Longbarn Killer

It's not unusual for bikes to have mixed components on them. Manufacturers do this to keep the costs down. Certainly not something to worry about

Was chatting to the local Titan agent in PE and he said that Titan haven't had stock for months. They are expecting another shipment soon though. You may be lucky and find a shop with some stock still

Depends on which model. The top of the range is bad. The bottom of the range is beyond bad. Having said that, it would depend on your intended use. If you just want to cycle a few times here and there around the block, it will do the job. Any proper off roading and things will start to fall apart.

I understand your frustration, however, its business. Corporates want mileage out of their sponsorship. Unfortunately, they don't get that in SA. There is not enough support for the sport of cycling in SA.

The best protection against bike theft is insurance.

You sound like me. A road bike must be scratch free (MTBs are different). I also start asking questions in my mind as to how a road bike has been looked after when it is full of scratches.

I would go for the Swift too. Being an ex team bike, I would avoid the CKT. The pros ride those bikes hard.

Is it really a problem mixing components? If they work together and the part is a quality part, there won't be an issue. Most manufacturers do this anyway.

The add says this is a carbon frame, however the ALR is aluminum. The one photo even shows a sticker saying "Alpha Aluminum"

Don't try to approach it too scientifically. Just ride your bike 3-5 days a week on whatever terrain you can. 35kms will take you around 2hrs. Padded shorts is a must. At least one water bottle, with your choice of energy drink. Some kind of pump, and maybe a multi tool with you. Wear a quality helmet (you should have this by now) Make sure your bike is properly maintained.

What happened? The link does not explain much.

I have a Holdfast and cannot fault it at all. It does the job of transporting my bike safely

Not sure of the circumstances leading to the break, but perhaps you could consider an insurance claim. There is lots of discussion on the hub regarding the integrity of aluminum welding.

If there are no cycle paths, then the argument is irrelevant. Maybe he should have said that cyclists don't like to use them when there are cycle paths available.

A lot of cyclists don't even use the ones that are in usable condition. It just blows my mind.

I have Alex on my MTB and A Class on my road bike and neither have given an inch of trouble. They keep running.

I have to ask this question. If you want the bike for commuting and light off road, is it necessary to spend R20k?

Have a look at the group set parts. The name will be on it.

Any square taper crank should fit your bottom bracket. The problem is that the "high end" cranks that fit square taper will be old and difficult to come by. If you are wanting new, your option would an entry level crank, which puts you in the same position. Another option is to replace the bb too, which may increase your options, but there is a plethora of different standards out there, most of would probably won't fit your frame. It's better to take it to a bike shop for their opinion.

Went through a similar exercise looking for a bike for my son. Sadly, R7k does not get you much. Bike prices have simply sky rocketed of late. I was fortunate enough to have picked up a really well looked after second hand bike for R5 500. They are there, but you have to find them. I agree with you, new is a better option for people new to the sport. The bike shop will make sure they are set up and of course you get a warranty. For your budget, value for money is your primary concern. Brands that offer this are Titan (probably the best at the moment), Silverback, Merida and Axis. Many people won't agree with me, but Avalanche also has some good value propositions.

Quite a number of years ago I bought a cheap indoor trainer from Makro for R299. With some rust and chrome peeling at some points, I sold it recently for R200 to a lady really keen to do some indoor training for Ironman. Within a few days I saw the lady advertising it on Facebook for R300. Now, that same trainer has popped up again on Facebook for R750. Maybe I did myself in.

Thanks....I think I am going to take it to a bike shop to check. My daughter is off to varsity in 2 weeks and she needs her bike to be reliable.

I've never bled brakes before, probably my best bet is to leave it to the pros.

I was wondering about letting out some fluid, but I would imagine the trick would be not to allow in any air.

It was used. Not sure of the age, but it has worked perfectly until now.