Eugene

If I had a source of cheap parts, I would also keep quiet. For all we know, she has found an online shop and is ordering and reselling at a profit. Nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of guys trading on the Hub, why hasn't anybody questioned them?

Whose to say Solomons are at fault. Maybe the supplier hiked up their prices. Maybe thete was a worldwide increase in the steel price. The Rand has depreciated by 30%. Maybe R99 was last month's special. Maybe the owner realised they were selling their stuff too cheap and a R50 increase would make them more profitable and still be cheaper than other shops. Solomons are not a charity, they serve the same core function than 99% of all business and that is to make as much profit as possible.

Found this on Gumtree. If it is a 1953 model, surely it must be worth a damn side more than the R4 200 asking price. http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-sports-bicycles-fitness/port-elizabeth/hercules-vintage-motorized-bicycle/1001073803650910004831209

That old Tommasini isn't even worth R10k. There is a guy on the hub selling full carbon Focus Cayos with Sram force for R14 500. That must be the bargain of the year. They are apparently brand new and they have different sizes in stock

I have an entry level MTB bike that I bought in 2005 that has an 8 x 3 groupset and it is still going strong. I have had no problems with the drivetrain at all. I do probably 60 to 90kms per week on it and I'm still riding with the same cassette and chain (although it is due for a replacement). The bike has seen it's fair share of MTB races too. Out of the 3 you have listed, Silverback is probably the best. I haven't checked the links, but Silverback is known for their value for money (the best spec for your money). Silverback also have the best after sales service in SA. Another bike to add to your list is the new 650b Momsen. A local brand that is also known for good value. They have a stunning polished aluminium one for about R6 900.

Go for the one that looks the best to you. There will be absolutely no benefit to getting one brand over another other than the "look" factor.

Do it yourself..........so much more rewarding, even if it does take a while

Sounds like the Lance Armstrong story. Investigate him and nail him for doping, but ignore the hundreds of others who also doped. Strip his titles, but forget about the rest who did what he did.

Aaaaahhhh.....now I get it. When he referred to MTN, it wasn't the MTN cycling team, but rather Makro's referrence to MTN. Makro's reference actually means MounTaiN (mtn) bike. It is an abreviation

Tourney parts are real low end. They won't last. I wouldn't buy it. There are plenty of other, better quality bikes out there. What is your budget? Do you want new or second hand.

DOn't confuse the old generation Raleighs (pre 2012) and the new ones (post 2012). The previous generation were assembled in PE under liscence to Raleigh. They were good value bikes with good quality specs. They supplied the MTN Cycling Team with bikes (hence the branding on the bikes). In this era, these bikes won more SA races than all the other brands put together. Raleigh UK withdrew the naming rights and decided to import their own bikes directly. Now, with the exception of a few high end bikes (which are over priced), the Raleighs we get are the rubbish supermarket specials. To answer the op. If that bike has MTN colours, then it it probably is the previous Raleigh and will have the same pedigree that gave Cherise Stander, malcome Lange, Kevin Evens, Jacques Fullard and a few others I have forgotten SA titles.

Just be careful, you may not get a job when you return. You will probably be over 30 by then. Government is offering tax incentives for employers to employ people under 30. Unless you have a scarce skill, companies would probably prefer to employ a 28 year old and get a tax break than employ a 30 year old and not get a tax break.

If the Trek is still 8 speed, then stay away. The only 8speed still made is Shimano 2000 series and that is the bottom of the bottom. The Jamis is a better buy. With some carefull shopping you could get a really nice second hand bike (although I always say that it is better to go new) or you may even pick up a Tiagra 10 speed or even a105 10 speed bike new on discount. Places like Solomons often have such specials. If I remember they were selling a Fuji Roubaix with 105 parts for R6 999

It's much cheaper than buying a compressor or those little tins of compressed air. The airbrush stops working when the pressure drops below 1.5 bar. Gets a bit tough, because I use my floor pump to pump the tyre up again.

I bought an airbrush from Makro for R120 and a small adaptor that allows you to connect it to a car tyre. I use that enamel hobby paint to spray over the scratches. It Does a brilliant job.

About R10 000

Brand new or second hand? I had a set. I bought mine second hand and nearly killed myself when the free hub gave in on a long climb. It cost me R650 to repair. It was repaired by the official American Classic importers in Cape Town as my LBS were unable to repair the problem. About 6 month after the repair, I found that there was a recall on these wheels for a failing freehub. I contacted them to find out why they had charged me when the were part of a recall. They never provided me with a satisfactory answer. Like an idiot, I never took up the fight. Other than that, they are pretty good wheels and must be one of the lightest clinchers available. The new ones would have had the freehub problem sorted out.

I think the time has come for you to buy yourself a Parlee

You sure about that? We have 2 Felt dealers in PE and both have stock.

Yes you are right. A silly mistake, I still remember commenting on the pink stripes on the team bikes

Merida..........much better spec for your money. It's the same frame that Garmin Sharp rode on the pro tour this year.

Axis is owned by Scott. There has been tons of complaints about Scott after sales service. There has been tons of compliments about Silverbacks after sales service.

It is for a set of Giant wheels. Not sure what hubs they use. I have a feeling that they use rebranded DT Swiss. Not sure though. The wheels are R2000. A similar quality Shimano set were R1 900 including import VAT and postage from an online shop.

Thanks for the responses. It was for a set of wheels I wanted. But it looks as if it will be cheaper to buy quick release wheels online than having to cough up for an adaptor.

Are adaptors available so that a wheel with a15mm thru axle can be used on a normal quick release fork. If they are, are they standard or are they brand (wheel) specific I phoned a bike shop and they said they are not available, but I'm not too sure.