porqui

singlespeedGuy - I was not mocking anyones post - please read my first post carefully. My point also is to choose your bike carefully or accordingly. Most advice splurged most of the time is a biassed opinion. Blitzer was not giving advice he was telling OP exactly what to buy. And LBS advice is another story. When it comes to bikes keep an open mind and do not be opinionated. Put another way - DO YOUR HOMEWORK - equipment is not cheap and cycling is a bottomless pit once you fall into its grips

Bollocks!! On all counts!

Road or off

Hard tail or dual suspension depends on the kind of riding you are going to do. If cross-country then by all means hard tail but if you are going to do some mountain trails like Tokai and Jonkershoek then get a dual suspension. Living in the Cape I would go for dual susp. as it gives you more options. Cross country 29r but 29ers are way too over-rated. Plenty of 29ers on the 2nd hand market nowadays.(why?)

singlespeedGuy tuck in your willy!

How are ski slopes graded? I see green - blue - red - black in Europe So maybe grade similar - green - blue - yellow - black for cycling

Was drooling over that bike too. Fuel make a good bike. NB: just make sure its the right size - do not buy on an impulse.

If cracked I would think very hard about riding it - could be einas if it fails on you.

I would check out the average temperatures for this time of year - yes even the night time temps. Will bite you if you're not used to riding in high 30's

2nd hand usually means twice the bike for half the price. Also working on or repairing a bike is not rocket science - seriously. I would not buy new under R8k

DON"T "take the seat out of the equation" that could be VERY EINAs Uphill UP (unless technical) Downhill DOWN and everything in between Just use it and experiment. In any downhill I keep changing the position. Changed my riding

Its like buying a model T Ford - you can have any colour as long as it's black.

I have noticed that the 2nd hand market is now riddled with 29ers - have no idea why?!

Mean or should that be me in.

The question should be "WHICH ONE DO YOU GET FIRST" Which one is cheaper - both disciplines are like BIG BLACK HOLEs - sucks all money in. Fashion is the biggest sucker. Satisfaction is the next - it is never reached. How many bikes should you have = n+1 where"'n" is always the amount of serviceable bikes you have. Djy lag ma dis waa!

Here we go again. XT's are giving problems too. Avid Avid user

Repaired my Elixir 5's just 2 weeks ago - no issues - done promptly - no charge. One small niggle was the insinuation that it was my style of braking that caused the problem - really??

Mail them!

I have tried my damndest to get the pass open to cyclists, runners and walker/hikers.

You could get through on a tricycle but you may not pass go!

NO!

Not only blocking plates but blocking lights are as much of a problem. Friend got fined and ended up having plate and lights fitted on a board and connected to trailor light plug

Plenty of help on web for sizing. Go second hand you will get twice the bike for half the price. Another option is to now look around for "last" years (even 2012) models - some serious discounts 2014 models being released now.

Simple exercise to work out gain. Take rucksack Fill with mass equivalent to weight you want to lose Now put that on back and go cycle usual course. Note difference in average speed. Add difference to present average speed and ........voila! Solved Flame suite on!

Rule #1 while cycling Cycle safely