[Reasonable budget for someone re-entering the sport?]

On 3/20/2024 at 7:41 AM, CaptainKipper said:

Greetings hubbers.

Long time lurker, 1st time poster...

I have not been on a bike seriously since high school where cutting edge tech was a Diamondback or Giant Yukon.
I have the ability to spend a decent amount on a secondhand bike.
The question is more one of is R15k ish that much better than a R10k 2nd hand bike for a relative beginner?

Would I notice the difference?

The purpose of the bike is mostly to get my fitness up and I live near Tokai, so have lots of good options wrt places to ride.

A hard tail bike is what I'm after, but also love the nostalgia of steel frames (Surly, Mercer etc  - am I daft?)
I wouldn't discount a gravel bike either, but not being familiar with them, I'm not sure it fits the bill.

I'm also a believer in the buy nice or buy twice philosophy (I bought a real POS Mongoose dual sus bike a while ago and it was totally wrong for me and i learnt my lesson).

Any advice or recommendations would be gratefully received.
I'm 187cm and 88kg (45) if that means anything.

What type of riding do you intend on doing? The recommended bikes are decent XC options but will suck for the more exciting trails at Tokai.

I would hold out for a nice aggressive hard tail like a Merida Big Trail or Trek Roscoe 7. They can still pedal very well but you can also have fun on them. A do-it-all bike.

I'm sure you will find one for 15-20k and they are relatively well spec'd for a beginner. 

 

Here is one for R20k brand new:

https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/bikes/mountain-bikes/trail-mountain-bikes/roscoe/roscoe-7/p/35116/

[Wiggle/CRC future in doubt]

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/international-update

[Rapidé Tigre Hardtail Frame]

On 11/20/2023 at 6:35 PM, BrandonH said:

So I had a lapse in judgement… gonna sell my full suss and keep the Rapide, she is too pretty to sell, and hasn’t even touched the mountains yet.. anyone here run a 140mm? I have a freshly serviced Rockshox Revelation 140mm fork I wanna slap on, but worried as I want to also use her to train and cover some distance as it will be my only bike.. maybe worth a shorter travel fork instead?

I also sold my full suspension and kept the my HT... 

Also have 140mm and I don't have any issues on longer rides but I am no racer. Doesn't feel too wallowy if it firm it up a bit. It's not like my previous 160mm bike.

Isn't it normal for marathon bikes to have over 100mm these days? 120mm? So 20mm diff isn't huge.

[Good few Cobras at Tokai today]

I'm injured at the moment. Maybe its a good thing. I'm an absolute magnet for the things.

[Dreamy Long Travel / AM Hardtails]

4 hours ago, SimpleDom said:

Sorry not sorry for raising the dead here. I need some advice. I'm pulling the trigger soon on a new HT monster. Current front runners are:

- Nukeproof Scout 290 (Concern is CRC in business rescue, and crazy shipping / duty cost)

- Commencal Meta HT AM Race (https://commencal-store.co.za/products/meta-ht-am-race)

I can't help but think I want something in steel through. I have a cotic simple SS which I really love riding. I just can't seem to find a good option here that comes as a full bike, with OEM pricing on components AND ships to SA.

I'm 1,98m tall, so I need an XL or XXL depending on the brand.... makes things that much harder to find.

Any thoughts / help on stores that serve our niche market would be appreciated.

The Scout is excellent but if you consider the Scout also consider Ragley (Both from CRC)

The Big Al is rated as one of the most compliant Alu bikes around.

I bought mine in January and I have loved every moment. Even sold my dual sus. I paid around R30k and that is a well spec'd bike (Marz z2, WTB i30 rims, Deore drivetrain, 170mm dropper, Maxxis Minions, Sram 4 pot brakes). 

I chose to go to CRC as there was literally bugger all available locally that was decent out the box (I searched for 6m).  For example a Trek Roscoe 7 was over R30k but needed a fork and brake upgrade out of the box which would have pushed the price way over R40k. Commencal prices were out of this world at the time.

