Mountain bike for beginner

[nazmo]

I did do last years 109km Argus on the 26er just for the fun of it. Most of the time I ride my 29er, I did all 6 Transkaroo 240km rides on a 29er.

As for padded pants, I have two baggie ones but most of the time I ride in normal shorts since I use these saddles : https://www.rapide.co.za/product/rapide-tf-147-saddle/

My biggest issue with the 26er was getting well prices tubeless tyres for it, something is it months before Evobikes have some at affordable prices.

Aaah, remember you from bikehub forums lol.
Transkaroo is EPIC. my biggest MTB was the 100miler lol. 160km on a hard tail.

More of a roadie either way. the technical stuff scares me a bit.

 

[Rouxenator]

I only ride hardtails. Back in the before times I used to commute to work each day so I preferred the more simple nature of a hardtail with less maintenance required.

Cederberg 100miler was very cool, I did all of those, and two AMArider 100milers as well, the last one I had an epic crash.

 

[nazmo]

I only ride hardtails. Back in the before times I used to commute to work each day so I preferred the more simple nature of a hardtail with less maintenance required.

Cederberg 100miler was very cool, I did all of those, and two AMArider 100milers as well, the last one I had an epic crash.

I did a 9 hour Amarider 100miler. I also only ride hardtail, for lightness and maintenance reason (im a skinny roadie, so a heavy bike counts against me). Amarider had some serious corrugations, wasnt fun. otherwise a very safe race, other than people overcooking bends or general dumbasses.

 

[c3n0byt3]

I only ride hardtails. Back in the before times I used to commute to work each day so I preferred the more simple nature of a hardtail with less maintenance required.

Cederberg 100miler was very cool, I did all of those, and two AMArider 100milers as well, the last one I had an epic crash.

I read somewhere commuting with a MTB is not recommended as the road tar eats up the tires?
Or is it just a case of cheap MTB tires not lasting long?

re. 26er, is there any strength benefit from a smaller wheel?
Considering heavier riders.

 

[Neuk_]

I read somewhere commuting with a MTB is not recommended as the road tar eats up the tires?
Or is it just a case of cheap MTB tires not lasting long?

re. 26er, is there any strength benefit from a smaller wheel?
Considering heavier riders.

I know for 26"er's you can get slicks to commute with and I am sure there is no strength benefit going with 26"er wheels.

 

[Paul Kemp]

Yes tar will eat up an off-road tyre but 700c road tyres fit on the 29” wheels. If you run tubeless then a second set of wheels for road will make life easier.

 

[Rouxenator]

I read somewhere commuting with a MTB is not recommended as the road tar eats up the tires?
Or is it just a case of cheap MTB tires not lasting long?

re. 26er, is there any strength benefit from a smaller wheel?
Considering heavier riders.

True, but it is an inside joke of Bikehub that I get 10,000km out of my MTB tyres because I ride them until they are slick.

 

[Alton Chetty]

Have you ridden any of them? We all built differently.
Make a list, what year model, what components etc.

Hi . No I have not all are online

 

[Alton Chetty]

Dont go for the 26er. Whats your budget (guessing 3500 max?)? Also have a look at Silverback, normally great value for the money.

also what size bike are you looking for?

Hi karnuffel. All above were 26er. Yes 3500 max only 1 I see so far is an apex a900

 

[Alton Chetty]

Dont go for the 26er. Whats your budget (guessing 3500 max?)? Also have a look at Silverback, normally great value for the money.

also what size bike are you looking for?

I'm 1.65 height so probably medium

 

[Alton Chetty]

1. go 29er. its just smoother
2. Avoid ANY makro special
3. Buy a used big brand, like GIANT, scott, silverback.... (Specialised gets too pricey)
4. Cheap bikes are so heavy (like 15kg plus) vs 10-12kg for a big brand bike, that you actually get put off riding, especially up climbs.
5. Should you start enjoying the rough stuff, cheap bands are terrible, steering goes out, cabled brakes or horrible, brake fade. shocks are bad.
6. You want hydraulic brakes, 29inch wheels, tubeless conversion, the right size! super important. Understand the different type of bikes. you get downhill, cross country, trail. whats your intention? Do you want to do a quick blast down the black trails at tokai? or do you want to do a 160km marathon on mostly gravel? (I do both).
7. Stay away from dual suspension as a beginner. reason being, no cheap dual suspension exists. if you cheap out, you will get a 20kg beast thats terrible. hard tail is cheaper, ligther and faster. If you choose to upgrade, then dual sus is king, but a good quality one is exceptionally more money when you try to match the lightness of a hard tail.

