Finished product: the Marin Cortina T3 CX Pro. © Cyclocross Magazine
Back at Sea Otter, we saw the prototype for the Cortina T3 CX Pro cyclocross bike from Marin, but now it’s officially unveiled and on the market, and Marin has also stepped up and sponsored Elite ’crosser Nicole Duke.
Back at Sea Otter, the prototype Marin Cortina carbon model. © Cyclocross Magazine
“The Cortina goes carbon, finally,” said Mark Vanek, the Product and Marketing Manager who was heavily involved with the making of the bike. “It’s been in the lineup since 1999, in different iterations, as aluminum.” (See our profile of the 2012 aluminum model here).
They use a T3 tube to tube–construction, which Vanek said, “Really allowed us to be creative tuning ride quality and creating a bike that’s a pretty optimal weight for stiffness and reliability.” The seat tube has a larger diameter at the bottom near the bottom bracket for stiffness, but it tapers for a fit of a 27.2mm seatpost. “We want the top end of the bike to be super compliant,” Vanek explained.
Ultegra 6870 Di2 shifting is the new standard for Shimano-speced high end ’cross bikes. © Cyclocross Magazine
The cable routing is set up for internal routing of either electronic wires or mechanical cables. “It allows the rider to set up the bike with electronic or internal mechanical, or if you want to run full-length housing internally, you can do that as well.” And for the Di2 users, the battery will be internally seatpost mounted, which is charged at the front junction box under the stem, so riders won’t have to remove the seatpost.
Continental tires on Easton Wheels with a fork that allows plenty of room for mud. © Cyclocross Magazine
“We wanted to make the bike a little more competitive, weight-wise, for racers. We’re going to do two models, a top-tier level and then a bullet-point spec, blue collar version as well.” The Cortina bikes will be in stock soon. The MSRP is $5500 for the T3 CX Pro, but for the budget-conscious, there’s also a model with the same frame but a Rival group available with TRP ‘s dual-piston Spyre brakes for $2700.
Specs:
- Frame: T3 UD Carbon with Internal Cable Routing, Chainstay Disc Brake Mount, PowerTaper Seat Tube, PressFit 30 BB and Tapered Headtube
- Front Fork: Marin CX-SL Carbon Disc with tapered carbon steerer
The new TRP HyRd disc brakes keep the Cortina stopping smooth. © Cyclocross Magazine
- Shift Lever: Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydraulic, 11 Speed
- Derailleur Front: Shimano Ultegra Di2
- Derailleur Rear: Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-Speed, Medium Cage
- Brakes Front: Shimano BR-R785 Hydraulic Disc, Ice-Tech, 6” Rotor
- Brakes Rear: Shimano BR-R785 Hydraulic Disc, Ice-Tech, 6” Rotor
- Brake Levers: Shimano with Integrated Shifters
- Crankset: Shimano Ultegra 46/36T
- Bottom Bracket: FSA Sealed Cartridge PressFit30 with Shimano Adapter
- Chain: Shimano Ultegra
- Cassette: Shimano Ultegra, 11-28, 11 Speed
- Hub Rear: Easton, Included with wheelset
Shimana Ultegra cassette on the newest Marin Cortina model. © Cyclocross Magazine
- Hub Front: Easton, Included with wheelset
- Rim: Easton EA90 XD 700c Tubeless Disc Wheelset
- Tires: Continental Cyclocross Race, 700 x 35c 180TPI with Kevlar Bead
- Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro with T1.4 Rails
- Seatpost: Ritchey WCS 1 Bolt w/Di2 Battery Mount. 25mm offset, 350mm
- Stem: Ritchey WCS 4-Axis 44 Threadless. 84/-6 Deg Rise
- Handlebar: Ritchey WCS Evo-Curve, 4 degree sweep, shallow drop
- Grips: Marin Road Plus Tape
- Headset: FSA Orbit C-40 with Cartridge Bearings
- More info: MarinBikes.com
