Marin Fairfax SC6 DLX

The Fairfax SC6 comes in any color you want so long as it's black. Credit: marinbikes.com.

The Marin Fairfax SC6 DLX comes with an 11-speed Shimano Alfine internal gear hub, Gates carbon belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, aluminum frame and fenders, an integrated rear rack, and a Super Nova E3 lighting system powered by a front dynamo hub. It retails for about $2400.

Edwin mentioned this bike when he did his roundup of bikes that come with lights, aka, Lights for the Rest of Us.  Unlike the Trek Lync, the Fairfax SC6 light system is battery free.

Here are the specs:

Frame: Series Three 6061 Aluminum, 700c Wheels, Eccentric Bottom Bracket, Relieved Head Tube, Internal Cable Routing, Post Mount Disc Specific Forged Dropouts, Belt Drive Compatible

Front Fork: RFE Carbon with Alloy Steerer tube

Rear Suspension: Drive Train Specs

Crankset: Shimano Alfine With 50t Gates CenterTrack Front Sprocket and CNC Ring Guard

Shift Lever: Shimano Alfine 11 Rapid Fire Plus Derailleur

Cassette: Gates CDX CenterTrack 22t CNC Stainless Steel Rear Sprocket

Bottom Bracket: Shimano HollowTech II

Integrated Chain: Gates CDX CenterTrack Belt, 115 Tooth

Hub Rear: Shimano Alfine 11 Speed Internal Gear Hub, 409% Gear Ratio
 
Hub Front: Shimano Alfine Dynamo, 6V-3W

Rim: Maddux SR300 700c, 30mm Tall with Sleeve Joint, 32 Hole

Spokes Nipples: 14 Gauge Black Stainless

Tires: Continental Sport Contact II 700x32c with Safety System Puncture Protection And Reflective Sidewall

Brakes Front: Shimano T445 Hydraulic Disc, 6” Rotor

Brakes Rear: Shimano T445 Hydraulic Disc, 6” Rotor

Brake Levers: Shimano T445 Hydraulic Cockpit

Handlebar: Double Butted Flat Top, 6061 Alloy, OS-31.8mm, 700mm Wide

Grips: Ergon GS1 Locking Ergonomic

Stem: Marin OS Alloy Threadless, 31.8mm Bar Clamp

Headset: FSA Orbit C, 1 1/8

Seatpost: Marin 3D Forged with Alloy Micro Adjust, 15mm Offset, 400mm Length

Saddle: Ergon SM30 Comp Accessories

Pedals: CNC Sealed Bearing, 2.5mm pin

Rack: Racktime Custom Integrated Match-It QL3, With Snap-It and QL3 Mounting Systems For Ortlieb And Racktime Accessory Mounting

Trek Lync

The Trek Lync has lights front and back. Photos courtesy of Trekbikes.com

The 2015 Trek Lync 5 27-speed will go for about $1320; the Lync 3 9-speed will go for around $990. Trek calls the Lync a "dedicated, low-maintenance, tricked-out commuter bike."

Let's start by giving Trek some credit for finally producing an off-the-shelf bike with an integrated light system. These are not dynamo hub powered lights, but are instead powered by a lithium ion battery that is rechargeable by USB. It will be interesting to see the longevity of these batteries. 

In any event, when Edwin did his comprehensive post "Lights for the Rest of Us," Trek was one of the big guys that was noticeably absent from the bikes with lights market. So, welcome aboard Trek.

I have minor criticisms of the Lync model. First, why don't they come with integrated racks, like the apparently discontinued Trek Belleville.  And why can't it be as stylish as the Belleville? And, as always, I'm not a fan of straight bars that only allow one hand position.

The bike media has greeted the Lync with enthusiasm, including this preview by the Bicycle Times.

Specs for the Lync 5:

Colors Matte Trek Black

Frame Alpha Gold Aluminum with Lync on-board lighting system, DuoTrap S compatible, internal cable routing

Fork Lync, Alloy

Sizes 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25"

Front Hub Formula DC20 alloy

Rear Hub Formula DC22 alloy

Rims Bontrager TLR disc, 32-hole

Tires Bontrager H2 Hard-Case Lite, reflective, 700x32c

Shifters Shimano Acera M390, 9 speed

Front derailleur Shimano Acera

Rear derailleur Shimano Deore

Crank Shimano Acera M391, 48/36/26 w/chainguard

Cassette Shimano HG20, 11-34, 9 speed

Pedals Wellgo track-style alloy

Chain KMC X9

Saddle Bontrager H1

Seatpost Bontrager SSR, 2-bolt head, 27.2mm, 12mm offset

Handlebar Bontrager Low Riser, 31.8mm, 15mm rise

Stem Bontrager Elite Blendr, w/computer & light mounts, 31.8mm, 7 degree

Headset Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed

Brakeset Shimano M355 hydraulic disc

Grips Bontrager Satellite Elite, lock-on, ergonomic

Extras Lync front and rear lights, full-coverage color-matched fenders, chain keeper