use a lot of barrier balm as it is so viscous, and sparing gory details where possible, it doesn’t spread easily on hairy skin (sorry!). The upside to this is that once applied there is no greasy or damp feeling and once out riding you forget it’s there. Initially this left me unimpressed but once you’re back home you realise it has done the job without any fuss.

So would I recommend it? Definitely, but with one proviso. Such is the tenacity of barrier balm I don’t think It’s one to take it on a long ride away from mod cons.  Getting it off your hands without soap and hot water is a real struggle!

Review: GSI Outdoors Ultralight Java Drip

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I really need a cup of coffee, go get me a cupajoe…

The relationship between cyclists and coffee is a well worn cliché. Witness to this are countless cafes and tea rooms fit to bursting with cyclists seeking their regular fix. Further testament to this relationship are the mugs conspicuously dangling from the seat packs of bike packers or long distance tourists. It is to this latter group that the Java Drip will appeal.

For the self sufficient bike packer, a mid ride brew is usually a sachet of instant coffee. The practicality of lugging around proper coffee making kit usually precludes the brewing of anything more exotic.  GSI Outdoors (imported into the UK by Lyon Outdoor) have developed the Java Drip to get around this problem. This handy little device promises to make ‘proper’ coffee while being compact and lightweight. It would be no exaggeration to call it ‘ultralight’.  The Java Drip weighs a paltry 12g and folds down small enough to fit into the recess in the base of your average gas canister.

The Java Drip comes with instructions but using it is simplicity itself. Extend the legs, clip them on the rim of your mug, pop in your ground coffee, add water and bingo, a cup of coffee. The filter is integral to the Java Drip so once you’ve jettisoned the coffee grounds, a quick rinse of the mesh and you’re good to go.

One more cup of coffee ‘fore I go to the valley below…

It has to be said that instant coffee, such as Lavazza Prontissimo, has come a long way but if you like your brew to have flavours of cacao nibs, bruised plums, treacle toffee and the like, you’ll appreciate the Java Drip and the ability to use your own ground coffee.

Folds flat for easy storage

Fits in the recess of a gas canister

In use

For the test I used  Union Roasted Revelation Beans and a coarse grind.

The filter net easily accommodates 30g of coffee so you can start the day with a monster cup or share with your riding buddy. The mesh is just the right size to keep the grains in without letting the water flow through too quickly. Once you’ve finished the grounds are easily shaken out and a quick splash of water rinses the filter clean.

It is worth mentioning that the Java Drip can make a lightweight mug top heavy. Find a level surface or risk spilling the whole lot!

While the Java Drip is undeniably light, one flaw is that you have to double up on containers. One to boil water in and another to drip the coffee into,

Mid-flow

Done in

Conclusion

The GSI Outdoors Java Drip does exactly what it is designed to do while taking up hardly any space in your pack. If you want filter coffee while on your outdoor adventures it’s a great option.