The CRC situation sucks. Obviously hoping for a turn around but even if the parent companies goes, I am confident the loved brands will be sold off and continue.

[Wiggle/CRC future in doubt]

They own Nukeproof, Ragley and Vitus as well. Hopefully someone buys them. 

[Fork stanchion damage]

New uppers asap.

It's amazing how quickly this can happen. I was riding up Jonkershoek with a friend and a stone got flung up from his front wheel some how. He noticed immediately but as he got off the bike the fork moved and left a deep scratch. 2 week old Lyrik...

[Best way to ship an Ebike from JHB to CPT]

Not sure ships can get to JHB...

 

//I'll see myself out.

[From full suspension to hard tail?]

I've recently made the switch.

160mm Giant Reign dual sus to a Ragley Big Al 140mm HT. Been on the HT for about 6m now.

My 2c

• The new HT are insanely capable. I ride pretty much everything in CT and it's only really the proper downhill tracks where I miss the big travel and rear suspension. Most trails in CT are more flow oriented and the HT loves that. Flow, drops, big jumps, no problem. Rocks are also fine but you will chose your line more carefully. Again it's only really the proper DH stuff where I feel under biked. On 90% of trails I literally don't 'feel' a big difference. The Youtubers call it 'compliance' and I can attest to it, a good HT with a nice fork soaks up a lot.
• While I do think HT is better for learning technique and bike control, I have been riding for a long time and can jump so pretty sure I am not going to case. If you are learning to jump the dual sus is more forgiving. You feel cases much harder on the HT.
• The HT climbs like a dream compared to the big enduro bike even though both bikes have the same Maxxis DHR tyres. These days I often end up doing two loops instead of one.
• Cost - No contest compared to DS but when I was looking there wasn't anything complete available in SA so you either had to build your own or buy something like a Roscoe and upgrade it a lot which pushes the price up drastically. Be careful of this. A 30k bike becomes 45k real quick with a few upgrades. I tried for 6m to find something locally but in the end I got a bike from CRC that is solid component wise (no upgrades needed) and there were no similar options available locally and building one up would have cost probably 50% more money.
• Overall super happy with the aggressive HT and use it 9 out of 10 times. Which bike is good for you depends on your local trails and what you want to do on it. If you want to race DH or enduro its not the best option but it's a super solid choice for everything else. More capable than you think and personally I think most people are overbiked as they aren't exactly clapping DH lines on their 170mm enduro rigs anyway so what's the point.

[Noob to MTB - advice on entry-level hardtail]

What do you want to do on the bike?

[Flat pedals shoes]

7 minutes ago, guidodg said:

How do the Culvert's work for sizing?

I am a 45EU which is 10,5UK but that website only has 10 or 11UK...

I see on the main Etnies website they do offer .5 sizes. The local distributor may not carry them. 

[Flat pedals shoes]

2 hours ago, MajG said:

they look good, however when I tried them on they abit narrow and have no real toe protection on the culverts.

Is the Semenuk different?

Odd. Did you try some of the other shoes besides the Culvert? My feet aren't narrow and I don't struggle at all.

AFAIK the Semenuk does not have the hard sole as it's more for short dirt jump runs vs all day enduros.

[Whats it worth - 2015 Giant Reign]

20 hours ago, droo said:

Unfortunate, know of someone looking for a medium.

Ah pity. Thanks anyway! 

[Flat pedals shoes]

Etnies are great!

They have been around for decades. Making quality skate & BMX shoes and they are now making proper MTB flats. Some of the worlds best are riding for them (Semenuk, etc).

I have the Culverts now and I really like them. My previous 3 pairs were Fiveten so my standards are high.

Go MX has them in stock at really good prices. If you are in CT they have a nice shop worth checking out, otherwise online. 

https://www.go-mx.co.za/collections/mtb-gear/Shoes

[Whats it worth - 2015 Giant Reign]

42 minutes ago, droo said:

Size?

