Help buying a mountain bike...

S

shadow_man

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Hi,

I'd like to start cycling as a hobby / as a means to get fit.

I live in the Southern Suburbs (CPT) - so it would mainly be used in suburbia and occasionally when going away / possibly doing trails with friends etc.

What would you look at for a start bike - budget is about R3 000.

Any recommendations?

I've found the following online:

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/titan-cruz-v-mountain-bike.html
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/titan-sport-26-mountain-bike.html
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/avalanche-atx-350-mountain-bike.html
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/mongoose-switchback-expert-26-mtb.html
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/mongoose-switchback-sport-26.html

Out of those I prefer the Mongoose Switchback Sport and the Titan Sport (I like the look more - bad thing to base my purchase on - I know...).

Any advice would be appreciated. I haven't bought a bicycle since I was 16 - i'm now 26 so i'm very much out of the loop.

Thanks,
J
 
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I can't really comment to much, but you can buy some hefty expensive bikes!

I would say its best to visit a bike shop or two and chat to the guys there! I would also check out the local forums for maybe something second hand?

You could also read about 26" vs 29" wheels but I think that's slightly out of your budget unless again you can find one second hand!
http://www.cyclelab.com/products/Mountain Bikes - 26in.aspx
http://www.cyclelab.com/products/Mountain Bikes - 29er.aspx

I'm getting back on my bike on Monday! Look forward to it now that the weather has improved slightly!

http://www.thehubsa.co.za/forum/classifieds/category/25-complete-bikes/
 
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You can get a Giant Revel or Silverback Stride for under R4k at Cycle Factory in Montague Gardens. Better bikes than the R4k Mongoose and the Avalanche you linked to. The other ones in your links do not even have disk brakes.
 
Quantum Theory said:
You can get a Giant Revel or Silverback Stride for under R4k at Cycle Factory in Montague Gardens. Better bikes than the R4k Mongoose and the Avalanche you linked to. The other ones in your links do not even have disk brakes.
Click to expand...

Hi,

The more advice you can give me, the better. I'm clueless with this...

I've also looked at this article:

http://www.bicycling.co.za/bikes-gear/best-budget-mtbs/2/

The link above is to one specific bike in the article. A Serfas XC1D - which spec wise apparently isn't bad (again clueless - so any help you could give would be appreciated)

http://www.serfasbikes.co.za/bikes.cfm?year=2012&prod=xc1d_2012

See specs at the bottom of that link - I can't paste specs as they do a stupid JPEG type thing...

twowheelstrading.co.za has that for R3250.00

Thanks,
J
 
Couple of things.

Don't buy from SW. Rather go visit a few bicyle shops and get advice.

A shop like SW would often have clueless people assembling the bikes and giving you advice.

You also want the backup from a bike shop for further servicing.

Bike shops will also be open to negotiation price wise. Don't be shy to ask for a discount.

26ers are going out of fashion to some extent as 29ers hit the market. Google 26er vs 29er for more info.

For your budget, forget about a 29er.

Because of this shift, 26ers are being sold second hand for low prices.

You can get a bike that cost R10k for R5k second hand, six months old.

If you can stretch your budget by R1 or R2k you will get an awsome second hand bike.

Try buy something newish and perhaps meet the seller at a bike shop with the bike before you buy it and they can advise you. Bike shops are open to this.

Try to get something with disc brakes and front suspension.


Look here: http://www.thehubsa.co.za/forum/index.php?app=hubmarket for second hand bikes.

thehubsa.co.za is the forum for more info on bikes. The okes are very helpful so join in.

I also came back to cycling after many years. It's awsome. So enjoy!
 
I switched over from road to mtb a few weeks ago. Although what I look at is out of your budget.
The Titan is a good buy.
29 > 26 but it depends on a few factors. Your height, ie. Otherwise its prefeferable.
Try get a 2nd hand in good cond, it wil give you more bang for buck.
Will revisit this thread in more friendly hours. ;)
 
rpm said:
Good bikes at good prices: http://www.thesportsbasement.co.za/cycling/browse/17-mtb-bikes?sef=hc

They have limited stock now, but maybe give them a call and ask them what they have in store. I suspect they are not good on updating their website.
Click to expand...

If I may.... I understand their business model, but would be slightly weary - they sell certain items and I know they are not a dealer [iow allowed to sell those items], ie they cannot offer you any warranty on those items. But yes, their prices are quite low.
 
what about the 27.5 inch wheels cominh out?lol. just get a 26. theyve been riding them for years. you should be fine with it.
 
HeftyCrab said:
what about the 27.5 inch wheels cominh out?lol. just get a 26. theyve been riding them for years. you should be fine with it.
Click to expand...

The 27.5'er is for people that can't make up their minds :D

The problem with those (and slightly with 29'ers still) is finding tyres that fit. Tubes too.
BTW, I pay R80 a tube for my 29'er where a 26" tube costs around R50-60.

Just some quick diff's between 26" and 29"
26"
Steering is more efficient than a 29'er, a fair bit snappier.

29"
weighs ~ 2kg more than the equivalent 26"
Lower centre of gravity
More traction due to larger wheels - bigger contact patch between tyres and ground.
More rubber results in a slightly squishier ride than a 26" (like car tyres vs bakkie tyres).


But for a starter, nothing wrong with a 26". Some pro's still prefer 26" mtb's.

@ OP

http://www.thehubsa.co.za/forum/classifieds/category/26-hardtail-bikes/

:)
 
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Ok, I'm still looking. I've determined that I need hydraulic discs.

So far i've looked at the Silverback Stride 10 as my best starting option:

http://www.silverbac...CK/stride10.htm

Price +- R4200 - R4400 (from phoning around in CPT)

---

However i've seen that Makro has a Raleigh Hydra 29'er (yes I know the Silverback is a 26) for R3999 - it doesn't look to be a bad bike to my untrained eyes (please comment - if you can compare the Raleigh and the Silverback).

http://www.raleigh.my/bikes/hydra.html

Price R3 999 - on special at Makro.

Please let me know what you would pick, if the Raleigh and Silverback in question are decent starter bikes and what my options are? Any advice would be appreciated - theres not much Google info on the Raleigh in question.

Thanks,
J
 
jsheed_sa said:
Ok, I'm still looking. I've determined that I need hydraulic discs.

So far i've looked at the Silverback Stride 10 as my best starting option:

http://www.silverbac...CK/stride10.htm

Price +- R4200 - R4400 (from phoning around in CPT)

---

However i've seen that Makro has a Raleigh Hydra 29'er (yes I know the Silverback is a 26) for R3999 - it doesn't look to be a bad bike to my untrained eyes (please comment - if you can compare the Raleigh and the Silverback).

http://www.raleigh.my/bikes/hydra.html

Price R3 999 - on special at Makro.

Please let me know what you would pick, if the Raleigh and Silverback in question are decent starter bikes and what my options are? Any advice would be appreciated - theres not much Google info on the Raleigh in question.

Thanks,
J
Click to expand...

Also saw the raleighs today... Are they really that kark though.?
 
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