NEW Here. Advice would be fantastic :)

[kosmonooit]

If you don't know what you are buying, be careful of 'dealers' chances are you going to get taken advantage of. Do a search here and you will see recent thread on the shop you mention.

 

It's not so much about the brand of the bike, but all the bits on it: the groupset, wheelset etc, not just the brand but also the 'model' ie Shimano LX / XT / XTR. Some are junk, others top of the range and sick expensive ie SRAM XX, Wheels are another story, range of different weights. Tubeless is def. the way to go, but tubeless tyres are more expensive, but you going to go that way soon, promise.

 

Just go for a hard tail for now, until you are ready to invest. You get different rigs for different types of routes/terrain, the hard tail is general purpose. Front fork is also where el-cheapo sort cuts can be made, there are so many different models, but perhaps an entry level will suffice for now.

 

Spend a bit of time figuring this all out, then also you might pick up a bargain 2nd hand bike. With 29'er being the next best thing (for some anyway) there are lots of good 26" bikes on the market. A year old bike will be going for 50% of the new price. Then there is also 9 speed vs 10 speed, nothing wrong with 9 speed (that's nine cogs on the back) generally three up front, although 2x10 is popular for the racing snakes.

 

The Hub is a good place to buy, lots of us do trade here bits & pieces, and end up buying lots of stuff we don't actually need but couldn't resist the bargain.

[Audible Anarchy]

hey man, welcome to the Hub!

 

biggest thing i found when i started was the extra costs involved once you've bought the bike.

 

Helmets, shoes, pedals / cleats, small pump, floor pump, Co2 bombs, lights,cages, bottles, camelbacks, glasses, tyre levers, saddle bags, multi tools, bar ends, bibs, shirts, rain jackets, gloves,bike computers,.... dude it never ends

 

and thats before you get to the heart rate monitors, tubeless tyre conversion, bike carrier for your car, club fees, CSA , the new bike once your misses catches the bug and so forth.

 

as with what the other guys have been saying above - start off second hand and make sure you budget for at least a good helmet ,gloves and some spares to start off with. you never know, you may find you might not even enjoy it after a few weeks!

 

doubt that will happen tho! once the bug bites, it bites hard! enjoy.

[Tumbleweed]

If you can't/don't want to buy second hand then maybe have a look at the Silverback Range. you can pick up a Silverback Alpine for R3500 and it is very well speced for its price.

Just a thought....

 

As an entry level package the Alpine is good value. And with the new member's revision of his budget to R6000, he should get all the extras he needs. The Alpine has been replaced for 2012 with the Stride 10, and goes for the same RRP as the Alpine - just a shade under R4K.

 

Don't skimp when it comes to shorts.

[RoboLuke]

Rik - my advise and nothing to do with your question but all to do with the Hub - ignore the newbie bashers...they will eventually settle down

[banna]

My advise would be to rather spend a little bit more on your first bike. I'm not saying go out and buy the most expensive carbon fibre machine you can find, but sometimes when you add a few grand you actually get a lot more bike (especially when you buying 2nd hand). If you buy too cheap you will invaribly find yourself having to upgrade very soon again... yes, you will fall in love with mtbiking and yes you will want to upgrade bikes!

[goya-goya]

I am sure you are sick of advice by now...

 

It all depends on the kind of riding you are gonna do...

 

I bought a cheapie 3 years ago... worst mistake of my life! i was never keen to ride to ride it because i was not really fit so every ride was hard and because I never had the time... the rides were 3 per month...eerrruggh!

 

What I am saying is that: its NOT about the bike... especially when you start... your biggest feature on your bike will be YOU! get fit... stay healthy... rest well... and ride whenever you can... if you dont have the time to ride... by a dog!

 

if you do have the time to ride... and you are healthy and fit-tish... it will be great to start with a 2nd hand bike that has some of the tune able features - shocks - this will make your ride pleasant...

 

if you get bitten by the bugg: ...dude you are gonna get your mind tweequed at some remote places... or even local ones.. last week I was at Segwatiranch... the veld was burned down... the route was rocky... but there was one little section that has 4 little switchbacks and you could see them from 1 km back... it was just awesome! looked like alp du hez! hehe also saw girraffe, jackels, Zebra and Wildebees and some buck thingy - they all look alike to me!

 

Enjoy

[tombeej]

Ric, for a good second hand bike in your budget, have a troll through the classifieds.

