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Hi anyone heard of the pnarello mantha? advice whether to buy one requested

Hi everyone, I have a problem. i have started to ride more and more aggressively (came from XC) and now I bought myself a new bike, a 2018 Merida team big nine hardtail, it is an amazing bike and the frame weighs just 900g but I NEED a dropper post, I bought one now assuming it would work but apparently this model cannot use a dropper post, so now I sit with a dilemma I have a amazing bike but the frame isn’t working for me. I was wondering if anyone has or knows anyone who has a Hardtail 29 frame medium or large that is INTERNAL DROPPER POST READY (30.9 or bigger) who is willing to trade for my frame, even something less high of a spec. It’s a medium 29 inch frame! Let me know! Ps if anyone has a way of making it work on my frame it would be Appreciated.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a pristine condition used large Silverback Slade Trail, but it really is miles too big for me. I've been looking for a used small trail hardtail build for a while now but haven't had much luck, and used small frames seem even more difficult to come by. The Slade I bought came with really nice components (for a new rider anyway) so I'm considering keeping the components and looking at just replacing the frame. I've looked at the following: Commencal Meta HT (a bit too pricey and no small size available on their site) Trek Roscoe (may consider this depending on how much I can get for my Slade frame) Momsen STR/STF (doesn't support the 140mm fork I have already) Rapide Tigre (no small size) Any suggestions as to what else I could look at in that category? I'm 1.66m and would like a bike I can throw around quite easily so I'd prefer not to upsize if I can avoid it. Many thanks!

I've been toying with the idea of a long travel, steel hardtail mountain bike for quite some time. Somehow I've always ended up heading in a different direction but not this time. Click here to view the article

One can almost not help but to order a frame from David Mercer. He is as nice as he is enthusiastic and it's plain for all to see that he is a lover of what he does. Talking to him on the Mercer Bikes stand at the Africa Cycle Fair left me hungry for more Hungry Monkey and keen to experience the bike out on our local trails. Click here to view the article

I'm a lady rider looking to upgrade from my 26" Raleigh Nomad to something better as I ride a lot more now. I've seen a new 2014 Merida Juliet 500W, and a second hand 2013 Merida Matts Lite XT-edition both within my budget. I'm looking to spend max R13K on a hardtail, 26er or 650B. I'm only 154cm so would like something relatively light and compact (15" frame). I do a lot of single track riding. Any advice on whether I should go new or secondhand, and if there are other models I should consider would be appreciated.

Hi Hubbers! I have gotten into cycling, specifically mountain biking, over the past year. At the moment I have two bikes, a 26er hard-tail and a 29er dual-suspension. I have also spent a lot of time on a hard-tail 29er which is a friend of mines. As per the title I weigh +-100kg's, 6ft2, with not much body fat. I live in Cape Town and do most of my riding on Table Mountain with the dual-sus 29er. When I am in other provinces I use the 26er and hard-tail 29er respectively. What I notice is that my worst rides from a struggling with getting up hills point of view and just getting around in general are on the dual-sus 29er. I don't know if it is just because it is much heavier than the hard-tails or if it is just not setup correctly (although I was fitted on the bike), but I really don't enjoy my riding when I ride with the dual-sus 29er. To give you an example, while in Durban I had the pleasure of riding at Holla Trails, the yellow route (48km's) on a hard-tail 29er and it was an absolute pleasure. Back home in the Cape I often cycle to the blockhouse on Table Mountain +-20km, and I also took part in the Xterra in Grabouw which was a difficult 28km's but it felt like murder on the dual-sus 29er, and the blockhouse ride sucks until I start the descent. At the moment the thoughts going through my head are sell the dual-suspension and move to a hard-tail. Carrying 100kg's around is already difficult as it is, am I being foolish trying to do it on a heavier dual-suspension bike? The type of riding I do is recreational, table mountain, the odd off-road triathlon and I am hoping to do some stage races next year like sani2c. Having said that could it be that I need more experience on the dual-suspension, my legs need to get stronger, the setup needs to be looked at? All of which I am going to do regardless before making a decision. I find that it feels like I am riding quite low even with the suspension locked out and my pedals often make contact with objects, which when on a hard-tail, would normally not happen unless the pedals are vertical when going over an obstacle. I climb hills like a demon on a hard-tail and like a rookie on the dual-sus. I would just like some insight from experienced riders like yourself, perhaps this is a normal learning curve. The 29er is a Scott Spark 940. Thanks! milo

Hi Hubbers, So this video is a year old now but has anyone here built/welded/carbon lay up a frame together from scratch? If so please do share details and pics😁 I don't currently have the tool-set but think it would still be an awesome project.