EtienneXplore

This one? https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/giant-29er/products/giant-xtc-advanced-29-2-limited-2017

I don't like the way the Dual Sus goes uphill.... Yes, on rough downhills they are tops, but we don't do so much of them. We do not have the nice "bike park" riding areas the guys have in SA. We have to ride in the bush, and that means getting to the bush to start your ride. This generally involves a bit of tar and quite a lot dirt road riding. So I guess you can say we do more XC type of riding at faster ave speed than the pure rough and tough climbing and downhill cornering. I am looking at possibly doing the 1Zambia 3 Day Stage Race next year. https://1zambiamtb.com This year there was a few SA Pro Riders there and they said in the interview that they do not have this "bush riding" anywhere in SA, everything in SA is "built or made" for MTB where in Zambia it is just raw bush. But getting to the bush you need to do some miles on dirt/tar to get there.

Nope, but here is a few guys that can do services and maintenance. Most of the MTB community are expats from SA, USA and Europe and they all bring their own bikes from their countries, or they go down to SA to buy bikes. I will be in SA until early January, but will only be in Pretoria for a day or two in order to buy a bike, then I leave for the Drakensberg, Lesotho, Transkei and Eastern Cape, so I will need to have a new bike by the time I leave for the Drakensberg.

This looks really good, but I would like to have a 2x11 set-up, not a fan of the 1x10 set-up....

Unfortunately, I would have to buy stock as I only have a day to buy and get out again, so need to go to a shop, test ride a few bikes, buy and go.....

Hehehe, the most demoralising thing in the world when you get passed on the road by a local with a load like this on his single gear, no brakes, dik-wiel steel bike, wheels buckling like crazy, everything creaking, riding with flip flops, listening to a klapped out radio while talking on his cell phone...... and they are always ready for a dice!!

I live here in Zambia for good, so won't be travelling so much, why would I need a stronger steel frame? I won't be hauling charcoal around like the locals, I will be riding trails, single track and dirt tracks....

Hi there! I currently ride a 2016 Silverback Sola 3, this is my first ever MTB, and the bug has bitten, so much so that my fiancee now also wants to get riding. She is just as tall as me, so the Sola 3 will now be hers...... This means I can get a new bike! I have ridden a few Dual Sus bikes, but I prefer the hardtail, so that is the way I am going to go. I have read and read and compared and compared, but would like to have some input from all the clever okes here! I have a budget of up to R25,000, and I am sure I can get a pretty decent Hardtail for that. I have looked at the following: The bike must have a 26/36T and 11/42T combo. * 2017 Scott Scale 940 https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/scott-29er/products/scott-scale-940-2017 * 2018 Momsen AL629 https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/momsen-hardtail-1/products/momsen-al629-2018 * 2017 Silverback Sola 1 https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/silverback-29er/products/silverback-sola-1-2017 * Specialized Rockhopper Men's Pro https://www.specialized.com/za/en/men/bikes/mountain/mensrockhopperpro/128989 * 2018 Merida Big Nine XT-Edition https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/merida-29er/products/merida-big-9-xt-2018 What do you guys think of these and which one will you go for? Am I leaving anything out that I should be looking at? Keep in mind that I live in Zambia, and will travel to Pretoria the first week of December, so I need to buy and go!

Well, I did not take any pics yet, but I did put the bike together and I am very happy with it so far! It is the first bicycle that I have owned and ridden since a fooked old BMX when at Primary School! I have had it for a week now and done only 56km in 5 rides and a total of 3 hours in the saddle, so starting out slow! I must just say that Peter at Road Cycles in Silverton gave me absolute awesome service, I will go back there for sure!

Ok, So I got myself a Silverback Sola 3. I only got back to Lusaka late last night, so the bike is still in a big box. Will start putting it together tonight, will post pics once done!

Ok, so no one from Hot Spot Cycles bothered to get back to me, I guess they really do not need another R20,000 in sales.... I e-mailed Road Cycles in Silverton with the exact same request, they responded the next day confirming my visit with them on Saturday morning, also they asked for my measurements before hand so that when I get there we can start looking at frames immediately and get the deal done. They also confirmed that I can get everything I need from them, and that they will do the tubeless conversion and a full bike set up for me. Guess where I will be referring everyone to! Will report back next week when all is said and done.....

Sweet, thanks! I don't think it will be an issue at all.

Cool, thanks! I also indicated to them in my email that I would be needing assistance in the whole fitting and setting up of a bike for me to ensure I get the correct fitting and set-up.

Right, I have sent Hot Spot Cycles an email detailing what I want and my budget and when I will be there. Hopefully they respond and I can have a dedicated person helping me to get everything I need. I would prefer getting everything from one shop.

There are, but they are not very good at all, and the prices are just out of this world expensive. Zambia in general is an extremely expensive country compared to South Africa. Mountain biking is in its infancy in Zambia, and if you look at how this industry just exploded in SA, I am sure Zambia is heading the same way. There are a lot of expats here with lots of money to spend. So if someone has the money (ie: balls) to take the risk and invest in this sport here, they will become extremely rich! But it will be a very risky undertaking! Many people are flying to SA just to purchase bikes as they are so expensive here.