Anyone ride mountain bikes? Trials?

[Priapus]

Hi all,

So, after visiting the Rietvlei Zoo Farm last weekend and going on a bike ride one some of their trials. I realised how much I miss riding bikes from my days in the UK.

So I am looking at taking up cycling in this form to keep fit and get out a bit. Want to do downhill, trials, some technical stuff like that.

I also know MTBs are not cheap.

Anyone else do this sort of riding, out of interest?

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Trials or trails?

 

[Quantum Theory]

Move to Cape Town. You guys don't know what mountain biking is...

 

[froot]

Move to Cape Town. You guys don't know what mountain biking is...

You should go take a trip to the Magaliesberg

Admittedly, the only thing Pretoria has is sand and rolling hills.
But I do admit, Cape Town does have some nice climbing areas

 

[Quantum Theory]

You should go take a trip to the Magaliesberg

Admittedly, the only thing Pretoria has is sand and rolling hills.
But I do admit, Cape Town does have some nice climbing areas

Yeah, I'm with the Tygerberg Club and we've got some spectacular trails. Also, places like Welvanpas and Jonkershoek is just around the corner

 

[Quantum Theory]

Want to do downhill, trials, some technical stuff like that.

Don't get a 29er then

2014 will be the year of the 650B bike. Some awesome 140mm travel 650B trail bikes on the way from almost everyone. These should be able to handle some light downhill stuff, but still be able to climb well. Talking about 2014 Giant Trance, GT Force, Rocky Mountain Altitude... or if you have the budget Santa Cruz Bronson.

 

[Brawler]

yep, I do a bit of everything from Argus to Dirt jumping.

 

[Priapus]

Trials or trails?

The later.

Don't get a 29er then

2014 will be the year of the 650B bike. Some awesome 140mm travel 650B trail bikes on the way from almost everyone. These should be able to handle some light downhill stuff, but still be able to climb well. Talking about 2014 Giant Trance, GT Force, Rocky Mountain Altitude... or if you have the budget Santa Cruz Bronson.

Hmmm, will have a look. I want to save for a decent MTB.

yep, I do a bit of everything from Argus to Dirt jumping.

View attachment 62115

Where do you ride?

 

[Funjunkie]

I suggest you ask here:

http://www.thehubsa.co.za/

 

[Priapus]

I suggest you ask here:

http://www.thehubsa.co.za/

You legend! Thanks

 

[Quantum Theory]

You legend! Thanks

Also keep an eye on the classifieds there... Some proper bargains every now and then.

 

[Chevron]

The later.

Later or latter?

 

[Priapus]

Also keep an eye on the classifieds there... Some proper bargains every now and then.

Since I am in no rush - I have time on my hand to keep a look out there.

 

[Hosehead]

Move to Cape Town. You guys don't know what mountain biking is...

Expensive is what it is. Big races cost R30,000 entry fees.Decent bikes start from R40,000
No wonder the only people in this sport are middle aged bankers and accountants and big rich earners.
There are no poor students who could easily whip their butts because its a money game to keep the poor out.

 

[Quantum Theory]

Expensive is what it is. Big races cost R30,000 entry fees.Decent bikes start from R40,000
No wonder the only people in this sport are middle aged bankers and accountants and big rich earners.
There are no poor students who could easily whip their butts because its a money game to keep the poor out.

Okay...... Thanks for clearing that up.

OP, you should not take up this sport, unless you are a middle aged banker. Just forget about it, or become a banker first.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Also keep an eye on the classifieds there... Some proper bargains every now and then.

Expensive is what it is. Big races cost R30,000 entry fees.Decent bikes start from R40,000
No wonder the only people in this sport are middle aged bankers and accountants and big rich earners.
There are no poor students who could easily whip their butts because its a money game to keep the poor out.

R40000 for a MTB??? Second hand for R21000??? WTF are these things made of, Platinum? You can buy a decent secondhand car for that price.

 

[Hosehead]

R40000 for a MTB??? Second hand for R21000??? WTF are these things made of, Platinum? You can buy a decent secondhand car for that price.

Most of the serious riders buy theirs overseas and bring them back as the average MTB rider is extremely affluent and travels a lot. They are not daft enough to pay local cartel price fixed imported bikes when they get the same bike overseas at half the cost.
Then when they get bored they sell them second hand and end up making a huge profit. Until the sport reaches more affordable levels you wont see twenty somethings in it because they need the best bikes which are the lightest but unlike road cycling MTB races have really hefty entry fees as they are typically several day camping and catered affairs and who but the affluent can afford to take such time off work for training and events. several times a year- and there's more and more events every year and more foreigners fly out to partake so these big events are aimed at the foreign markets not the local MTB crowd although we have a fair complement. - but they are all middle aged.

 

[froot]

Most of the serious riders buy theirs overseas and bring them back as the average MTB rider is extremely affluent and travels a lot. They are not daft enough to pay local cartel price fixed imported bikes when they get the same bike overseas at half the cost.

Sauce?
I'm friends with the owner of one of the big local distributors and I know that all of the big riders who ride those brands all get their bikes via shops from the distributor.
And btw, my bike is actually more expensive overseas than locally, if you look at retail pricing.

There are a lot of people that import themselves but it doesn't account for everybody, not even close.

I think you have your evaluation as to the riders a bit wrong, since there are a lot of cheaper options out there

 

[Hosehead]

I think you have your evaluation as to the riders a bit wrong, since there are a lot of cheaper options out there

You wont see any non grey haired local south africans compting in the major MTB events in SA. Agree? There are plenty of "cheaper options" but the prestige events are off limits due to the exhorbitant entry fees. Cape epic is the most expensive.

 

[froot]

You wont see any non grey haired local south africans compting in the major MTB events in SA. Agree? There are plenty of "cheaper options" but the prestige events are off limits due to the exhorbitant entry fees. Cape epic is the most expensive.

I disagree. Lots of younger guys on the scene.

Cape Epic is very much different to 99% of the other races out there. All stage races are expensive. Yes, the Cape Epic is an overpriced race, but it's among the minority.