vink3l

Hi I have read the thread on crime hot spots in Pretoria. Mental note about all the areas mentioned. Now - where do you recommend a beginner goes when alone? How is the safety at Groenkloof? How about just general early morning cycling for the sake of being over-eager ? I am in the montana/annlin area in Pretoria. Any known hotspots here (besides the ones that obviously look dodgy)? Hope you can help

Wow, thank you for all the different inputs! I am aware that I shouldn't have stars in my eyes about what I will be able to do with my lower end bike. I have however slept on the idea of waiting until I can afford something better, but I'm afraid that won't do. I desperately want to get out on a bike within the next month! I am in pretoria, and have googled hot spot cycles and they are not too far from where I live. Better go there first for advice on your recommendation. I will browse for second hand bikes, maybe I get lucky with the size small, who knows - Maybe I can get a better bike for the buck that way! I appreciate the help so much, very insightful for a wannabe beginner! You guys are a very helpful and friendly community!

Thank you for the comments so far. It is now established that the women's bikes are probably just a fad to catch the ladies into thinking its better. Also, I appreciate the opinions about a R3k bike. In all honesty I will probably not be able to get a personal loan (those arent very student frienly) and saving for the necessary gear (helmet, spare tube, pump) and then the max R3k bike already took a fair amount of time. Maybe such ventures are to be left until finances would not be so limited, starting now would probably not be such a good idea then. thanks

Hello all I have been looking into mountain biking for a long while now. I have spent hours reading on the net, visited local bike shops and purchased every local cycling magazine on CNA shelves. I now need YOUR help to get started. I am a 25 y.o. female, 1.65m tall, pants size 14. I am working on a student budget of not more than R3000. I therefore dont have much to choose from, but I would however like your opinion about the advice shop attendants have given me. The following cycles were recommended, given their quotations fit in with my budget: Titan calypso cruz (women's specific) Titan calypso sport (women's specific) And bikes I have looked at myself: Titan cruz (unisex) Titan sport (unisex) Axis A90 So... Concerning the titan bikes, I have ruled out the "shrink it, pink it, and put up the price" theory revolving around women's specific cycles. While the sport is an upgrade from the cruz in terms of speed and the shimano system, the specs for both the cruz and sport in either unisex or women's specific is the same, and the prices too. So I guess it is a matter of individual best fit. The shop assistants recommendation of the womens specific bikes was apparently made according to my frame. As far as my homework went, womens bikes are designed with the following body characteristics in mind: longer legs in proportion to torso length than men, lighter weight, more petite figure compared to men. These, however, hardly describe me. Yes I am a woman, yes I am short, but my weight is certainly not that much lighter and my frame not that much more petite, just your average hour glass figure. What if the shocks go on my first try because they only support a weight of 60kg's? What if I dont really want to sit that much more upright than on a unisex bike? What if my shoulders arent that much narrower than they should be? How will I know if the seat really is as comfortable as they say it would be? In short - it doesnt seem to be possible to take the bikes in a cycle shop for a short spin in the parking lot to test them. How will I ever know whether I should settle for women's specific or a unisex bike? Regarding the Axis - since its a new brand, nearly all testimonials and trial runs were reported from a marketing point of view. It is definitely the cheapest option for me selling at R1999. I have failed to find any comments from actual axis owners and riders. Any comments about the axis in comparison with titan as a brand? I would settle for a bike brand that I am in complete control of (not wanting to break my neck on the first go) and comfortable to the point where I can learn technicalities and enjoy the experience, and return for a second and third time without falling apart. Any comments and further recommendations as to what would be best for me would be much appreciated, as I am struggling to find any reviews on the titan bikes Im looking at. Kind regards