35 y/o Beginner

[jimmy hardtail]

If the budget is R4000 then get a 2nd hand hard tail. Find someone who knows about bikes to help you find one . Get one that is the right size cos there is nothing more offputting than a bike that is too big or small. When you decide that you want a better bike then you can sell the old one for almost the same price that you paid for it . And remember that the most important thing is to HAVE FUN! It doesn't matter if your bike is 2kgs more than the next guys unless you are racing seriously. So get a bike and go ride...

[Caerus]

Gloves? Really? Gloves and a helmet???

Nee boet, you should rather keep still and play dead.

 

When you start cycling and you are on a budget for gear.

1. Helmet

2. Cycling shorts

The end.

 

I agree a good pair of cycling shorts should be included. I would again say a decent pair of gloves is important, if not for comfort alone, when starting out.

[LazyTrailRider]

Had a customer who I tried to down-sell when he picked a carbon XTC as his first MTB. I saw him at a race two months later and he'd done less than 100 kays on it.

 

Yep, that happens quite often I think.

 

A few pointers from my side:

• Buy 2nd-hand, but get someone who knows their stuff to help you so you don't end up with a lemon. For R4k, you can get a properly specced hardtail.
  
• Make sure that whatever you get fits you correctly. There is nothing worse than a bike that's way too big or way too small.
  
• Ask someone to help you set up the basics correctly. Seat height, stem height, control (shifters and brake levers) placement. Small things like spacing from the grips and angle are much overlooked but very important.
  
• Get your wheels converted to tubeless (a ghetto conversion is more than enough) so you don't have to worry about fixing tubes. Those of us who have ridden for decades don't mind it, but it's quite a schlep if you're new to the sport.
  
• Buy a good pair of gloves, your hands will thank you, both because of reduced chafing, and because you will most likely fall (hopefully not hard, I'm talking about slow-speed stuff) regularly at first, and your hands are the first body parts to hit the ground in most case. Most helmets (even cheaper ones) will protect you, all you're gaining with an expensive one is slightly better ventilation and lighter weight, not critical.
  
• Don't worry about saving weight for now. It's not as important as most people think.
  

Edited January 16, 2012 by Martin Hattingh

[LazyTrailRider]

If the budget is R4000 then get a 2nd hand hard tail. Find someone who knows about bikes to help you find one . Get one that is the right size cos there is nothing more offputting than a bike that is too big or small. When you decide that you want a better bike then you can sell the old one for almost the same price that you paid for it . And remember that the most important thing is to HAVE FUN! It doesn't matter if your bike is 2kgs more than the next guys unless you are racing seriously. So get a bike and go ride...

 

[CAAD4]

There is that to factor in also, but then also consider the fact that when you upgrade you will end up spending more then you first intended, its a no win situation Either way its gonna cost you, so my suggestion would be to get a decent 2nd hand bike then see from there if you want to get really into it.

 

I wish that someone had told me in the beginning that it is better to spend wisely in cycling, and to buy the better equipment right from the start, it would have saved me a lot of money. That's not to say the most expensive is always the best, but generally if you are paying more you tend to get a better end/ quality product.

 

I agree, start slowly. Then again, if there were no big spenders trying out the sport, there would be no businesses like www.bikebay.co.za who seem to have a lot of second hand high spec bikes in stock.

[Caerus]

I agree, start slowly. Then again, if there were no big spenders trying out the sport, there would be no businesses like www.bikebay.co.za who seem to have a lot of second hand high spec bikes in stock.

 

There will always be big spenders, and a lot of those will have more money then sense.

[George Nel]

I started cyling when I was 33,bought a dual suss GT force.soon sold that and bought a carbon hardtail 26er.Soon sold that and bought a 45k Carbon hardtail 29er.Did a 6;05 at Atta this weekend.Moral of the story:

Buy a bike that is just a bit to expensive for you,you defs will be upgrading from a 4k bike every month!

Age got nothing to do with it,the older I get the harder I get and defs a lot stronger!