Hi Hubbers I am new, to the Hub that is, and wanted some advice on a bike purchase. I have been on a real bike (crashed as a 10yr old and never got back in the saddle!) for just over 3 years now. My learning curve has at times felt like an HC climb. What I have learned, though with little financial injury thankfully, is not all bikes are created equal. I am currently the owner and soon to be BikeHub seller of a Silverback Sola 2 2015 and am now looking to trade up. I would really appreciate some advice on what is a reliable, value for hard earned money, brand and which bikes would be suit my needs. The specs: I am not a 'racing snake' or a 'hill monkey' I ride for fun I enter a couple races a year: Ashburton series, Trailseeker Series, Fun Grabadoo to the one time only experience of the Magalies Monster. I am a single mother - I.E. NO, donate a kidney, price tickets! I love a challenge the odd silencing climb and freak out and cry a little on tricky steep descents, refer to Magalies above! I have no major bias for a brand but have been looking at the Silverback Storm 1/Merida Big Nine. I think I would like a carbon hardtail - LIGHT BIKE! I would also like a little more control on tricky descents I do not want to spend over R30K ... yeah reality bites! I have been on a Merida Big Nine 2014 large and she is just too big for me sadly. I absolutely love her otherwise - she basically just does half the work for me! So that is a bit of a sketch but specs are important so those are mine if anyone would be able to give advice. I am not sure about new or second hand but on Carbon prob new ...? Thnx Mel
