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.

Also not a Hamilton fan, but somehow, no matter what happens, he always seems to pull it off. Sometimes I think he must be the luckiest guy on the grid, other times I think he has the uncanny ability to make his own luck. Although not a fan, I have a lot of respect for his achievements. He is definitely one of the greats.

I wouldn't trust any product that has fraudulently used another manufacturer's branding and intellectual property in order to profit from it. I've heard horror stories of things like fake handle bars and seat posts breaking during rides. I haven't heard anything about these fake Boras failing, but still wouldn't take the risk. The tarmac is pretty hard when doing 50km/h or more.

And implicate himself as being party to a criminal offence as he knew they were fake when buying.

Good news. LMP1 has been lacking manufacturer involvement for some time. I think only Toyota is left. From what I have seen, the new Hypercar regs to try and encourage manufacturer involvement has kinda failed. Be that as it may, Sports Prototypes have been a favourite of mine since I was a kid. I cannot wait for the WEC at Kyalami next year.

Is this the SuperSix? I didn't realise that they had a rim brake version. Damn nice bike.