Now, you dont need to break the bank! Sure, you can buy new for R2999 at game. but Ill rather save a bit more, and spend R5kish on a used GIANT or Silverback, Merida or even our local company MOMSEN. and if you dont like it, re-sell it for virtually no loss.

View attachment 1071171

I was a Roadie. I then borrowed my boets MTB and fell in love. However i was used to decent tech so i got myself a used full carbon, quality groupset GIANT for R16k (about half price new)... its now 6 years later and i still use it. Good bikes last.

Other things to note:

1) Helmet, you will need one. Goto Chris Willemse, you dont need expensive, you just need quality assured. Its your head after all.
2) gloves, i prefer full finger gloves for the inevitable fall, but up to you. once again. go cheap at first
3) Shoes (and pedals). go flat pedals, and takkies at first. should you eventually want to. cleat up, its way more effecient. but dont ever cleat in as a beginner, you will fall and get terriefied.
4) Shorts. You bum will get sore. but you dont need to dress like a tour de france roadie. get baggy shorts with built in cushioning. and a similar loose fitting cycle top....

Thanks. Hows the apex a900

 

[nazmo]

Thanks. Hows the apex a900

It looks ok. I dont know much about it. probably better than your raleigh 2999 special. It does have mechanical instead of hydraulic brakes though.

rather goto bikehub.co.za and see whats available. Ill rather go scott, giant, spez, GT

 

[c3n0byt3]

I'm 1.65 height so probably medium

From my experience in buying recently, you'll have an amazing array of options in that size.
Just goto Bikehub and check everyday.
You can get an older but well specced bike.
Thing is, wait a while until you find something good. Do some research on everything you see.

I also considered Apex, but those LTWoo groupsets aren't common across the bikes you get locally.
Thought maybe parts (or at least variety) could be an issue.
The fork is Apex branded as well. So not sure on that.

 

[Rouxenator]

Giant Revel is pretty good, I did a write-up on one back in 2014 : https://forum.bikehub.co.za/topic/139763-2014-giant-revel-0-29er/

As is the norm with some bike manufacturers, the lower the model number, the higher the spec. So I had a 0 which had hydraulic disc brakes as an upgrade of the mechanical ones on the 1 and v-brakes on the 2.

Looking back the only things I would miss if I switched back to a Revel would be the straight steering tube and quick release VS thru-axles.

But the Revel gets a thumbs up from me. Mudded up as I am finishing Die Burger 75km MTB.

 

[Alton Chetty]

It looks ok. I dont know much about it. probably better than your raleigh 2999 special. It does have mechanical instead of hydraulic brakes though.

rather goto bikehub.co.za and see whats available. Ill rather go scott, giant, spez, GT

View attachment 1073093

Thanks

 

[Alton Chetty]

From my experience in buying recently, you'll have an amazing array of options in that size.
Just goto Bikehub and check everyday.
You can get an older but well specced bike.
Thing is, wait a while until you find something good. Do some research on everything you see.

I also considered Apex, but those LTWoo groupsets aren't common across the bikes you get locally.
Thought maybe parts (or at least variety) could be an issue.
The fork is Apex branded as well. So not sure on that.

Yes thats the plan to check everyday. Tnx

 

[pinball wizard]

It looks ok. I dont know much about it. probably better than your raleigh 2999 special. It does have mechanical instead of hydraulic brakes though.

rather goto bikehub.co.za and see whats available. Ill rather go scott, giant, spez, GT

View attachment 1073093

@Alton Chetty take someone with you who knows something about mtb's when you go look/buy.

Something like that Hardrock in the above ads is a real dog turd. In fact, you'd be better off riding a dog turd than buying something that bad. It's really on the same level as a Makro pos.