ValeYellow

VIPA

oooh - sounds like a lekker sting operation in the making

Of the three, I would discount the XC32 being a coil shock. That leaves the Raidon and the Recon Silver. IMHO, the deciding factor between these two would be weight, reliability and after sales serviceing (not in that order). In December I rode on a rental bike that was fitted with the Raidon shock, and to be honest it performed very well. If rental bikes are anything like rental cars, I can only assume that everything but the kitchen sink has been thrown at the bike so the fact that it still felt in good shape is something noteworthy. I have the Recon Gold on my rig, and I absolutely love it. My bike came standard with a very low end Suntour shock - the XCM - which is a big pile of steaming monkey s & ! t. It lasted me a whole 7 months from new before it had to be replaced. I was always dead against Suntour and swear by RockShox, but after my recent experience with the Raidon, I am of the view that some manufaturers make really bad cheap and nasty entry stuff, the XC32 is a way better bet than the Suntour XCM, but when it comes to the mid-range to top end products, they are all there and thereabouts. Therefore, my conclusion is that the deciding factor would be weight, reliability and after sales serviceing. I do believe that the Momsen will give you the best bang for your (your mates) buck. Good luck and let us know what he decides on?

im in for the 30km...

the trails are magnificent - spent nearly every day of my holiday riding the various trails, highlight was the Waterfall route and the W2W river single track - poured with rain the last 4 days i was down there, but it made riding just that much more fun. Enjoy, oh and if you are up to it, ride up Rotary Drive till you get to the signal towers (dirt road on your right once you reach the summit) ride past the towers (keep left of them) and follow the path wich very soon turns into an adrenalin rush from the MTB gods - this is the old DH track If you have any questions re the trails or where else to ride, chat to Riaan at Euodia Cycles - they are opposite the Hemel en Aarde Estate (very convenient as we stayed in the estate )

Fernkloof Reserve - Hermanus

so, I am gonna be down in Hermanus from 17 December till 07 January - plan to do a fair bit of riding in that time well as much as I am allowed . rideabike, do you guys still ride from the Engen, if so, please can you let me know the details. Sadly, my ride will be staying at home, so will be on a rental.

http://cycleevents.c...t-one-mtb-2013/

Black swing arm on that green frame would look very sweet. IMHO, Ghost has come to the party and if it were me, I would be a happy customer But yeah, OP has to be the happy one. From what I know that if the original paintwork is altered / changed - warranty is null and void - no????

fantastic, it is always awesome to hear that some bicycle shops value their customers, and deliver exceptional service.... well done

in terms of buying secondhand, yes it does come with its worries. I am not entirely sure if one would know whether the bike you are buying is stolen or not? A good rule of thumb when buying secondhand, only investigate options that are within your area or province. Find something you like, then ask the seller to meet with you at either your LBS, or a bicycle shop of your choice? If he is serious about selling it - he will make the effort. This way the bike shop can check the bike out for you and any problematic areas can be pointed out and addressed there and then. I would suggest taking moola with you though to purchase the bike if the bike shop guy gives you the green light?

Give this man a Bells!!

my 2 cents worth (and puts on the Harry Potter invisible cloak) - when it comes to this price range of entry level bike, they are all going to be similar in terms of components, front shock, rims, hubs, and brakes (being v-brakes in this case) - therefore all offering a similar rider experience - the difference would be in frame geometry (maybe). Upping the ante and looking at a seconhand 5-6K bike, which would have cost possibly in the region of 8-10K new, will definitely offer you a significant "upgrade in terms of rider comfort. Brakes will be hydraulic disk brakes, front fork would be perhaps solo air, and components would be in the range of Shimano SLX or SRAM X5? Trust me, and I am sure most hubbers will agree - spend a bit of extra cash, and buy something decent from the get go - you will enjoy your bike so much more.......

I'm with hvh and ScottC-M, if it were my money, it would be a Momsen AL229 If you or your mates are in Jhb, I recently heard that there is a bike shop in Fourways area, Bicycle-Trader.com and they are currently offering 10% off all NEW bikes - valid for the months of November & December 2013. May be worth a look-see?

