I take a close look at the Marin Muirwoods, a cromolly commuter bike that is very capable and well designed to get you to work, school or the grocery store: but it has some secrets that make it capable of so much more.
The Muirwoods sits in a category of commuter bikes that bikes like the Kona Dew and Kona Dew Plus seem sort of similar. Upon inspection of components and some details, the Muirwoods has more to offer though than just a rigid commuter with kind of a cool retro simple aesthetic. What comes to mind is the Surly Grappler but in a budget friendly package. The Surly has garnered a lot of attention and instagram is full of different ways that people have built their Grappler. What those people with Grapplers probably don't know is that the Muirwoods even exists, and that it is maybe an even more compelling inspiration for really cool custom builds
The inspiration to upgrade this bike comes from 3 major factors: Cromolly: It is no coincidence that steel rhymes with real. Geometry: Outside the box thinking with inspiration from Mountain and Overlander bikes brings us a bike that could be swayed towards being a gravel bike, simple commuter or being more like an SUV with the ability to go offroad and carry your luggage. Tire Clearance: lastly, with MEGA tires clearance the ability to morph this bike into something else is welcome in a world where not many bikes basically invite you to put tires on with double the width of the stock tires.
Specs for the bike include cromo frame and fork, Microshift AdventX 10 speed drivetrain with 11-51 cassette mated to a 38t narrow/wide steel chainring. Braking is provided by basic Tektro Hydrualic Disc Brakes and 160mm rotors.