Just Keep Pedaling

First questions: 1. How much do you weigh and how tall are you? 2. Are you competitive? 3. How much do you have to spend?

I did the same thing last year. I bought almost everything on Chainreaction - go for the 2 year old clearance stock (normally marked down more than 30%). They also have a Christmas sale where everything is 10% off. Some specific advice to follow:

I have a really bad stutter. That is why I post three times. I also have laggy internet.

"Chainreactioncycles: R15800...... " Complete bikes attract an import duty higher than the normal import duty. Anyone know the %?

"Chainreactioncycles: R15800...... " Complete bikes attract an import duty higher than the normal import duty. Anyone know the %?

"Chainreactioncycles: R15800...... " Complete bikes attract an import duty higher than the normal import duty. Anyone know the %?

"most of my riding is XC but when there is a rough patch i like to hit it hard or take the jump!" At 112kg with this riding style Anthem is not the bike for you. Sooner or later you will breaks something - hopefully the bike and not your neck.

I reckon if it does wear faster is will only be about 10/9 or 11% faster. A small price to pay for being a cool kid with 10 speed shifting.

They look like clown bikes so I don't care if they are faster.

Near Nelspruit / Sabie

"I have come to terms with the understanding that for the rest of my life, whether I remain is SA or live overseas, that I will be seen as a foreigner." Practice speaking with an Ozzy accent and they will never know the differance. "Goodaaaai Maayte!"

Its a dilema, no doubt. I don't want to emigrate and leave my job, friends and family behind. On the other hand I don't want to get hacked with a panga while riding my mountain bike.

They always respond to me emails. Give them 48 hours to do so.

By last royal mail took over two months - it was during the snowstorms when Heathrow was closed.

This upsets me. ps - how do you ride a bike just after being pepper sprayed? The stuff is supposed to immobilze you?

"Don't get why anyone would hate them?" Because they bought at the LBS and paid twice as much, giving the option of admitting the made a mistake or hating. They will chose hating. p.s. above comment is going to upset someone - just watch.

Read the Wikipedia entry on Scientology. They whacked Hubbard's son because he did not fit the profile. Bunch of scary basturds.

Mani who?

If they are too busy to sell you a bike then imagine the after sales service.

"Actually that's the only reason why I was considering it. That and getting hit by a truck- AGAIN" Maybe you want to consider life insurance instead of bike insurance.

Ignore Mampara - he is just trying to make 20 000 posts. The Joes/Stans debate is like every other contentious ddebate on the internet - everybody has an opinion / nobody really knows. I have used both - no problem.

Do the original conversion with a compressor. Use a CO2 bomb on the trail. UST is designed to be run without slime so even if it dries up it should get you home. Oh, and carry a spare tube and a pump if you can't call someone to pick you up.

Have an actual place to work. Wife gets agitated when I push the couches against the wall and work in the lounge.

I had a LT one. It worked well - a good product if you don't want to spend the cash on a new FS frame.

Rock Shox Recon. Its R3400. Rather save for that. Budget to a shop to install it too.