Tristan6

Also...what do you guys think of the DuraShield Protection Film? Its 100x30cm and the price is not bad

I can get clear lamination designed for paint and chip protection at a place called Intamarket. Its 150 microns in thickness and comes in a 100x150cm sheet. I thought of buying this and cutting the pieces myself. Any concerns?

Good day hubbers. I recently bought myself a new bike.....a 2019 Trek Roscoe 8. I absolutely love my new bike and want to spend every waking moment riding. I live in joburg and most of what I ride is pretty rocky. I have noticed a few chips and scratches on my frame and this concerns me. I have been looking around at mtb frame protection kits but to no success. Most od them are quite pricey and offer minimal protection. I am looking for clear film to wrap as much of my bike as I can....and at the same time, not break my bank. I have looked around at companies that deal exclusively in film protection, where I can buy a sheet and cut the pieces myself. Is this a better option? Or are there any other methods of protection that I'm not thinking of?

I went and had a look at the bike and the frame. It seems to be a very nice bike but something does not seem right. I can't seem tp find any real info on the bike. The head angle says 70.4 degrees, but it does not look like it. The supplier also seems to be in the UK. So shipping might be quite expensive. Do you guys have any advice?

I went and had a look at the stride range. Very nice bike. The frame is actually closer to what I'm looking for than most other bikes. The 110mm travel is all that concerns me, but like you said, it can be taken to 120mm. How would adding a fork with more travel effect the bike's geometry and riding capability?

Is the Merida Big Trail range available in South Africa? I have had a look at them and that also seems to be a very nice bike. I will keep looking around and I will keep an eye on the classifieds as well

The reason I decided on 130mm or more is because I am more interested in riding the rough and tecky as opposed to XC. Wheel size is not that much of a concern for me but because of what I want to ride, I believe 27.5 might be best. I also have a set of 27.5 Crankbrother Cobalt 3's that are just waiting to be used. I have definitely thought of building a bike. What concerns me is that I have no experience with building a bike from scratch. I'm also worried that it will take me too long as I would like to get on the trails in the near future. I am 186cm tall and have quite long arms and legs. I have done some research and think an XL bike will be best for the riding I intend to do. Up until now I haven't really thought of kit, I have sort of been obsessed with finding a bike that could get me on the trail. I have a helmet but that is about that. I'm looking for an aggressive hardtail with a low, slack and long geometry. Something with a reasonable slack head tube angle and low top tube. Do you have any suggestions as to wich bike would suite me best for the amount that I am able to spend?

Good day everyone. My name is Tristan and this is the first topic that I've posted. I've been very interested in mountain biking for quite some time now but have never really had the opportunity to give it a try, well except for riding the occasional footpath or two. I've recently moved to Joburg and discovered a multitude of trails in the surrounding area. So I decided to start looking for a decent mtb to start riding trails with. I'm 21 and started working a few months ago so money is a bit of an issue. At first I was dead set on a full sus bike, but after spending every waking moment online, I decided that a hardcore hardtail would most likely be my best option. Something aggressive with 130mm or more of travel in the front. I looked at bikes like the Silverback Slade and the Diamondback Sync'r, but these might be too expensive and hard to come by. One of the better budget hardcore hardtails I've come across is the Vitus Nucleus, but im not sure where I would find one of those. Im probably looking at a budget of about 12k , slightly neg. I have this idea that as long as the frame is decent, the bikes components could always be upgraded. Does anyone have a better idea of what bike I can afford and where I can find one? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks, and have a good day.