The one thing I do know about cycling is that once the bug bites - its terminal, you will be hooked for life. Now I guess there is the conundrum of whether you buy the cheapest bike possible, try things out, and if you dig the sport (which you will), then shop around for a better equipped machine? This theory is also know as p!!ssing money down the drain? If I were you abcdefg (that is a very unique username), buy a secondhand bike right here on the hub, 5-6k should hook you up with something decent. This will get you a rig with ok disk brakes, ok components, and so forth, and if you really dig the sport - you at least have a decent ride for a year or so? You will get more value selling a 5-6k secondhand ride when the time comes to upgrade or sell cause you don't dig riding (this is almost an impossible scenario) - compared to a 2.5k ride which if you can find a buyer for it, they will offer next to nothing for it? Remember, if you are just starting out, it will be some time before you out-perform the bike (talking about a 5-6k 2nd hand bike here) - unless of course you are a born natural, have mad skills, in which case, go buy a Santa Cruz v10

http://lifeissavage.com/2013/11/21/from-today-cape-town-motorists-will-have-to-be-at-least-1m-from-cyclists/

my nephew did a 4.30 on a bmx - bloody nutter. Did not get the road bike done in time for this year, but next I will be there

Linden Cycles, what a great bunch they are..... I am happy to say that they are my LBS

I agree with SeaBee, the regulation changes have to a degree turned F1 into a bit of a circus. One wonders if RBR would have had such a dominant season if there were no changes mid-season? The boredom that some people are experiencing is simply the result of team and driver maximising rules and regulations to the fine edge for 100% benefit - and if you know the formula and have got it right like RBR, not so sure one would share it with the rest of the paddock? The Dream Team at Ferrari did it and were dominant for years. Now don't get me wrong, it is annoying to see the same guy winning, race after race, especially if it is RBR & Seb, and not Ferrari & Alonso but all we need to our minds back to the days of Schumi, Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne - they got the formula right and pushed every boundary - the result was sheer dominance for years. I was very privileged to be at the Abu Dhabi F1 in 2013 - and let me tell you hubbers, it is a week that I wish would never come to an end. It gave me a bit of a different look at F1, and l think what I have taken out of this season, is how the rest of the pack and drivers are starting to come through the ranks. F1 has become too sterile - I so miss the days when drivers could rub wheels and instead of whining to the race stewards they would sort what ever issues there were face to face in the paddock - and moved on? As much as I am a very big Ferrari and Alonso fan - Fernando does get the cry baby of the season award. Kimi is going to piss on his parade next year, he better FIFO? 2014 season is going to be an interesting one indeed, and lets see who get the formula right.

good concept, but that's about it I think? Imagine wearing that thing in the SA summer - eish, but Kudos to those ladies

First and last for me... did the 55km as I have heard of the infamous bottlenecks - and though it may be less on the 55km route - ja right!! The route itself was great on the upside - but I don't see a way around these bottlenecks as if it has become the norm, which is does considering for how many years this has been an issue, I fear the organisers feel rocks? I heard there was someone that took a big fall just after the first big bottleneck, on some nasty rocky area? Anyone know what happened if they are ok?

Who knew that tiny little jockey wheels could cost up to 1k crazy....... Think I am going to go the route of the BBB ones - and take it from there - stick with plastic. Thanks guys.... Oh, anyone do the Momentum 55km cycle challenge yesterday? Bottle necks were insane......

Eish, decisions - decisions madmarc, I agree with you, not sure how the jockey wheels of aluminium will wear down the chain - but this is what the bike shop guys reckon? I wonder if there is not an incentive for bike shops to sell OEM before aftermarket Thanks for all the input guys, really appreciate it

Its just funny how in going into some bike shops, first letter of said shops begins with an S and a C they are happy to sell me the KCNC ones, but when I pose the question regarding chain wear, its like the deer in the headlights of a truck? Gonna stick with OEM parts for now, appreciate the advise CAAD4 and No Calves......

Thanks No Calves, I have had an inclination to go OEM. Any other thoughts fellow hubbers on this stunning Friday made for riding and not working