But first, what size are you? That will give people a better chance to steer you in the right direction.

 

Also, once you know what size frame you're looking for (after people know your size), suggest adding a 'wanted ad' into your personal Hub signature - you do that by going into your profile. Something like: "Looking for a 2nd hand mtb hardtail (size L) less than R6K."

[chris_w_65]

Phone Westdene Cycles for bike prices if you decide to go with new. The rest of the kit will also be reasonable from them. Do not buy at Cajees unless you take along your own Vaseline.

[ricsyn]

Once again, thanks for all the responses.

 

In terms of size, im about 6"2. (approx 90kg). The guy at Cajee's used some funny crotch stick to measure what size frame I would need, and apparently Im looking at a Large size.

 

With regards to my fitness level. Its probably not great, but I will ride every weekend.

 

Will keep checking the classified for something!

[Audible Anarchy]

Do not buy at Cajees unless you take along your own Vaseline.

 

Hahaha

[Eugene]

Firstly, Cajees has a rather poor reputation when it comes to sales, bicycles, servicing, customer service etc. I've never dealt with them, but heard hundreds of complaints.

 

Secondly, a Nomad is the new name for Raleigh, in fact for 2012, they may have changed the name again to Axis. Nomads are sold by Probike, the largest bicycle distributor in the Southern Hemisphere. Their prices are really good and their after sales service is known to be good too.

 

As a beginer, that bike you saw is a good bet. Also check out Silverback and Merida for good value. You mentioned Scott in another post. They are good, but come at a premium. Scott is also a Probike brand, they sold Scott as their premium bikes and Nomad/Raleigh as their value for money brands.

 

I disagree with the second hand statements for a beginer. Unless you know what to look for, you could and up being ripped off or sold a bike that is not suited to you.

[Grebel]

Snip...

 

I disagree with the second hand statements for a beginer. Unless you know what to look for, you could and up being ripped off or sold a bike that is not suited to you.

 

That is why they suggested taking along somebody that knows what they are looking at if you are a beginner buying second hand and don't know what you are looking at. Second hand allows bang for your buck buying as long as everything is in good working order.

[tunariaan]

Dont listen to the okes saying you need a very expensive first bike something for R6000 or more, you can upgrade as you go or buy a better bike if you really like it

You can ride anywhere with a good second hand bike

[The Drongo]

Nice one on the Rick Rolled. and thanks for the advice on getting a second hand bike. Will definatley have a look around in the classifieds section.

 

I actually went through to Cajee's Cycle Corner and asked the guy there for an entry level bike. He showed me a GIANT and a SCOTT. They were both +-5500. However, I saw the Nomad Seventy for way less. So thats why I though it would be good to ask questions first before buying junk.

 

If I change my budget to R6000, is there anything worthy out there, in terms of a new bike?

 

What I really should be asking I guess is... What the heck should I be looking out for?

 

As always, thanks for the assitance to my newbie self.

 

Dude. (Silverback or Mongoose )

 

First things first. 1. Use the SEARCH function. Start with Rant 'n Rave > Type > Cajees > Enter > Make you decision!

 

2nd Thing. 2. Ignore The Explosive One. He is a Road Motorcyclist, with a bent for atheism, strange computer product and he is The High Priest of The Most Awesome Thread on The Hub, which has little to nothing to do with MTB. Especially **er. He does not speak MTB kindly.

 

Third thing: No DIBS!

 

And D: No Thanks necessary. Just don your flamesuit, and wade in.

[Grebel]

Dude. (Silverback or Mongoose )

 

First things first. 1. Use the SEARCH function. Start with Rant 'n Rave > Type > Cajees > Enter > Make you decision!

 

2nd Thing. 2. Ignore The Explosive One. He is a Road Motorcyclist, with a bent for atheism, strange computer product and he is The High Priest of The Most Awesome Thread on The Hub, which has little to nothing to do with MTB. Especially **er. He does not speak MTB kindly.

 

Third thing: No DIBS!

 

And D: No Thanks necessary. Just don your flamesuit, and wade in.

 

Mate, straight down the line, as always!!

 

Well done on the spelling. I checked and you came up clean

Edited September 14, 2011 by Grebel

[The Drongo]

Mate, straight down the line, as always!!

 

Well done on the spelling. I checked and you came up clean

 

Oh yes: GET YOUR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR IN LINE !