Ticopico

Thanks everyone for the wealth of info on the forums.

So I am looking to get a MB and wanted to get your opinions on this two bikes.

I will be riding exclusively on pavement, boardwalk, and beach in Miami Beach. No trails or anything fancy. 2-3 hour rides.

I am flexible in price and know these two bikes have a big difference in price.

Thanks in advance
Will the Trek be much better for my intended purposes?

Ubie

I can't speak for the Cannondale, but my spawn has the Marlin 5 and that thing is a tank. Not that it's heavy (although it is), in that he hit a parked car, almost totaled it and didn't even scratch the bike.

It is overkill for what you look to be doing though, you may be better off with a hybrid, since that will have narrower tires and probably be lighter.

grubetown

I need some pictures of the totaled car you hit with a bike!

grubetown

Neither of these bikes for the type of riding you will be doing.

Ubie

Sadly, no pics. He was going downhill, lost control and rear-ended a Subaru Forrester. Crushed in the rear tailgate. A few hundred dollars more damage and it would have totaled out the car per the insurance adjuster.

Thankful he hit it actually. If the car wasn't there he would have hit the curb and gone face first in to some concrete steps...

Bike came out like a champ though. He put the front wheel parallel to the handlebars, but otherwise no damage. Had the bike shop check it out and they gave it the thumbs up. He, on the other hand, had road rash and bruises all down his left side, and sprained his ankle pretty good. Helmet also did it's job, so a new one was picked out on the aforementioned trip to our LBS.

grubetown

Glad he came out on the winning end!

freeranger

For sand you'd probably be better off with a "fat" bike, ex: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/bi...-road/fat-bike Does Miami allow bikes on the beaches? Even if they do, don't know that I'd ride there--sand will do a number on any moving part it works it's way into! For pavement and the boardwalk, a hybrid would be fine.

davethelefty

I have a Marlin 5 and living in Fla. also I do some of the riding you're describing, and I ride on gravel, marl, and hardpack sand roads. The Marlin is a good bike but it's heavy. If you're going to be doing a lot of beach riding I'd recommend a fat bike. For pavement and boardwalk a hybrid with 700x35c wheels might be a better choice, and it will certainly be lighter. Whatever you get, enjoy your riding. We definitely have the weather for it!!

qclabrat

Fitness and hybrids get a bad wrap consider the new Cannondale Treadwell series. Seems like a good fit for what you're after. It's also real good looking bike.
At your price point, I'd steer away from fat bikes. They will generally be heavier, more effort to pedal and steering harder than most mtbs and hybrids.

https://www.cannondale.com/en/USA/Pr...4-2d4728f473b8