Buying first bike and need advice

[Brian Fantana]

I do a lot of my training in the Karoo just outside Middelburg.

 

If I lived there a 29er would be my bike of chioce.

 

I have ridden there with 29ers, all three that I had, and they are very well suited to the type of terrain you get in the Karoo.

 

At one point I had two 29ers and one 26" and I always took one of the 29ers to Karoo weekends.

[Bike Lore]

buy the one you like the most. the rest don't matter really. if you like your ride you will ride more

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

 

Would you choose that second hand over the new Silverback Alpine for R1750 more?

 

EDIT: I was looking at the groupset but I see now it is carbon. I know it is not all about weight but even then it is only 11.4kg vs 12.4kg.

 

No, i wouldn't.

[mnb1411]

Its like cptmayhem said, for a grand less the SB looks like the better buy

[mnb1411]

I just stumbled upon this deal at sportsmanswarehouse.

 

Merida Matts TFS 500-D - R6999

 

It has Rockshox XC30 Poplock 100mm fork compared to the SB's Rockshox Recon Silver Air ( not sure which one's better)

Its a 30 speed compared to SB's 27speed.

 

On most websites its selling for R8000 and above.

 

Is this a better deal than the SB?

[RockCoach]

I just stumbled upon this deal at sportsmanswarehouse.

 

Merida Matts TFS 500-D - R6999

 

It has Rockshox XC30 Poplock 100mm fork compared to the SB's Rockshox Recon Silver Air ( not sure which one's better)

Its a 30 speed compared to SB's 27speed.

 

On most websites its selling for R8000 and above.

 

Is this a better deal than the SB?

 

I reckon the Merida is a slightly better frame. The Recon is the better fork though. But the bigger selling point is the new tech gear train versus the old. For heavier riders 9 speed does last longer than 10 speed.

 

BTW, you usually only count the gear ratios at the back - therefore the terminology is 10 speed versus 9 speed.

[Clinton1]

BTW, you usually only count the gear ratios at the back - therefore the terminology is 10 speed versus 9 speed.

 

You pros do Us plebs still refer to 21, 24, 27 speed... we don't refer to 30 speed a lot as we don't come in contact with them all to often.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I just stumbled upon this deal at sportsmanswarehouse.

 

Merida Matts TFS 500-D - R6999

 

It has Rockshox XC30 Poplock 100mm fork compared to the SB's Rockshox Recon Silver Air ( not sure which one's better)

Its a 30 speed compared to SB's 27speed.

 

On most websites its selling for R8000 and above.

 

Is this a better deal than the SB?

 

No. The RECON is a far better fork than the xc30, and the 9 speed drivetrain has nothing wrong with it.