Ive recently sold my dirtbike and im looking to keep the legs busy if you know what I mean. I bought my fiance a bike about 2 years ago and its got about 15km on it. The whole idea was for me to get a bike, but I just never got around to it. Now here's the thing. Im looking for a d/suspension bike. Im thinking of going the downhill/freeride/cross country route, but one thing is needed and that it has to be tough. No point in landing a 2meter drop off and the forks snap off. I can see me riding around bainskloof and du toits kloof, mainly Forrest and mountain trails. I wont be doing downhill per se, but Ill be riding similar terrain. Ive popped into City cycles and all they want to sell me are bikes, just regular bikes with flimsy suspension (can I call it that?)Mind you, I did say I did not want to pay more than about R10k. As we all know how quickly bikes de-valuate, I though about buying a kitted out bike that's a couple of years older with better and stronger parts on it. My questions Im tall. 1.95 Im heavy , 110kg but moving down to the 100kg mark wont be that hard. (who am I kidding) im guessing I would need a L/ XL? Are downhill bikes sized like regular bikes? Would a downhill bike do for regular XC riding with the fiance (slow, smell the flowers stuff?) I see some fully specced GT chuckers for little money. They are heavy though... Would they do? Ideas and suggestions please.
