The first thing that strikes you when riding the voodoo marasa hybrid bike is that the manufacturer started out making mountain bikes, and in this bicycle they have done a great job of combining the balance and responsiveness of an off-roader with the speed of a road bike.
This Voodoo bike has an upright riding position which is great for keeping an eye on everything around you in traffic on your cycle to work. The matt-grey aluminium frame is actually really responsive and we were pleased with how well it could accelerate away from the lights.
Wheels and components
The wheels are 700cc – which are the usual, larger size, you find on road bikes. These are ideal for getting around town on your way to and from work.
The bike comes kitted out with a great set of components for the price with a 24-speed Shimano Acera gear system and hydraulic disc brakes. While nothing top of the range, these are a good solid set of gears and brakes that will last a long time.
Although hydraulic disc brakes aren’t strictly necessary on a road bike, we think that anyone new to cycling will really appreciate the added feeling of security that their superior stopping power gives you.
The bike is made with eyelets on the frame, so it’s ready to fit with mudguards and a pannier rack to turn it into a commuting machine.
Self assembling the bicycle
If you buy the bike and have it delivered you have the option to self assemble. Make sure you read the instructions carefully. This guy obviously didn’t and put the forks on the wrong way round!
Boardman hybrid vs voodoo marasa
Boardman bikes, the Marasa and other Voodoo bikes are available exclusively through Halfords. Because of this a lot of people are comparing these two bikes. From a price perspective the Voodoo Marasa is a little cheaper however they really are very different bikes. We reckon that the Boardman offers really superior quality for a little extra spend.
