Marin Dominican

Cheers Virgil, I'll check that out!

Well for the Langster Steel I guess a straight or raised bar in chrome would be nice.

Hmm.... how much for a pair of nice straight bars?

No idea, I have never, ever, in my entire life, seen a bike with straight bars that looked anything other than vomit inducing. They RUIN perfectly nice bikes. They are aesthetically awful and I advise you in the strongest way not to purchase any.

No idea, I have never, ever, in my entire life, seen a bike with straight bars that looked anything other than vomit inducing. They RUIN perfectly nice bikes. They are aesthetically awful and I advise you in the strongest way not to purchase any.

THIS, but if you insist £18

Cheers again Virgil, that gives me an idea of how much it would be.

So, it comes down to The Marin Dominican and The Specialized Langster Steel.
Modern frame with riser bars vs. Classic frame with drop bars, Threadless vs. Threaded headset, Paint the rims or Switch the bars...

switch bars is cheapest

No one seems to now nothing about the Marin but i found this review which I found pretty useful: http://road.cc/content/review/18385-marin-dominican

This bike feel very much 'me' so I'll go and have a test ride this week.
Thanks for all you input and help. Much appreciated!

Just bought the Marin Dominican from Cycle Surgery and I love it like a fat kid loves cake!

I've had a Dominican since September time last year and found it to be a fantastic bike. However I got it at trade price since I work at a bike shop in York, I'm not sure I'd pay full whack for it. The tubing shapes look great and though the welding isn't 100% it's still pretty tidy. Stock bits that come with it aren't really anything spesh but they're good quality and finish really.

I removed all reflectors, the somewhat cheapish pedal straps and the Marin badge on the head tube and I think it looks absolutely stunning!

Since it was absolutely pissing down in London yesterday I can safely say that me and my new bike got some good wet weather testing :)

And today, I just did 32 miles in the dry! Got....to.....rest....!

WashedUp - Thanks for doing the leg work, I'm in exactly the same situation as you were! I grew up on BMX and hills so not a massive fan of drop handlebars. Might contemplate switching the Dominican's handlebars for the Charge Plug-style bull bars. Did you replace the pedals completely? If so, what did you change them to?

I never replaced the pedals but I did get rid of the straps for now as I ride ss still. But yeah the bike is hella rad, I love it and I think you would too if you like how strong and easily manoeuvrable a BMX frame is. Great bike!

I ended up getting the Inverness, the Dominican's little brother, in the end! Different to the advertised pics - it comes all in black apart from the darker coloured orange rims. Seemed a lot more lightweight to me when I test rode it.

Anyone know if Marin will bring out a new batch of SS bikes next year? Seems as though they've only just entered the market on urban SS bikes.

Nice work WashedUP - I am in the same position now, but being steered towars the Langster Alu - anyone any thoughts?

Inverness is essentially an alu version of the Dominican; hence why it is lighter. Langster Alu is good, probably the best of the bunch really unless you can afford a wilier pista. Langster has carbon fork, sugino cranks, mavic cxp etc.