JayLow

I did my 70.3s on a well-used 10 speed alu road bike and the cheapest (Lizzard) trisuit I could find - no issues. I also borrowed a wetsuit until a suitably priced used option came along on FB marketplace. Until you start getting in the 2h45 bike leg time (sub 5:30 overall time) you don't need to spend crazy amounts on tri-specific gear, fitness will be the limit. The used bike market is a buyer's paradise right now, grab a 10yo road bike for cheap and bob's your uncle. The Mossel Bay bike course will be a lot more bearable on a road bike (big difference between 15kg MTB and 10kg alu roadbike), the climb up the pass after the turnaround is a killer. Decathlon has some nice quality trisuits at a good price. Find a friend to borrow a wetsuit (it helps a lot!). Good luck with the prep - IM70.3 training changed my life.

BINI!

You can create a chat with a number on WhatsApp without having to save the number on both iOS and Windows versions of WhatsApp. Simply tap the plus button in the top right corner of your screen (iOS) or the pencil in block icon above the search bar (Windows app). No need for ad-filled apps or drama.

See now this Woutbashing confuses me again 😂

Thank you! I have been enjoying following the forum the last few days, general positive vibes all round! I used the "we" in my question because I really dig Wout and so was taken aback at the "unflattering" nickname. Anyone who can go to those dark corners of pain caves and still find a reason to smile is on my good list. Seems to be a lot of those types in the Tour, hard men who enjoy the grind but also work and care for a team when required. Aspirational stuff.

Why don't we like Wout? He comes through pretty positively in the Netflix show, so would be interesting to learn what actually went down in the past. (in case you can't tell, I'm new to following Le Tour)

I use the F1TV app on my TCL android TV. For some reason it's not available on the TV's Google Play Store, so you have to sideload it by downloading the APK and then using a USB drive to install the app on the TV. APK can be found here: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/formula-one-digital-media-limited/f1-tv-android-tv/

Anyone know why the second commentator (who always sounds bored, by the way) seemed to be unhappy about Cav peeling off to the left when he started his sprint? He mentioned something about "changing his line" but I know too little about the rules and intricacies of sprinting to read through the lines and infer any controversy. Not sure if anyone here also picked up that awkward moment between the commentators?

Looks like a pretty solid choice, @ThorstenR. Set an alert for a Sram GX rear derailleur and consider buying one preemptively - the SX has a bad rap and you will be able to find a used, working GX for a good price on the Hub. GX is two levels above SX, so would be a worthwhile upgrade for when the SX goes.

I do not have experience with the Avalanche, but since it looks like a "big box" (budget) bike, it may have some drawbacks in terms of serviceability, resale value, and eventual upgrade potential. The hydraulic discs, 12s groupset, and air fork are certainly points in its favour, despite the no-name brand nature of the rear mech and fork. At just over R10k per bike, you can move into sub-premium, where the components are just that little bit better, whilst keeping the air fork and hydraulic disc dream alive. These will likely also have much better resale value than the Avalanche. For example, this Scott has a Shimano Deore RD and SRS fork. This GT runs Microshift and SRS, shich would probably be better than the Avalanche. This Silverback runs Deore and Rockshox. This Rockrider from Decathlon runs Sram GX (!) and Rockshox. This shows that by just adjusting the budget slightly upwards, you can enter another world. Use the fact that you are buying two bikes at the same time to negotiate on the price!

When I commuted with a Titan Transporter a few months back I had similar specs - 25min of commuting for 12 km at HR under 130bpm. Was a joy but then changed jobs and started working from home:

Doesn't seem like there's much difference between these two, so it will likely come down to personal taste. If it was me I'd go the Cypher and use the extra cash to upgrade the rear derailleur to GX. Reasons: Merida is orange, 11 speed, and older, so I'm assuming the Cypher components are less worn. The Cypher frame also provides a great platform for an upgrade journey and their customer service has a good reputation.

@tinmug but what do you think about the Titan name? I always chuckle when I see Giant components - but seriously how big are they really? How Specialized is this bike really? Is this bike brand from Scotland? Didn't realize cycling is big over there. Does this bicycle have Cannons? Wow, could be useful for the danger areas. Isn't Canyon a geographical feature? So am I cycling with a dry riverbed thats millions of years old? Is this bike for gorillas or people? It's not even silver in the back, though? Honestly @ThorstenR at a sub R20k budget there will be nothing that comes close to a Titan in terms of value and customer support. Especially and also if you go used. Giant is also good value, but make sure you get the right size. The other brands, with more palatable names for Tinmug's random ick, tend to attract a premium just because of the sticker on the frame. Solve for components (especially groupset), and you'll be okay. And don't dismiss Microshift out of hand - someone on here will know if it's good. There is a chance that it's better than Sram SX, which gets a bad rap on the Hub. So not even Sram or Shimano is a sure thing...

I had an alloy 2016 Momsen Vipa XC bike which I rode for 3 years (2021 - 2024) and was very happy with. Sold it because it was getting old and I was itchy for a carbon frame. Upgraded the Vipa to a 2022 Titan Cypher Carbon Expert 120 with an upgraded (Lyne) wheelset and I am loving it. Solid spec components with lots of upgrade potential (Sram brakes), but for the price I paid the value is out of this world. I also bought a used Momsen R355 gravel bike this year and although it's still early days, I am happy with it. It's super light carbon and Sram Force all over, so much better than anything else in the same price bracket. I am super impressed and happy with the offerings from Momsen and Titan, and would probably never buy brands that are so much more expensive for similar spec, just so I can have a particular sticker on my frame. Groupset and component spec matter more than the sticker on the frame (to me). Now that I think about it, I have not heard anything bad about Titan. People mention that they're heavier but, unless you race for podiums, an extra kg in the frame is almost inconsequential.

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