L

[Whats it worth - 2015 Giant Reign]

Thanks peeps. Great feedback.

Prices are pretty much what I was expecting. 

[Whats it worth - 2015 Giant Reign]

Hi all.

Today is a sad day. Looking to sell my Reign that I have had since new (2015). I replaced it in February and it has been ridden once since then so figure there is no point keeping it unless its not worth selling and keeping for mates. I'm hoping it is though as its relatively well spec'd and still modern geo.

Components:

• Frame: Alu
• Fork: RS Pike RC 160
• Shock: RS Monarch RT
• Drivetrain - Full XT 1x11
• Brakes - XT with the big Shimano Ice Tech rotors
• Wheels - Stans Flow EX on Hope Pro 4 
• Tires - Maxxis DHR2 (R) and Assegain (F)
• Seatpost - Lynne 150mm internal
• Bars - Stock 780mm
• Truvativ Holzfeller

Condition is good. It has a few minor scratches from use but nothing deep and no dings. Stanchions are perfect. 

The bike is ready to ride. New grips. The fork and shock was serviced in mid-2022 with very little miles before the new bike arrived. The dropper post and tyres were replaced at the same time so those are in great condition.

The only known issue is the rear derailleur clutch. It does work but the switch likes to turn itself off but I have found a way to keep it on and now it does work fine. Only mentioning it as its the only thing not perfect. 

Help with pricing please. I know the market is in a bit of a weird spot right now. Prices were super high and now on the low side. Still, to get a new bike with this sort of spec is now mega bucks. I've seen a few (but worse for wear and spec) for between 16-20k.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Chainreaction cycles shipping]

Bought a complete bike in December and they shipped it with 'FedEx'. It was an absolute joke. 

Slow, poor tracking and the bike never arrived. Seems like once its in SA its in the snail mail. After about 100 days CRC sent a new bike with DHL. The bike was here within 4 days.

A friend bought a complete bike about a month after me and also got the FedEx shipping. Same experience as me except it did eventually arrive this time.

[Bike Addict OK?]

19 minutes ago, love2fly said:

Thanks for all the feedback. I've noticed the CL price matching, is it online only?

 

I initiated it online and collected what I wanted the next day in store.

[Bike Addict OK?]

They have a lovely, huge and extremely well stocked shop in Malmesbury. When I'm that side I always pop in and pick up a few things so they are legit.

I've heard of issues with their online shop but I have had good correspondence with them on a bike I wanted. They went out of their way to help.

Cycle lab has also been good to me and I've also made use of that price match feature... although I am sure the usuals will be around soon telling you not to use it as you are taking bread out of the bike shop owners mouth.

[Dreamy Long Travel / AM Hardtails]

New Cannondale Habit HT 😍

[Warranty Repairs on Ebikes]

26 minutes ago, zeerpuD1 said:

I would not be happy if it were my bike. Why put in spacers if the actual fault is the sensor? Surely all the other “similar” ebikes must work perfectly or do they also have 7 spacers in? They need to fix the problem and not take a shortcut. Best is if they don’t fix it correctly is to name the brand so other hubbers can look out for it on their bikes

This. 

 

[MTB Tyre Choices]

9 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

that will not be enough to kill a DHR any time soon. If ridden as intended, the trail would do tyre in long before any tar would. Enjoy the rides with your kiddo. I ride with my 5 y.o. as well and that is much more valuable to me than potentially having to replace some rubber every now and then because of it.

You were meant to tell me I should get another bike with a more appropriate tyre.😃

But thanks, yes agree its worth it.

[MTB Tyre Choices]

Bit of a dumb question - How bad will a road ride chow a tyre like a Maxxis DHR? Like just 5KM a week or so.

Obviously the bike is for trails but enjoy riding it around with my kiddo. 

[Is the 2nd hand market dead?]

The answer to all expensive bike problems is.. get an aggressive HT.