Marin LARKSPUR 2 / Black S

Marin Larkspur 2 – The comfortable mixte all-rounder in black for city rides and gravel excursions

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How the name came about

The bike owes its name to the town of Larkspur in Marin County, the manufacturer's home region. According to tradition, the founder's wife named the settlement after the larkspur flower, mistaking the abundant native lupines for larkspur blossoms. The name gains extra historical weight through the "Larkspur Canyon Gang": this group of teenagers rode ancient balloon-tyre bikes along the mountain trails of Mt. Tamalpais in the 1970s and has since been regarded as a pioneer of mountain biking – a fitting pedigree for such a laid-back machine.

The components of the model name

"Larkspur" works on two levels: it denotes both the flower and the Californian town that bears its name. The numeral "2" points to the higher specification stage within the Larkspur range. And "Black" describes the colour of the frame in the available paint scheme.

How this model differs from the other bikes in the series

Compared with the family's base model, the Larkspur 2 is clearly a step up: instead of the ten gears of the microSHIFT drivetrain, a Shimano Deore unit with eleven gears sits in the frame, the entry model's hydraulic Tektro brakes give way to more powerful Shimano stoppers, and a lever-operated dropper seatpost comes as standard. When it comes to frame, tyres and geometry, however, nothing has changed versus its sibling – both bikes share the identical mixte steel chassis with 27.5-inch wheels.

What this bike is built for

The Larkspur 2 is the jack-of-all-trades among the mixte bikes: it commutes through city traffic just as happily as it explores gravel paths and field tracks after work. The wide tyres soak up uneven ground, the dropper post provides control on descents, and the eyelets for racks and mudguards turn it into a spontaneous travel companion. Unlike other ranges from the same manufacturer – such as the road-geometry Gestalt or the rugged expedition-style Four Corners – the Larkspur puts relaxed, urban riding enjoyment centre stage, without losing sight of the option for little adventures off the tarmac.