What Do All Those Marin Bikes Model Names Mean?
Ever wondered what all of those weird and wonderful Marin Bikes model names mean? Wonder no more as we break it down with some of our favourites.
Inspired By The Places That We Love.
What’s in a name? Alcatraz, Rift Zone, Presidio, Fair Fax. Every bike in the Marin range is a celebration of the places we live and ride. Our bikes are designed for riders all over the world but inspiration starts at home, right here in Marin County, and our names reflect that.
Our home county sits across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. From the rugged mountains of the Coast Range to the soft sand of Stinson Beach, it’s crammed with beautiful outdoor spaces that are perfect for exploring by bike.
Of course, it’s not just famous for its scenery. Marin County is also known worldwide as the birthplace of mountain biking. Way back in the 70s, local daredevils were hauling their modified klunkers to the tops of fire roads and racing back down. The early mountain bikers found their machines were also perfect for exploring the dirt tracks and mountain passes, and you probably know the rest.
Not all Marin’s models are christened after local places, but scan a map of the area and you’ll soon start seeing familiar names. If you’re driving up Highway 101 from San Francisco, you’ll spot signs for Sausalito, Larkspur, San Rafael, Fairfax, Terra Linda and more.
Marin Pine Mountain - A Tribute To Where It All Began
The Marin Alcatraz - A Bike to Break Free
The Marin Fairfax - For Speed and Style, Man.
Fairfax, California is a small, socially-conscious community with echoes of its hippie roots. It’s home to the Gestalt Haus (a popular watering hole) as well as the Marin Museum of Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. The world-famous Repack Trail ends on its outskirts. The Fairfax was made to be the perfect bike for scooting around its namesake's quiet roads and bike lanes in suitably laid-back style.
Marin Gestalt - Saying Prost! To Our Favourite Watering Hole
To some, it means a collection of elements that becomes more than the sum of its parts. The Gestalt might look like a road bike at first glance, but thanks to its endurance geometry, disc brakes, and tire clearance, it’s capable of a whole lot more.
To Marin County residents, it probably conjures up hazy memories of the Gestalt Haus in Fairfax, a popular post-ride watering hole with great German beers, tasty food and even wall-mounted bike storage. It’s walking distance from where our Director of Product Development was living while dreaming up the bike.
The Marin Headlands - Built For Adventures
Marin Muirwoods - Retro Roots and Ancient Redwoods
The Marin Presidio - Made To Explore The City And The Park
The Marin Rift Zone - Ground Breaking Off-Roader
Whilst there's little to love about earthquakes, we can thank the collision of tectonic plates for the mountains that we ride up and down. When it came to naming our super versatile, up-and-down, ground-breaking off-roader it seemed like the Marin Rift Zone was a natural choice.
The Marin Sausalito - Up, Down and Along!
The Marin Stinson - Born From Beach Cruises
Born in Marin County, For Riders All Over the World.
The bikes we create aren't just named after our favourite places, they're inspired by them. We made bikes that we love to ride and that have grown out our favourite rides, be it hardcore off-road, a cruise to the beach or the daily grind.
As Marin has grown throughout the world, we've realised that our designs aren't just suitable for Stinson Beach or the Golden Gate National Park but for people and places all over the planet. The names of our bikes help us to keep the connection with where we're from and remind us of how lucky we are to call it our home.
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