I bought this Marin in 1997

Freeman · 2025-04-29T02:21:32+0100

Hi all. New to the forum. Actually the only MTB I have ever ridden is this Marin I bought in the spring of 1997 from a local dealer. I did a NORBA race with it that year, and since have just ridden the heck out of it on and off the road.. I have had a few other similar bikes in passing, a neighbor gave me a GT once, another neighbor sold me a Kona once, but I just passed them on to others as I did not need more than one. I am 63 years old now and will probably ride this into my grave.

Frankenorange · 2025-04-29T03:12:15+0100

Welcome!

Fine bike there and great story

hawkhill97 · 2025-04-29T08:07:13+0100

Lovely Marin!

I was about the same age as you must have been when you bought it, when I got my first MTB - another 1997 Marin - about 10 years ago. Been on plenty of adventures since.

They're cracking bikes!

grantoury · 2025-04-29T08:12:11+0100

Welcome and nice Marin you have there.

Guinessisgoodforyou · 2025-04-29T08:27:45+0100

Welcome to Retro bike. Great story.

PanoIgano · 2025-04-29T09:21:13+0100

Welcome @Freeman !

Looks ridden to the core this one and so it must be well blended with you. No bike can trully replace the first one...Hopefully, I will be able to ride in such an aggressive position once I get to my 60s too!

Freeman · 2025-04-29T21:14:24+0100

PanoIgano said:
Welcome @Freeman !

Looks ridden to the core this one and so it must be well blended with you. No bike can trully replace the first one...Hopefully, I will be able to ride in such an aggressive position once I get to my 60s too!

It still has the original frame, wheels, derailluers and shifters, and seatpost. Everything else got broken or stolen over the years. Glad I got steel back then as it appears indestructable for the most part. I am tall but chose a frame as small as possible so that I could drop back behind the seat on steep downhills, and with the bars low I have more room on very steep uphills.

Freeman · 2025-04-30T03:45:44+0100

Some old photos, me running the bike at a NORBA event back in 1997, and running it in a road time-trial about 25 years ago. Once I actually entered it in a 42 mile road-rac,e and they changed the rules for the next year so that running a MTB was not allowed. So I have had a lot of fun with it.

Guinessisgoodforyou · 2025-04-30T06:28:21+0100

Laughing at the rule changes

hawkhill97 · 2025-04-30T07:28:59+0100

Great pics! Would never have occurred to me to try a road TT on a MTB, though with long low stem I can kind of see it! The knobby tyres must have made an interesting noise at those speeds on tarmac

I bought this Marin in 1997

Freeman

Retro Newbie

Frankenorange

hawkhill97

Retro Guru

grantoury

Guinessisgoodforyou

PanoIgano

Freeman

Retro Newbie

Freeman

Retro Newbie

Guinessisgoodforyou

hawkhill97

Retro Guru

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